Although the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) is the national referral hospital for the children of Belize, before 2014, it did not have a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The unfortunate result was felt countrywide as children struggled to recover from illnesses that hinder their development.

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Children with cancer and other non-communicable diseases had to travel to other countries for effective options, causing families to either incur great debt or not being able to afford access to the much needed care. Seeing this, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow took up the task of bridging this major gap in Belize's healthcare system and set out to create an entirely new sector just for young patients. She was able to secure funding for the construction and equipping of a new wing at the KHMH through both local and international sources, like the OAK Foundation, whose donation was entrusted to the Lifeline Foundation and then used for the PICU/NICU. 

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The PICU/NICU opened its doors in October of 2015. At over 11,000 square feet, the facility boasts a child-friendly design, accommodations for parents, and state of the art equipment to help experts care for critically ill children and babies. Thanks to the tremendous support from donors and the tenacity and determination of Mrs. Simplis Barrow, Belize is in a new era of improved healthcare for its most vulnerable population.