“I realized that if we were not rested, we couldn’t fully engage in conversations with the medical team. The Ronald McDonald House allowed us to be rested and fed and ready.

“And when so much of our attention was diverted to the twins, RMH made our son Hollis feel so special and welcomed. He turned 4 just a few days in to our stay at the House, and the staff put together the best celebration for him. He woke up to a decorated dining room and presents from the Charity. Then we got to invite our families to come visit and eat dinner and cake with us that evening. Hollis still asks us if he can have another birthday party at the ‘Ronald McDonald Hotel.’

“Hollis may call it the ‘Ronald McDonald Hotel,’ but it really felt like home to us…Home, but with a bunch of other people in the same situation. It was so helpful to talk with other parents, share encouragements, smiles, and even be reminded how blessed you are. When we ran into other families, it was easy to start conversations because we were all in the same boat. Motherhood can feel lonely in nearly every aspect, so it was really nice to not feel alone at the Ronald McDonald House.

“It was so much more than what we could have imagined. We experienced an overwhelming feeling of love from people we didn’t even know. It’s something we can’t repay.”