When we found Robert Thorpe in the kitchen at Ronald McDonald House Westchester, he was taking a quick break between work calls to make himself something to eat.
Just a short walk away at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, his 6-year-old daughter, Camille, was receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
While Camille undergoes treatment, the Thorpe family has relied on Ronald McDonald House Westchester’s Day Program for moments of comfort, connection, and normalcy. Between hospital visits, work calls, and long days of uncertainty, the House has provided a welcoming place where they can gather, recharge, and simply be together.
As Father’s Day approached, we asked Robert what being a father means to him right now.
“Being a dad is everything,” he said.
Pausing to gather his emotions, Robert shared how “absolutely everything stopped” on March 4, the day Camille was diagnosed with ALL.
“Nothing else really mattered,” he recalled.
From that moment forward, his focus became supporting his daughter and helping his family navigate an unimaginable journey. As he spoke, his emotion was impossible to miss. His words served as a powerful reminder of the love, strength, and determination parents bring to their children every day.
Robert described the challenge of balancing hospital life while helping 10-year-old Eleanor continue being a typical kid. Between school and time spent supporting her sister, the Day Program provides a welcoming place where she can spend time with her parents, grab a snack, play a game, and simply be a kid.
“She can play Xbox or Nintendo, we can grab a snack, and she can hang out with me in the evenings if my wife is spending time with Camille,” he said.
For Robert, the House has become much more than a place to take a break. It has given him a place where he can continue to work, stay close to his family, and connect with others who understand what families like his are experiencing.
“I’ve got a base where I can function, work, grab food, and talk to other humans,” he said. “It’s an amazing facility. You feel so loved and nurtured here.”
He was especially grateful for the volunteers and staff who help make families feel supported during difficult times.
“The volunteers and staff really make this a special place to come to. You feel like somebody’s got your back.”
Perhaps his most powerful reflection came when describing what Ronald McDonald House Westchester has meant to him as both a father and provider: “Everything’s here for me. I can keep life running right from here.”
This Father’s Day, we celebrate dads like Robert.
The fathers who answer work emails between hospital visits.
The fathers who quietly carry worry while remaining strong for their families.
The fathers who show up every day with love, hope, and determination.
To Robert, and to all the fathers supporting a child through illness or treatment, thank you. Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Ronald McDonald House Westchester.
