Doctors warned Holsten’s parents that he would be born with multiple critical heart conditions. To ensure he had the best care, his parents moved into a room at our House before his due date so they would be just steps from the care he needed. He underwent his first open heart surgery at just four days old: it lasted more than 10 hours and he was left open-chested.  His parents explained how grateful they were for our House during this incredibly stressful time:

“I truly believe this is the absolute best place we could be. We are so lucky to have gotten a room at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati prior to delivery. It was a safe place to take him when we are out of the hospital and unable to travel far because of his condition.

Holsten was admitted four times during our months there, and we really couldn’t have done it without RMH and its proximity to the hospital. It was so nice to be able to come back from the hospital to shower, etc. and be able to have a warm meal! Holsten was there for his first Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s Day, which was hard but being there made it so much easier! The House is a great environment and always decorated for the holidays and really uplifting!

We really appreciate everything that was done for us there, and I am not sure what we would’ve done without RMH. We hated being away from home, but there’s nowhere else we would rather have been. We made so many friends while there and found other women going through the same thing as me.

 We were there for 160 days, and there is no way we could have made it without Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House. We are so thankful to have our son with us today, and without his doctors and RMH, he wouldn’t be here today.” – Baylee, Holsten’s mom

For 160 nights and through multiple surgeries and critical moments, Holsten had his family by his side, thanks to their room in our House and the selfless donors who make these stays possible.