Skip to main content

Celebrating RMH on McHappy Day



It's a place I wish didn't have to exist.

For that to happen, it would mean no child would ever get sick or need surgery requiring them to stay in a hospital. It would mean no childhood cancer, no trauma and no life-threatening diseases.

Unfortunately that is not reality.

But the silver lining in a world of childhood illness is a place called Ronald McDonald House.

These homes away from home are like a dose of medicine to relieve - even a little - the painful hours, days and months families endure while a child  is in hospital with a serious injury or illness.

RMH also "helps give sick children what they need most - their families."

I know this is true... because I have stayed there. That's why I am supporting McHappy Day to raise money for RMH.

RMH Hamilton was my home in 2010 and again this March. Both were positive experiences that left me feeling grateful and appreciative of the people who make these homes happen.

This place is close to our hearts and meant so much to us during a difficult time.

For weeks at a time over a period of several months my husband and I both stayed there while our son underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumour followed by months of chemotherapy.

Most recently, my daughter also got to stay at the newly renovated home in Hamilton. Words cannot describe how great it was to have her there with me after spending long days in ICU with my son. By still being close to McMaster, I was able to relax and enjoy my playtime with her. It lessened the anxiety of being away.

And the opportunity for her to be with mom during what must have been a confusing and scary time for a 4-year-old also left her with a positive experience.

"It was great," she always tells people.

Our family spoke so highly of RMH on our visits at the hospital, that my son insisted on going there once he was released. As eager as we were to go back home, we took my son for a tour of RMH Hamilton. He too was amazed and excited about the home.

Home-cooked meals, laundry facilities, quiet seating areas and recreational activities are only a few of the services offered at RMH. The home was clearly designed to meet our needs. The playroom was conveniently located off the dining room, so as I sipped my morning coffee I could watch Mackenzie play before returning to Mac.

The spacious rooms were quiet and comfortable. It truly was a place where I could come back to and relax. Supper would be warm and ready upon my return and whatever I needed was there, whether it was a hot tea, a snack or toothpaste.

It was a safehaven. A place where I could forget about the tubes, wires, monitors and hospital routines. It was our oasis.

Thank you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kids need to be kids - even with cancer

No one wants to see their child hurt. But when you have a child with a serious medical condition, seeing your child in pain can often be a frequent occurrence. Physical pain is one thing - emotional suffering is another- one I had little experience with until recently. (Yes, I am struggling, so that's why I am writing!) When Xavier was initially diagnosed and treated for brain cancer, he was a baby. He couldn't talk, express his feelings or even remember the trauma he suffered. Now, he is older, smarter and more thoughtful - yet too young to understand. About a month ago we started to see a change in Xavier. He was different. His sleep patterns changed, he was lethargic and other symptoms arose that concerned us. An MRI was immediately scheduled, followed by appointments with multiple doctors. A lumbar puncture has now been scheduled. I am not concerned they will find more cancer. I am not worried there is anything physically wrong. What has me scared and heart broken i...
Post a Comment
Read more

The dragon in his head

As far as my son knows, there was a dragon in his head. This dragon was big and scary and made him feel sick. But as far as my son knows, we stomped that dragon out. The idea of Xavier's cancerous tumour being a dragon in his head came from a movie that had been given to me by another mom of childhood cancer. Paul and The Dragon is a powerful 20-minute video of a young boy with cancer. Although it is generic (not about brain tumours), and there are no words, it is incredibly telling. For any family who has been through a similar experience, you will instantly connect with this boy and his family. And for my kids, who are very young and don't exactly understand medical terminology, the story is easy to understand and has provided a great foundation for how to talk to them about Xavier's journey with cancer. The movie was so popular among my kids that it became part of our regular Friday night movie rotation. My son even requested it while he was in the hos...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Deep Breath

The worst is over. Those words are like the soothing sound of a steady rainfall on a warm summers eve. After almost two weeks of anxiety and fear of Xavier's brain surgery, I can finally relax. It is over and he is doing amazing. This almost 5 year old kid has been through more than I have with 26 years on him. And still, he smiles, laughs and plays his little heart out. Not even a week after surgeons opened him up again, removed scar tissue in the 4th ventricle of his brain and took out a vertebrae in his spine, Xavier is walking, talking and just being a kid again. This past week has been a roller coaster of emotions, but above all has once again shown me how strong my little boy is ... and how strong I can be when I have to. There were moments when I thought I couldn't do this again - spend nights at his bedside in hospital, watch him suffer and see his painful scars. But with so many amazing people around me, and the extraordinary care by doctors and nurses at McMast...
Post a Comment
Read more