Ronald McDonald House Visit

My last tour as part of the McDonald’s All-Access Moms program was in two parts, each distinctly McDonald’s, but completely separate in terms of what I was preparing myself to see, learn, and come away with.

Part of the last tour included a visit to a local Ronald McDonald House – the House we visited was the Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario, located in London, Ontario. I had not visited a Ronald McDonald House before that day, but like most of us, I was familiar with the charity, its purpose, and how at least some of the fundraising is done.

The purpose of a Ronald McDonald House, of which a significant portion of funding comes from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada, is simple: to provide a little bit of normalcy when a family’s life has been turned upside down by a child’s illness.

I have been fortunate that my children have never been hospitalized and most certainly have never encountered the situation of having my child sent to a bigger centre for treatment so they’re not even near home. I’m not sure what we’d do in that situation, since we live far from extended family and are a family of five. How does a family cope when a little one is sick and has to be sent an hour away to a hospital? Who stays with the sick child? I don’t even know how we’d figure that out but after visiting a Ronald McDonald House and learning a bit more about it, I feel better knowing there’s a caring charity there to help.

The Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario was recently renovated and now has 34 rooms for families to stay in, almost double the capacity they could previously accommodate. When we arrived, it was early December and the House was already decorated for the holidays. The House exuded a warm feeling right from the lobby. When your child is sick, having comfort is so important (especially when hospitals offer such a sterile, chilled, environment).

The layout of the House was not created by chance. On the main floor there are several seating areas, but each within its own small, comfortable, nook so families can sit together without having to sit with everyone else… unless of course they want to! In various areas throughout the House you will find a desk with computer, so families can check email and contact friends and family while still keeping an eye on the kids. The room shown above within the glass door is for young children, with a computer station right outside (the moms on the tour commented that we all need a set up like this in our own houses)!

The House, complete with a media room for movies, treasure chest room with special surprises, a room for older kids with a foosball table, gaming systems and more, has everything a family could possibly need when away from home and dealing with a little one’s sickness.

After touring the House I felt so positive about this charitable organization and how it helps families and will undoubtedly be referring people to a Ronald McDonald House should any of my friends or family have sick children in the hospital.

That prompted a question from all of us. How does a family become guests at Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario? The answer? You simply call and ask. Bookings cannot be confirmed in advance (for example if your child has a set surgery date) because they simply cannot judge the need for rooms at a certain time. But all it takes is a phone call by yourself or by hospital staff for the medical referral to make arrangements for you and yours in a time of need.

Of course, once you visit and stay at the House, as wonderful as it is, you certainly don’t want to return anytime soon. The reality for many families, however, is that they return to the Ronald McDonald House in their area more often than they’d like.

We had the utmost privilege of meeting members of a family dealing with the heartbreaking battle of childhood leukemia. George and his youngest daughter Nadine sat down with us at the House and George shared his story about his eldest daughter who has been battling leukemia since the age of 5. Off and on for the past 5 years they have been staying at the London Ronald McDonald House when in the city for treatment (they live 2 hours away in Windsor).

Their story really made the gift of what the Ronald McDonald House does for families all the more real. While George appreciates everything they have done for his family, he does not want to return to the House again; but right now that possibility is there. I hope for the family’s sake that they never have to return to a Ronald McDonald House again, if only to stop by and say thank you to the staff with their healthy, cured, daughter.

The next time my local McDonald’s restaurant celebrates McHappy Day, which will be held on May 2 this year, I will make sure I participate and will be asking my friends to do so as well. This year on McHappy Day $1 from every Big Mac, Happy Meal and hot McCafé beverage sold goes to local children’s charities, like Ronald McDonald House Charities across Canada. Additionally, any time you purchase a Happy Meal in Canada, 10 cents from each meal goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities as well. And because McDonald’s pays all of the administration costs of Ronald McDonald House Charities, 100 cents from every dollar donated goes to support the Ronald McDonald Houses.

I intend to contact the local Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to introduce myself and hopefully come for a tour. I also want to find out what they need and how I can help this charity locally. This recent tour has reminded me how fortunate my family is and prompted me to find ways to give to a charity that does so much for others. While good karma through giving may only take me so far, there’s just no way to know if one day we will be in need of a room at a Ronald McDonald House. I sure hope not – but if that situation came about, I’d know I could count on this charity to give me strength, comfort, and a roof over our head when we need it most.