Ronald McDonald House helped us to feel like we weren’t alone in this journey. We were so grateful to have the burden taken away from worrying about what food we were going to eat and didn’t have to worry about taking time away from being with our baby to cook a decent meal.
My husband and I live in upstate New York, and we were so excited to find out we were
expecting our first child. When you are expecting a baby you think of all the firsts you will experience as new parents. What we didn’t expect was to spend over a month in the NICU with our sweet boy.
At just one week old, our boy Xander was flown by helicopter to the NICU at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in respiratory distress and low oxygen saturation levels. We had never been so scared and helpless. He was quickly intubated after our arrival and treated for sepsis. Doctors were very concerned about his heart. We spent all day and night at the hospital. Not knowing where to turn for help and sleeping in chairs next to our baby. We were paying for food to be delivered to the hospital. We hadn’t showered or changed our clothes in days.
We didn’t know how we were going to manage even the most basics of life while dealing with what felt like the world crumbling around us.
We were lucky to be referred to the Ronald McDonald House Westchester only a few days after our arrival. The House quickly became our safe haven. Having a place to go for food, to shower, wash our clothes and to get much needed rest all while being within a 2-minute walk to our baby was an incredible resource.
The staff at the House greeted us with welcoming arms and were constantly checking in on our baby’s health and our well-being.
Ronald McDonald House Westchester provided us with a sense of community we so desperately needed during this time. We found comfort in the familiar faces of the staff and other families staying in the House.
The House helped us to feel like we weren’t alone in this journey. We were so grateful to have the burden taken away from worrying about what food we were going to eat and didn’t have to worry about taking time away from being with our baby to cook a decent meal.
Our boy was a fighter and was eventually extubated and graduated to CPAP then oxygen. Doctors found a medicine that cleared the fluid from his heart and lungs, which he is still on today while we wait for his heart to fully recover. The RMHGHV staff cheered for him every step of the way!
We are eternally grateful for the hospitality the Ronald McDonald House provided to us during the scariest time of our new family’s life.
I know they not only have left a forever impact on our family but also on other families that have stayed there. I hope that any family that has to go through such a difficult experience with their child is fortunate enough to be provided with the services the House offers.
We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and support families going through the same challenges that we did.
Sincerely,
Rachael, Dorian, and our beautiful son, Xander
