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TOM & CYNDEE BROWNER   

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OLD TOWN MALL - 901 E KIMBERLY,  DAVENPORT IOWA

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563-388-0008 OFFICE - 563-388-0083 FAX - 563-570-7629 CELL - 563-343-1092 CELL

THE RONALD Mc DONALD HOUSES

 If you read the words and saw the pictures on my family and the Children's Miracle Network hospitals, you know that my daughter is now living with my grandson Max who suffers from ALL, (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).  This will help explain what happens to the mothers and families who have their entire lives uprooted by a severely ill child.  My daughter, to save her son, was forced to leave her home, quit her job and for the next six months, she has to be at the hospital several days a week.  Then for another 3 years, she must be close to a major hospital, and spend a day or two a month there for Max to be monitored and receive chemo.

The first three months has seen Max in the hospital all but a couple weeks.  However, what can a mom do?  You can't be away from your child when they are in the hospital and can not afford to be in a motel every night when they are out.  You can't work.  You may, on any given day, have only a short time to get your child to the emergency room.  Your child has constant diarrhea and vomiting from the chemo.  He can not be with other children, in crowds, or in contact with anyone with a virus or infection.  Walks around the block in a stroller are ok, weather permitting, but shopping centers, grocery stores, theatres, or crowded areas are not.

So what happens to the parents and other family members while the child is being treated in the hospital.  At best, they need to be very close to their child,  as they are living at the hospital every day.  Family members need to have a safe place to sleep, relax and play.  Everyone needs food and many can not afford being away from home, work and their normal support systems.

Enter Ronald McDonald House.  My daughter had no money to speak of.  Her lifestyle had not allowed her to save any money.  Her husband had just invested everything they had in a new tourist business, but they were just making ends meet.  For at least six months, Bobbi has to be at the hospital all day at least twice a week as an outpatient.  At least that was the plan, but the reality was that Max was an in patient most of the first three months.  I spoke of the miracle of the Children's Miracle Network hospitals.  The second miracle was the staff and volunteers who man the Ronald McDonald Houses.

A case worker suggested that my daughter contact the Ronald McDonald house across the street from the Emergency Entrance of the hospital.  She was put on a waiting list and finally, we were told a room was available and Max could move across the street, but would have to be at the hospital every day.

The facility was clean.  Large central community areas, solarium, lounges, large kitchen, your own refrigerator space, TV rooms, meeting room, private parking lot and playground.  Add a library, video check out, pool table and other games and you have a child friendly facility for even big adult kids.  All secure and strict rules to protect all the families using the facilities.  

The room was large, two double beds, TV, closet and bathroom.  Room enough for kids to play.  Wagons could be checked out to take the patients for a ride outside or take them to the hospital.  Volunteers showed up once or twice a day with real meals like meatloaf, etc. with all the trimmings.  The suggested donation for the room and food was $15 a day.  Now for a mother required to live for days to months next to the hospital, this is a miracle.  I have to honestly say, that I knew the Ronald McDonald Houses existed, and that they allowed parents and families to be close to children in hospitals, but I never realized how much assistance to the families they gave or what wonderful facilities they provided.  Volunteer's man the desk and volunteer groups bring in the dinners and lunches. Each resident can bring in food and put it in the kitchen refrigerators.  They can cook in the kitchen, and basically make themselves at home.  Each resident is required to clean up after themselves and to keep their room clean.  Vacuums and other necessary items are provided and can be checked out.  Soda, milk and other items are available in drastic discount vending machines.  

As I said, it was a total surprise and I consider them to be a second miracle.  I wish to Thank the Ronald McDonald corporation and all the volunteers at the Denver Ronald McDonald House for making my daughter's life bearable during the treatment of her son Max.  You have made her life better under very difficult times.  So the next time you pull up to the window and see the sticker asking you to donate to the Ronald McDonald House charity, do it.  The change will not matter to you, but it certainly matters to and affects the lives of many families with acutely ill children.  Here is a picture tour of the Denver Ronald McDonald House.  I am doing the pictures to show you the facilities and make you aware of what your donations do for so many.  Until circumstances forced us to use the facilities, we never knew the reality of or understood the importance of the services they provide to so many families.  I took special care to photograph while the facilities were not in use.  This to protect the privacy rights of the families using the facilities.  I can tell you that all the rooms were all taken and there was a constant waiting list.  So Thank You to McDonalds, the Staff and Volunteers of the Denver Ronald McDonald House and to all the Ronald McDonald Homes that provide so much support to so many families each year.

So if you have the opportunity, leave some change at your local McDonald's restaurant.  If you belong to a group or a church, you might want to consider calling a local Ronald McDonald House and coordinate a day or several days a year to provide meals to the residents.  If you have some time, perhaps you would like to volunteer some hours as staff.  It is a very worth cause, and one I personally from experience can endorse.

My sincere gratitude to the Denver Children's Hospital and the Denver Ronald McDonald House and their respective staffs.  Thank You, Tom Browner, Cyndee Browner, Bobbi and little Max.

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