“No parent wants to experience anything abnormal when they have a child—especially their first.”
Caitlyn and Luke gave birth to their son, Knox, at 32 weeks. He would need weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to grow stronger and learn to eat well.
“Even though we knew Knox was going to be okay, it is so scary to leave your baby in the hospital.”
Once Caitlin was discharged from the hospital, they excitedly checked in to Ronald McDonald House of the Four States.
“I knew the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities, but I never could have guessed what it would feel like to stay there—it was a totally different ballpark.” Caitlyn shared. “It was so nice to have an actual bed, a full shower, and space to spread out and call our own. We had privacy there, which is nearly impossible in the hospital.”
When people think about Ronald McDonald Houses, they often think about our lodging accommodations. However, the extra services we offer leave a lasting impression on families we serve.
“I remember doing my laundry for the first time in the House, realizing how big of a blessing it was to have a piece of normalcy in my day,” said Caitlin, listing the things that surprised her most about her stay. “I didn’t know just how comforting a meal could be. On our first night, a volunteer delivered an entire feast for us! It felt like Thanksgiving in July, and it was such a wonderful surprise.”
“The Ronald McDonald House gave us extra people that loved on us. The staff and volunteers were not just doing a job—they cared about us. When I think back to our experience there, I think about Jerri, the House Manager. She was always right there, such a comforting presence to us. In many ways, she went above and beyond to show me she cared.”
Since Luke and Caitlin live in Pittsburg, they would have had to commute back and forth in between feeding times.
“We had family that lived in Joplin, but not in Freeman’s parking lot, like the Ronald McDonald House is! You can’t be close enough to your baby in the hospital. Without RMHC, we would have lost hours driving back and forth from Pittsburg every day, and every hour with Knox mattered.”
Today, Knox is a thriving four year old.
“He is vibrant, brave, strong, wild, and healthy—all the things we prayed for him to be,” shared Caitlin. “We enjoy coming back to the Ronald McDonald House. We try to collect pop tabs in our community to raise awareness. Although it may not make a ton of money, it is a way to share our experience and start a conversation about the charity.”
“Our area is so blessed to have such great NICU staffs. Between their staff and the Ronald McDonald House, we had so much love and positivity around us.”
