The Waterman Family

When Trisha and Scott Waterman’s daughter was born prematurely, they were filled with uncertainty. “Knowing we didn’t live close enough to the hospital to spend quality time with our daughter in the NICU and commute, the nurses gave us information about the Ronald McDonald House.” A room at RMHC-EIWI allowed them to stay close to […]

The Williams Family

Pregnant with her first child, Rochelle felt unprepared when her water broke 7 weeks early. “I honestly did not have my diaper bag ready. Just had my baby shower the weekend prior and nothing was unpacked.” She was put on hospital bedrest until her son was born a few days later.  “Once my son was […]

The Weatherwax Family

When their infant son was life flighted to Iowa Healthcare Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Kayla and Ben arrived with just the clothes on their backs. “We did not have a toothbrush, any toiletries, anything other than what we wore that day. It was so nice to be able to take a shower and have toiletries […]

The Ward Family

The night that Daniel and I came to the Ronald McDonald House, I didn’t have shoes on my feet. I remember this detail clearly. I was in a wheelchair, still recovering from my premature daughter’s emergency delivery. I kept looking at my shoe-less feet, wondering how I’d get myself shoes when I couldn’t drive, walk, […]

The DeKeyrel Family

At just 26 weeks pregnant with twins, Kelly DeKeyrel’s water unexpectedly broke. Kelly immediately went on strict bed rest at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. When the twins made their entrance into the world at 27.5 weeks, Kelly and Brandon’s hearts swelled with both fear and hope. “We were told about RMHC-EIWI by our nurses […]

The Hutcheson Family

It was a Thursday when Davenport couple Jenny and Keenan Hutcheson welcomed their third child into the world, eight weeks ahead of schedule. Baby Remi was quickly whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at University of Iowa Hospital, her fragile form tangled in a web of tubes and wires. Her early arrival […]

The Berggren Family

My name is Karen, and I came to the Ronald McDonald House in October 2017. My son Toby, who was 15 years old at the time, was admitted to the eating disorder unit.  We thought it would be a short week or two stay, but after meeting with Toby’s doctors, that wasn’t the case.  My […]

The Hayward Family

Emmerson was born premature at just 28 weeks and 5 days gestation. Briana and Cameron Hayward were transferred from Allen Hospital in Waterloo to UnityPoint Health- St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. He spent two months in the NICU and was diagnosed with BPD/CLD and needed to remain on oxygen. They learned that Emmerson would […]

The Hoeger Family

Rochelle Hoeger and her daughter Jasmyn were exhausted from traveling back and forth from their home in Dyersville, Iowa to Iowa City for outpatient treatment. They explored staying at hotels, but that option would be expensive over the course of Jasmyn’s treatments. After some research they learned about the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City […]

The Marks Family

Those who stay with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois become a part of a family that lasts a lifetime. The Marks Family, who stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City in 2012, formed lasting connections while at the House that have stayed with them throughout the years. […]