A wonderful home for the holidays

We were thrilled to bring Amelia “home” to spend Christmas with us at the Ronald McDonald House

During our 20 week prenatal appointment, my husband Derik and I learned that our baby girl had a serious heart condition which would require surgery soon after she was born. This shocking and upsetting news completely changed our lives. We were working and living abroad at the time and immediately started making plans to return home to the U.S.

In preparation for baby Amelia’s arrival, we arranged for her delivery at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Amelia arrived on November 11, 2013, and she underwent her first heart surgery just nine days later. During the long weeks after her surgery, Derik and I took turns staying with Amelia in her hospital room and going “home” to sleep at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. We were so grateful for the comfort and community of the House.

We spent the entire holiday season at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas last year. The build up to the holidays is such a sweet time there! The House was decorated beautifully. And there were so many generous families and volunteer groups cooking dinner and planning special holiday activities for the families staying at the House. One group even brought Santa Claus to deliver presents to the children.

As a mom, you hope your first Christmas with your child will be special. I feel so blessed we got to have that. On December 23rd, at six-weeks old, Amelia was discharged from the hospital. We couldn’t have asked for a better gift! We were so happy to bring our baby “home” to spend Christmas with us at the Ronald McDonald House. Our family was in town and we all celebrated together in the wonderful atmosphere of the House.

Beyond making our holidays special, we also really appreciated the sense of community we felt. Having a support system is so important – especially during the hard times. For us, the Ronald McDonald House was a great place to be during some of the toughest times in our lives. We really bonded with some of the other families through this shared experience. We stay in touch with one family in particular, checking-in regularly to see how everyone is doing. It is a bond we will share forever.

Today, Amelia is doing really well. She turned one last month and her doctors are happy with her progress. She will need another surgery in a few years, but for now she is a happy baby and we are having so much fun! We are looking forward to spending this Christmas with Amelia in our own home. But we will always be grateful for the love and great joy of our first Christmas together at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

Thank you!

Kacy & Derik Thornton
Healing Together with Caleb

Even before our son Caleb was born, we knew it was very likely that he would need a heart transplant. But when the time finally came to accept that as our new reality, we still felt so unprepared! Caleb had to be monitored in the hospital while he waited for his new heart. For months. Our lives were an hour away and we had no idea how we would manage – but we knew we weren’t leaving Caleb’s side.

Thankfully, just days after bringing Caleb to the hospital, we were given an amazing gift – the opportunity to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. We were so grateful to RMHC for keeping our family together when we needed each other most!

Staying at the Ronald McDonald House meant we could be there to see Caleb through all of the painful, scary, and upsetting moments he endured in the hospital. But it also meant we could be there to play together in the play room, take wagon rides, play with play-doh, and celebrate the small strides Caleb made in his physical therapy sessions. We were so lucky to be surrounded by people who understood that having his family with him was a vital part of Caleb’s treatment.

RMHC truly helped us to heal together. I cannot even imagine how much harder Caleb’s hospitalization would have been if his older brother, Jonah, hadn’t been with us through it all. But thanks to RMHC, and surrounded by the comfort, care, and support of the Ronald McDonald House, Caleb and Jonah played together, kept each other laughing, and stayed very close throughout. We will always be grateful to RMHC for the gift of a life together, as a family, amid all the difficulties.

I am thrilled to report that, today, Caleb is doing really well. As you can see in this recent photo of our family, Caleb not only has a healthy heart but now that he has come down off high doses of steroids, he has changed so much! We had an amazing summer, filled with lots of things we dreamed of him experiencing when he was in the hospital... swimming, hiking, riding bikes with his brother, playing in the dirt, even seeing the ocean for the first time!

As we approach the anniversary of his transplant, we are so grateful to be able to say that Caleb is healthy, and we will never forget the loving home away from home the Ronald McDonald House provided.

Thank you for supporting RMHC!

Forever grateful,

Katie Kinnaird
Comfort, Care and Support

After a long and difficult labor, Katie Bloodworth’s precious new baby finally arrived. But the doctors and nurses in the delivery room began working on her urgently. Katie and her husband had no idea what would happen next. They were scared; baby Ellen wasn’ t making a sound. Thankfully, baby Ellen eventually began to cry.

Katie was only allowed to see her new baby for a few seconds – just long enough for a quick kiss on the head – before she was whisked away to the NICU. Katie and her husband were left to wait for the next seven hours. Heartbroken, she worried about when they would see Ellen again and what her first days would look like.

It was then that her nurse told Katie that the hospital had a Ronald McDonald Family Room. Steps from Ellen’s hospital room was a comforting place where Katie and her husband could rest and regroup. Ronald McDonald Family Rooms offer the families of sick children a special place to sleep, shower, prepare and share meals, and begin to heal together.

The next day they moved in to the Ronald McDonald Family Room and breathed a sigh of relief. Katie remembers,

“We were warmly welcomed to a clean and home-y environment. I didn’t feel like I was in the sterile, cold, scary hospital anymore. I could stop fretting about what would happen next and start doing what I needed to take care of my baby girl. The next five days spent at RMH were exactly what I needed.”

At the Ronald McDonald Family Room, Katie found a quiet, comfortable place to rest while coping with the uncertainty and emotional turmoil facing her family.

“There were times that I cried in frustration with our situation; and even times of joy and laughter.” said Katie. But, through it all “there was always a listening ear and smiling face… who cared about our family. As much as we wanted to get home and start our life as a family of three, I was sad to leave RMH!”

After seven scary days in the hospital, Katie and her husband were thrilled to bring baby Ellen home grateful for the care and support they had received. The Ronald McDonald Family Room helped them get through their time of crisis and gave them a comfortable place to spend some of those precious early days together.
A Mother’s Unconditional Love

The Ramey Family

When Kathy Ramey found out she was expecting triplets in 2009, the love for her three daughters grew with each day of her pregnancy. She was excited that her sons would soon have three sisters to play with. On July 13, 2010, at 29 weeks – way earlier than Kathy or her husband expected – her girls were born. Tragically, her daughter Carly passed away and her two other daughters, Joy and Eva, were fighting for their lives in the neonatal intensive care unit.

While the family rejoiced when Eva came home after two months, they knew Joy faced a longer hospital stay and more challenges, having been diagnosed with end stage renal disease. Her little body needed a new kidney.

The Ramey’s waited for Joy to get stronger desperately hoping that a donor would be found. Their prayers were answered when, after a series of tests, Kathy found out that her kidney was a perfect match for her little girl.

After the surgery the family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Oklahoma City so they could be close to Joy and Kathy during their recovery. Kathy remembered, “The Ronald McDonald House was a place that could accommodate our family and offer the kind of hospitality we needed. During our surgeries and afterward, the House provided a haven to our other children, as well as our extended family. The RMHC staff, incredible accommodations and amenities surrounded us with gracious hospitality, comfort and stability. Without you, it would make a very difficult thing even more overwhelming.”

The family rejoiced when Joy’s body fully accepted her mother’s kidney. She is now 3 years old and a true example what a mother’s unconditional love is all about.

“I felt taken care of and safe, blessed beyond any expectation I may have had. My other children and husband were able to come for visits and play in the play area, read books, and just be together with us.”
Genevieve’s Heart

Mona Santoya woke in the middle of the night to hear her little daughter Genevieve gasping for air. After rushing her to the ER, tests and x-rays revealed that Genevieve’s heart was failing. She needed specialty treatment 660 miles away in Palo Alto, California.

Genevieve was immediately transported to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and placed on an artificial heart to keep blood pumping through her system. Through it all, Mona kept vigil by her bedside, holding her hand, trying to keep her magnificent smile glowing through the pain.

For nearly a week, Genevieve and Mona were all alone without any support. Thankfully, a room opened up at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford right next to the hospital. This meant Mona’s husband and five other children could temporarily relocate and help Genevieve get better together.

Beyond simply a place to sleep, the Ronald McDonald House gave the family connections. At the House they connected with other families going through similar heartache, frustration, and fear. They found solace and relaxation in home-cooked meals that were prepared every night by caring volunteers. They are also afforded the time, free of any other distractions, to be at the hospital to give Genevieve as many hugs, kisses, and “I love you’s” as she needs.

With the help of RMHC, Genevieve and her family’s hearts are mending together. On March 18, Genevieve received her new heart and after eight months in the hospital, she was able to join her family at the Ronald McDonald House.

Get Involved

Help us help even more families in need

Each year, nearly nine million children and families are served by RMHC – and more need our help. We want to support more children throughout their recovery, give more families a comfortable place to stay during a difficult time and offer medical services to more children who are without.

But we can't do it without you, so we're asking you to get involved. There are so many ways for you to join us in our mission dedicated to providing stability and vital resources to children in need.

Your Small Change Can Make a Big Difference
An even easier way for you to help support RMHC is to drop your spare change in the RMHC Donation Boxes at participating McDonald’s restaurants. Little by little, it adds up and can mean a lot.

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RMHC STORIES

Francesca

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Heads or Tails?

On her birthday, 14-year-old Francesca of Mantua, Italy, learned that she had myelodysplasia leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. She would have to leave home and stay in a hospital that was more than an hour from her home to undergo medical treatment. It was the worst birthday possible. An... Read More
The Vu Family

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Martin Vu

While each Ronald McDonald House is astonishingly unique, they were all designed with one simple premise in mind – to be a warm, welcoming home away from home for families traveling to receive critical care for their child. Equipped with laundry facilities, full service kitchens, playrooms, and lovi... Read More
Kayla Ash

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Kayla

On December 19, 2012 my family noticed a lump on my neck. A couple days later, I was medevaced to St. John’s and diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. My dad and I found ourselves nearly 1,000 miles from our home in Goose Bay; 1,000 miles away from my mom, brother and sister; from my high school, favor... Read More
Kayla and Christina

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Togetherness

It’s funny. We used to pass each other in the hallways at school all the time. We kind of knew each other, but weren’t exactly friends. Now, thanks to a special place called the Ronald McDonald House, we’re friends – very close friends. Today, friendship means a lot more to us. While we both have ... Read More
Tang Liao Family

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Duets

In a nook on the fifth floor of the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s Hospital, is an old upright piano. The room is Chloe’s concert hall and the instrument is her Steinway. Sitting up straight, her hands melt into the keyboard as sonatas, concertos, and waltzes start streaming through the... Read More

The Richards Family

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Forever Grateful for RMHC

When our two-year-old daughter Avery suddenly became very ill over Labor Day weekend two years ago, my husband Ryan and I rushed her to our local hospital. The ER doctors did a CAT scan and immediately transferred Avery to Rainbows Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. When the helicopter arrived to... Read More
The Bloodworth

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Comfort, Care and Support

After a long and difficult labor, Katie Bloodworth’s precious new baby finally arrived. But the doctors and nurses in the delivery room began working on her urgently. Katie and her husband had no idea what would happen next. They were scared; baby Ellen wasn’ t making a sound. Thankfully, baby El... Read More
The Landri Family

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A Love Story

Landri’s story is one of love. Pure and simple. From her adoption, to her care to the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, New Jersey that made it possible; love has helped her fight, stay strong, put one foot in front of the other and thrive.

Landri is the youngest in the Hellinga family. After ... Read More
Christina Dingwell

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Christina

When you are 900 miles from your home, sitting in a room in the hospital, hearing that a mass was discovered in your chest and it’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the first thing that pops into your head, is ‘why me?’ Soon after, when you find out that you have six months of chemotherapy and radiation ahead an... Read More
The Halstead Family

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This Little Light

An hour away from our home, in the unfamiliar hallways of Atlanta Children’s Hospital, we were told that our two-year old Tripp wouldn’t live. Our little boy with the biggest smile and magnetic personality had been playing outside at day care when a gust of wind knocked an 100-pound branch off a tre... Read More

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FOR HELPING FAMILIES FIND STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

A wonderful home for the holidays

We were thrilled to bring Amelia “home” to spend Christmas with us at the Ronald McDonald House

Healing Together with Caleb

Comfort, Care and Support

A Mother’s Unconditional Love

The Ramey Family

Genevieve’s Heart

Get Involved

Help us help even more families in need

DONATE

CONNECT

WHAT WE DO

Keeping families together to help kids heal and cope better

ronald mcdonald houses

ronald mcdonald family rooms

ronald mcdonald care mobiles

grants

RMHC U.S.
scholarships

RMHC STORIES

Francesca

The Vu Family

Kayla Ash

Kayla and Christina

Tang Liao Family

The Richards Family

The Bloodworth

The Landri Family

Christina Dingwell

The Halstead Family

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for our e-newsletter to read inspiring stories from our families, keep up to date with RMHC news and stay in touch with your fellow RMHC friends and supporters.

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FOR HELPING FAMILIES FIND STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

A wonderful home for the holidays

We were thrilled to bring Amelia “home” to spend Christmas with us at the Ronald McDonald House

Healing Together with Caleb

Comfort, Care and Support

A Mother’s Unconditional Love

The Ramey Family

Genevieve’s Heart

Get Involved

Help us help even more families in need

DONATE

CONNECT

WHAT WE DO

Keeping families together to help kids heal and cope better

ronald mcdonald houses

ronald mcdonald family rooms

ronald mcdonald care mobiles

grants

RMHC U.S.scholarships

RMHC STORIES

Francesca

The Vu Family

Kayla Ash

Kayla and Christina

Tang Liao Family

The Richards Family

The Bloodworth

The Landri Family

Christina Dingwell

The Halstead Family

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for our e-newsletter to read inspiring stories from our families, keep up to date with RMHC news and stay in touch with your fellow RMHC friends and supporters.

Oops!

RMHC U.S.
scholarships