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 born, he had to go to the NICU at St. Luke’s. I was so scared, worried, happy all at once,” Rochelle recalls. While in the NICU, Rochelle’s nurse told them about the Ronald McDonald Family Room. “They offered us meals, drinks and snacks all day. I end up getting a warm, cozy blanket, which now is my sons.” Rochelle and her partner stayed the night in one of the Sleep Rooms, giving the new mom and dad a comfortable space to sleep while staying close to their newborn son.
“It brought tears to my eyes to know people we don’t even know could care like they did. I did not have to cook, they provided washer and dryers, and nice bathrooms with showers. If you forgot anything they had it- soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, razors, towels, even breast milk storage bags. They provided laundry soap and dryer sheets. You name it, they had it!!! They try to make it as smooth and as stress free as possible. I was able to focus on my son and nothing else!”
Now the family is home and settled in as a family of three. Mom and dad have fond memories of the Ronald McDonald Family Room. “Thank you for making my family as comfortable as possible. We were and are so very grateful for your support!”
–The Williams Family
