Young Girl Returns to Volunteer at Holtz Children’s Hospital Where Doctors Saved Her Life as a Baby
Claudia Milagros Bambaren, 18, has a special connection with children. Her desire to become a pediatrician and care for sick children brought her back to the place that saved her life as a baby.
In 1997, Claudia’s mother, Isabel Cortavitarte, developed issues when she was 20 weeks pregnant. Isabel was admitted to The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial, where she remained for three and a half weeks until delivering her baby girl prematurely.
Born on June 16 weighing just a pound, Claudia was immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
For the first three months of her life, Claudia remained in the NICU, growing stronger every day until she was finally able to go home in September 1997.
Claudia lived a happy, healthy, normal childhood.
After graduating from South Miami Senior High in 2015, Claudia began seeking opportunities to volunteer at a hospital and work with children. Claudia always knew she wanted to be a doctor because she enjoyed playing with her First Aid Kit and helping her friends whenever one of them got sick.
“I love kids and I have a good connection with them,” said Claudia. “They enjoy interacting with me, too.”
In August 2015, Claudia had a homecoming of sorts when she began volunteering at Holtz Children’s Hospital.
Every Friday, Claudia comes to the hospital and spends most of the day day playing with pediatric patients in their room, helping Child Life specialists plan events, and doing activities with children in the playroom.
“I’ve developed close relationships with some of the patients,” said Claudia. “There’s a boy who was very shy at first when he met me. We now play together all the time, and he always wants me to carry him. It’s really fulfilling to be able to be his friend.”
Claudia is thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with sick children.
She is attending Miami Dade College, and hopes to attend medical school at the University of Miami. Her ultimate dream, she says, is to one day walk the halls of Holtz Children’s as a doctor.
“The people at Holtz have become like family to me,” she said. “It’s incredible to know that I’m now volunteering at the place where I was born and where my life was saved.”