“I have been familiar with RMHC since I volunteered at our local hospital as a teen, and then an employee of McDonald’s Corporation. I did not realize that we could utilize it for a series of outpatient appointments. When the coordinator in Cincinnati for my son’s GI appointments reached out to me, information about the House was in the packet of information. 

Due to having so many visits last year, it was a big financial hardship for our family. Four of my children are now coming to Cincinnati Children’s for specialists. Not only are there so many expenses, but I also miss work. So, to be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati for four days is huge for us. To not have to worry about meals, driving to the hospital and lodging expenses was so impactful to us.

Another benefit was talking to other parents that are going through medical things. It is so hard to find people that understand what it’s like to have children with abnormal diagnosis.

One of the greatest things to me was for my children to have so many others to play with. My ten-year-old does not attend in-person school due to his immune disease. We live in a smaller town and most of the kids go to school together. If we do see others at parks or the library or church, they are in their group. He has been bullied and made fun of a lot. At the Ronald McDonald House, EVERY child played with him so well. He had so much fun. It is so nice to have kids just accept each other and treat each other with respect and care. I have never seen so many different ages and children play together and get along. My son was so upset to leave all his new ‘friends.’  

The House takes off so much stress during the most stressful time of families lives. One of the best things I got to witness was the sibling of a young boy that had been there nearly 18 months who came up for school break. She was running around with him with a kite they had just made in the art room. You could just see how happy they were to be reunited. They were going to spend the whole week together. The family will not need to worry about meals, traveling, or lodging. That is what Ronald McDonald House Charities is to me.”

Marcy, guest mom