A Safe Haven for Healing
Creating the nation's first therapeutic respite beach house for immunocompromised because no child should heal alone.
Anna’s Pals
Our Mission
Anna's Pals provides immunocompromised children and their families with a safe place to rest, recharge, and be a family during the long road to recovery.
Anna's Pals Beach House will be the first facility of its kind in the United States — a medically-safe environment where children recovering from bone marrow transplants can escape isolation, connect with others facing similar journeys, and experience moments of joy by the beach.
Founded in 2015 in memory of Anna Jerome
Anna’s Story
Anna Jerome was a vibrant 14-year-old—a daughter, twin, big sister, student, athlete, and friend—when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in July 2013.
Her Journey:
July 2013 — Diagnosed with AML; spent 5 months at Boston Children's Hospital
November 2013 — Achieved remission; completed clinical trial at St. Jude
February 2014 — Relapsed; received bone marrow transplant
May 2014 — Released under severe restrictions; completely isolated from friends and extended family
October 2014 — After a courageous 15-month battle, Anna passed away
Anna's favorite place was the beach. Her close-knit friend group, "the Pals," visited her daily in the hospital—so often that nurses called her room the "Party Room." When Anna received her bone marrow transplant, those precious visits ended. Her immune system was gone, and isolation became her new reality.
When offered a Make-A-Wish, Anna declined. She said the wish should go to someone who needed it more.
Her selfless spirit inspired Anna's Pals. We're building a place where children like Anna can safely gather with loved ones outside of clinical settings—because everyone deserves to be in a Party Room surrounded by Pals.
By the Numbers
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Any child who receives a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) or another organ transplant is prescribed immunosuppressants. These medications keep the body from rejecting the new organs or bone marrow, and they keep the patient’s Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) well below 500 for months, and sometimes years. This reduced immunity makes patients extremely susceptible to life-threatening infections.
As a result, pediatric patients are hospitalized until their ANC reaches 200. Once that happens and they’re able to be discharged, they must remain isolated from the outside world until their ANC reaches 500, a process that can take months.
Anna’s Pals will offer a respite from this isolation and fear by providing a facility that allows them to engage with family and others in a safe environment. This specialized beach house on Cape Cod in Bourne, Massachusetts, is the first of its kind in the United States.
The Solution - Beach House Preview
Located in Bourne, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod—just minutes from the Cape Cod Canal and less than 2 miles from the beach—the historic Ella F. Hoxie School is being transformed into a therapeutic respite facility for immunocompromised children.
The Beach House Will Feature:
🏠 8 two-bedroom family cottages — Private, wheelchair-accessible apartments
🩺 2 pediatric nurses on staff — Medical support and peace of mind
🎮 Indoor recreation facilities — Media/Video Game Room, Parent Lounge, and Gathering Spaces
🫧 Medical-grade safety features — HEPA filtration systems, antibacterial surfaces, mildew-resistant materials
Open 5 days per week with dedicated cleaning between families to maintain hospital-level cleanliness.
In partnership with the Town of Bourne | Working with area pediatric hospitals
Annual Events
Join us in supporting immunocompromised children
