Jackson Burgess
Dear Friends, I don’t know if you will remember me. We spent 30 days in Cincinnati; 22 of those days were at Ronald McDonald House. Jackson swallowed mecconium in utero. He had to be flown by jet to Cincinnati Children’s.
Jackson had a paralyzed vocal cord from being placed on ECMO (a medical device that externally oxygenates a patient’s blood when the lungs are unable to). He had two strokes, a side effect of being on ECMO. He also has a seizure disorder.
We now have to make monthly trips to Cincinnati. Despite his rough start, Jackson is doing amazingly well. Developmentally, he is ahead of what is expected at his age! We will not know for some time yet what, if any, long term delays he will have.
Regardless, God has blessed us. I feel very lucky. Many of the friends I made while there have not been as fortunate. We all keep in very close contact. It is amazing how brief encounters with people can change and enrich your entire life.
Being at Ronald McDonald House, as I have said many times before, has had the most profound impact on my life. I owe so much to all of you for what was done for my family and me. The first week in Ohio cost $758 in hotel fees alone. I honestly would have had to sleep in a chair at the hospital, or in my car, if I hadn’t got a room there. Without Ronald McDonald House, I don’t know that I could have afforded to eat after a couple of weeks.
Besides all that was going on with Jackson to worry me, I really worried about how I was going to be able to stay with him. He was in a pod with several babies. There wasn’t anywhere in there I could have stayed. When we were told we got a room at Ronald McDonald House, I cried with relief. After getting there and seeing all that was provided, I was able to completely rest and focus on Jackson’s recovery. Ronald McDonald House was more than I could have ever imagined it to be.
It still is hard for me to believe. I can’t get over what a special place it is. Everything is provided: a comfortable room, warm meals, entertainment, plus any other necessities needed. Most of all, it is full of friendly faces and warm smiles. The House has a magical quality to it.
Jackson had a paralyzed vocal cord from being placed on ECMO (a medical device that externally oxygenates a patient’s blood when the lungs are unable to). He had two strokes, a side effect of being on ECMO. He also has a seizure disorder.
We now have to make monthly trips to Cincinnati. Despite his rough start, Jackson is doing amazingly well. Developmentally, he is ahead of what is expected at his age! We will not know for some time yet what, if any, long term delays he will have.
Regardless, God has blessed us. I feel very lucky. Many of the friends I made while there have not been as fortunate. We all keep in very close contact. It is amazing how brief encounters with people can change and enrich your entire life.
Being at Ronald McDonald House, as I have said many times before, has had the most profound impact on my life. I owe so much to all of you for what was done for my family and me. The first week in Ohio cost $758 in hotel fees alone. I honestly would have had to sleep in a chair at the hospital, or in my car, if I hadn’t got a room there. Without Ronald McDonald House, I don’t know that I could have afforded to eat after a couple of weeks.
Besides all that was going on with Jackson to worry me, I really worried about how I was going to be able to stay with him. He was in a pod with several babies. There wasn’t anywhere in there I could have stayed. When we were told we got a room at Ronald McDonald House, I cried with relief. After getting there and seeing all that was provided, I was able to completely rest and focus on Jackson’s recovery. Ronald McDonald House was more than I could have ever imagined it to be.
It still is hard for me to believe. I can’t get over what a special place it is. Everything is provided: a comfortable room, warm meals, entertainment, plus any other necessities needed. Most of all, it is full of friendly faces and warm smiles. The House has a magical quality to it.
It is very strange and hard to describe. Ronald McDonald House is one of the saddest places in the world to be, yet it is able to bring such love, joy and hope. It is a very healing place – a sanctuary. I am forever thankful. It isn’t just a house, it is an experience, a lesson.
The atmosphere at the House is not sad or depressing. It has such a feel of togetherness and strength. I have worried and wondered about everyone I encountered while there. When I stopped in last month, I did see some of the people I knew. They are all such special people. Taylor was out of the hospital and Tenaya was going to be heading home soon. I was very saddened to learn of the passing of Sarah and Baby Jack Powell. Missy, Sue and I keep in touch very often. Ronald McDonald House provided me with a way to make some of the best friends I have ever had. I felt so alone and almost doomed until I arrived at Ronald McDonald House and drew strength, hope and friendship from other parents.
I just can’t say enough about how wonderful you all are. I thank God all the time for you all. Now that Jackson is settled in pretty well, I am going to try to start volunteering at Ronald McDonald House here. Hopefully, U can do some special things for people to make theirs a personal, positive experience like the one I had in Cincinnati. I have also been saving pop tabs to bring up to you all. I will drop them off during Jackson’s monthly hospital visits.
I also told my parents that I would like a portion of my inheritance to go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. And, I encourage everyone I know to contribute to Ronald McDonald House. I will be an advocate for Ronald McDonald House for the rest of my life! I feel I could never, ever repay you all.
Thanks for everything. I want you to let everyone involved with Ronald McDonald House know that they are appreciated and thought about all the time.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Burgess
The atmosphere at the House is not sad or depressing. It has such a feel of togetherness and strength. I have worried and wondered about everyone I encountered while there. When I stopped in last month, I did see some of the people I knew. They are all such special people. Taylor was out of the hospital and Tenaya was going to be heading home soon. I was very saddened to learn of the passing of Sarah and Baby Jack Powell. Missy, Sue and I keep in touch very often. Ronald McDonald House provided me with a way to make some of the best friends I have ever had. I felt so alone and almost doomed until I arrived at Ronald McDonald House and drew strength, hope and friendship from other parents.
I just can’t say enough about how wonderful you all are. I thank God all the time for you all. Now that Jackson is settled in pretty well, I am going to try to start volunteering at Ronald McDonald House here. Hopefully, U can do some special things for people to make theirs a personal, positive experience like the one I had in Cincinnati. I have also been saving pop tabs to bring up to you all. I will drop them off during Jackson’s monthly hospital visits.
I also told my parents that I would like a portion of my inheritance to go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. And, I encourage everyone I know to contribute to Ronald McDonald House. I will be an advocate for Ronald McDonald House for the rest of my life! I feel I could never, ever repay you all.
Thanks for everything. I want you to let everyone involved with Ronald McDonald House know that they are appreciated and thought about all the time.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Burgess
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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati | 350 Erkenbrecher Avenue | Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 | 513.636.7642
