Last year, Landry wanted to give back during the season of giving to a place that meant so much to his family. He asked his community to collect toys and wish list items for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
Landry was born at 27 weeks gestation only 1 pound and 13 ounces. Wendy’s pregnancy had complications so she knew that she would be delivering at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. However, she didn’t know until two days before Landry was born that he might have a Congenital Heart Defect and that they would have to wait for Landry to reach two pounds before finding any more concrete answers. Over the next several months, tests confirmed that Landry had Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia (TOF/PA). Landry had his first heart surgery at three months to temporary fix portions of his heart.
The Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City alleviated some stresses. Wendy, Landry’s mom, did not have to worry about lodging for the seven months Landry spent at the hospital. Wendy says, “Financially, we could never afford to spend seven months in a hotel.” The groceries provided let them cook their own meals and the volunteers who planned and prepared meals allowed them to not have to worry about what was for dinner. The simple service of laundry facilitates and a real bed to sleep in made a huge difference during a stressful time in their family’s life. Wendy says, “Our family can never fully repay all the supporters, volunteers, and staff for all they do. You are a light during some very dark and scary times. You are making an impact and difference in so many lives.”
Five years later, Landry continues to travel over two hours to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital for regular doctor visits to check on his heart and GJ feeding tube. Before his December check-up, Landry dropped off over 438 toys from his toy drive. Landry understood that not all the kids could be home for the holidays and knew how hard it is to be away from home.
