When your child undergoes a serious surgery or is seriously ill, stress comes at you from all directions. Will she be able to lead a normal live? Will anything go wrong during the surgery? Will my insurance company pay for all of this?
But what if the only hospital that can help you is several hours away? Imagine having to unexpectedly feed and house a family of five for such a long period of time. Hotel and restaurant expenses add up quickly. Sometimes families are faced with a choice: endure financial hardship, or split up the family for months at a time.
The Ronald McDonald House is a charity whose mission is to provide some relief in this situation. If your child is hospitalized away from your home town, they will provide you with a room, two comfortable beds, and two or more meals each day. This is a tremendous relief for families dealing with a whirlwind of stress, worry, and pain.
We were fortunate that there is a Ronald McDonald House in Charleston, where we have now stayed for a total of two months. It’s a warm and welcoming place, a home-away from home where we can take a break from the hospital bedside, take a break from the stress, and find a little peace.
If you have any end-of-year giving left to do, please consider donating to the Ronald McDonald House. I’m not sure that we could have survived the past few months without them.
