The main entrance area of Maine Medical Center in Portland. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

SCARBOROUGH — The Maine Children’s Cancer Program will use a major donation to create an infusion wing focused on young patients in Scarborough.  

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation donated $2.25 million to create a new pediatric infusion center at Maine Medical Center’s already existing facility in Scarborough. This is the largest gift in its history to Maine Medical Center, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, Maine Children’s Cancer Program. This new space will mean 500 more infusions can be given annually to children with cancer and other chronic illnesses.  

 The center has had limited capacity to provide IV therapy in its six treatment rooms for patients with cancer and blood disorders. Due to this most patients must divert many of their patients to the Bush Children’s Hospital. The new center will also allow the Bush hospital to have more capacity to serve children who require hospitalization on its pediatric-friendly floor. In addition to providing hundreds of more infusions to children, keeping them out of crowded hospitals, the new wing will also feature a solarium, space for music therapy and other special programs. The outpatient center will give patients access to a variety of specialists.

Construction on the infusion wing will begin in January and is expected to be finished sometime in this spring. The new infusion center will free up space in the hospital and will create a warm, child-centered environment to help young patients heal. In recognition of the gift, Maine Medical Center will name the new center the Sam L. Cohen Pediatric Infusion Center. Maine Children’s Cancer Program will also use the funds from this gift to establish the Sam L. Cohen Medical Director Chair at the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and enhance its psycho-social support services.