SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Endless Support for Families
( 304 ) 346-0279 CharlestonRMHC . org
910 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston , WV 25302
Navigating the challenges of having a child in the hospital is difficult . Imagine finding a way to care for your sick or injured child in the hospital while being miles from home . Melissa and Joey were traveling to the Charleston area for a camping getaway before the arrival of their first child . What was intended to be a brief vacation turned into an extended hospital stay and the unexpected arrival of their little girl .
“ We were visiting my boyfriend ’ s brother for the weekend . Long story short , I went into labor . After being transferred and admitted , I could only think of how far we were from home and our families . At that point , I had no idea what the Ronald McDonald House did for families ,” Melissa says .
Melissa and Joey were more than 350 miles from home when their baby girl arrived months earlier than expected . When they learned their baby would need an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ), Melissa and Joey needed a place to stay so they could remain close . They were introduced to the Ronald McDonald House of Southern West Virginia , where they would stay for 90 nights .
“ I have no words to express the gratitude we have ,” Melissa says . “ Knowing we had a place to stay and volunteers to come cook meals was truly a blessing , along with being so close to the hospital and our emotional support system . The Ronald McDonald House was there for us when we were going through what we call one of the most terrifying yet beautiful experiences ever .”
Melissa and Joey could rest during their 90-night stay knowing they were close to their baby while she was treated at the hospital . The Ronald McDonald House provided them a private room , home-cooked meals , support from other parents in similar situations and a place to call home close to the hospital .
“ The Ronald McDonald House will always have a place in our hearts . Not only did they provide us with tremendous support , but they became family ,” says Melissa .
Nearly 300 families from all over West Virginia travel to the Charleston area for their children to receive life-saving medical care . The Ronald McDonald House gives them a place to call home during all the uncertainty of having a sick or injured child admitted to the hospital far from home . It is a place for families to have a community of support as they navigate caring for their children while being away from the comforts of home .
All the services at the Ronald McDonald House are provided free of charge to every family who stays thanks to the generous support from donors and volunteers . Families can remain close to the hospital without worrying about the cost of lodging , transportation or dining and can spend more time caring for their hospitalized children .
“ For giving us a place to stay for 90 days with our micropreemie in the NICU , we will forever thank you . Forever sending all the blessings and thank yous . The Ronald McDonald House is the definition of making a difference ,” Joey says .