Dear Ronald McDonald House,

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

When I was pregnant with my daughter Margot, I was told she had a tumor in her throat that would block her airway at birth. I was terrified, unsure of what the future would hold, and preparing for her to need surgery the moment she was born. In the middle of that fear and uncertainty, the Ronald McDonald House became my home and my safety net.

You cared for me and my children when I couldn’t do it all on my own. You loved my older daughter, Valerie, as if she were your own — giving her gifts, feeding us every day, putting on activities for the children, bringing ice cream and service dogs to make them smile. You brought joy into a time that felt so heavy and made sure Valerie still got to feel like a child, even when everything around her was unfamiliar and scary.

You gave me warmth, comfort, meals, and a community that felt like family. More than anything, you gave me hope.

Today, Margot is a happy, healthy, perfect two-year-old girl — my miracle. And I know in my heart I wouldn’t have made it through that season without the love and support from the Ronald McDonald House and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. You changed my life. You changed my heart forever. I will never be able to repay the kindness, compassion, and generosity you showed me and my girls.

Thank you for giving us a home, for caring for my daughters, and for holding me together when I was falling apart. I will always be in your debt, and I will always carry your kindness with me.

With endless gratitude,

Caitlin