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Testimonials
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Ariel Gilbert was just seven years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer that resulted in the amputation of her right leg. Requiring constant care and frequent follow-up appointments with her medical team, Ariel needed immediate access to the hospital; her home, however, was more than four hours away.
When Ariel’s mother, RoseAna Williams, learned about the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House, she felt relieved to know that Ariel could continue her medical program with the team of doctors who helped save her life, without the impractical commute.
“I am extremely thankful for the constant support we received from volunteers and other families during a time when we needed it most,” says RoseAna Williams. |
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| The Williams-Gilbert Family |
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Gloria and Humberto Vargas welcomed their beautiful daughter, Julissa, into the world on February 3, 2010. What should have been an exciting and special time in the Vargas’ lives became trying when Julissa developed Respiratory Syncytial Virus, an illness which infects the lungs and breathing passages.
After learning that Julissa needed long-term hospitalization at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Gloria and Humberto were faced with the challenge of finding a way to stay by their newborn daughter’s side. The new parents, who reside more than 20 miles from Bakersfield Memorial, were relieved when hospital social workers advised them to check into the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House, located on the campus of the medical facility.
While doctors are unsure how long Julissa will be hospitalized, they do believe she will outgrow the Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Until Julissa is discharged, the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House will serve as Gloria and Humberto’s home-away-from-home. |
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| The Vargas Family |
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Joy and Doug Spacht were devastated to learn that their 7-year-old daughter, Aarin, was suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Spachts were determined to not only get Aarin the treatment she required, they wanted to ensure all of their children received the emotional and psychosocial support that is so important when a family member is diagnosed with cancer.
When Aarin’s oncologist introduced the Spachts to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, Joy and Doug knew it would be just what their entire family needed to begin coming to terms with Aarin’s cancer diagnosis. Along with her siblings, Jarae and Darin, Aarin has attended Camp for the past five consecutive years.
Now 14 years old, Aarin is in good health. She will begin high school this year and looks forward to returning to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. |
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| The Spacht Family |
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In June, 2009, 13-year-old Ashlie Snyder experienced a tingling sensation in her legs that became so painful she was unable to walk down the stairs of her home. Ashlie’s mother, Shawna, immediately rushed Ashlie to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. A rare nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome can cause paralysis and has no known cure.
In an effort to remain close to Ashlie during the month she was being treated at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Ashlie’s parents and her four siblings stayed at the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. For the Snyders, the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House provided a semblance of normalcy during an incredibly stressful time for the family. “The Ronald McDonald House was a warm and inviting place, truly a ‘home-away-from home’ for our family,” recalls Shawna.
Today, Ashlie is finishing physical therapy and has made great strides in her rehabilitation. She can complete an hour-long workout and can participate in dance recitals. |
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| The Snyder Family |
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Two months premature, Naomi Salgado was born with a host of complications including a cleft palate which required multiple surgeries and long-term care. Naomi’s parents, Esmeralda Santa Cruz and Elfego Salgado, who do not own a car, were challenged with finding a way to commute more than 60 miles from their home to CHOC Children’s Hospital in order to remain near their newborn daughter.
When hospital social workers learned of the family’s situation, they referred her to the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. There, Esmeralda and Elfego made a “home-away-from-home” for their family while their
daughter received necessary care across the street from the House.
“I don’t have words to express how much the House meant to us,” recalls Esmeralda.
“To be able to stay there every day and not have to worry about transportation or where to stay was more than what we needed at the time.”
Now two years old, Naomi continues to require treatment at CHOC Children’s Hospital and the Santa Cruz/Salgado family is each time welcomed back to the Orange County Ronald McDonald House with open arms. |
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| The Santa Cruz-Salgado Family |
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A Ronald McDonald Family Room serves as an “oasis” inside of the hospital for parents with children in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange and CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Having a Ronald McDonald Family Room inside the hospital walls lets parents catch a nap, get something to eat, or take a shower while receiving the support of other families experiencing similar situations — all within mere steps of their hospitalized child.
The two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in Orange County feature guest rooms, a living room with a plasma screen television and games for children, a kitchenette, and a family resource library with computers.
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms were founded on the premise, and underscored by research showing, that a family’s presence in the hospital helps children heal faster. In addition, staying close by allows parents to better communicate with their child’s medical team, improving adherence to complicated treatment plans.
Milyn Groat spent her first day at CHOC Children’s at Mission Hopsital in a state of disarray. Her daughter, James Emily, was hospitalized for a severe bout of pneumonia which required surgery and two weeks of hospitalization. Overcome with worry about her daughter and emotionally spent, Milyn found the support she needed to get through this difficult time in the form of the Ronald McDonald Family Room.
This year, Milyn participated in Walk for Kids™ to help raise funds for the organization that provided her with the hot shower and a smile during the most difficult time in her life. |
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| The Groat Family |
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Marcela Ceballos was only 12 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. After seven surgeries in her native country, Chile, doctors determined there was nothing more they could do and estimated she had only three months left to live.
Unwilling to accept the news of their daughter’s imminent death, Marcela’s parents, Gabriela and Marcelo, worked tirelessly to find a team of doctors to accept the complicated case. The Ceballos’ were elated when Childrens Hospital Los Angeles agreed to treat their daughter.
Finding quality treatment for Marcela was only half the battle; the family of five also needed affordable, long-term lodging in Los Angeles, near the hospital. A friend of the Ceballos family introduced them to the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, where they sought refuge for several years while Marcela was being treated.
Marcela is currently cancer-free. In June, 2010, Marcela graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in psychology. She plans to pursue an advanced degree and dreams of one day working as a forensic psychologist. Marcela is an active volunteer at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, lending her time to cook meals and clean for families staying at the House. |
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| The Ceballos Family |
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As a first-generation Korean American, Grace Kim, 18, knew she had greater responsibilities than the average high school student. Her parents, unable to speak English, turned to Grace for help running errands and assisting with her older brother, who lives with Cerebral Palsy. While Grace’s challenges were many, she remained focused on her goal: to be the first in her family to enroll in college.
Grace understood that in order to achieve her dream of higher education, she needed a plan to pay for tuition and the ancillary expenses that come with attending college. So she pounded the pavement, seeking funding to subsidize her education. She found, applied for, and was awarded a scholarship from the RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement scholarship program.
Currently a freshman at UCLA, Grace is studying Microbiology,Immunology and Molecular Genetics with plans to graduate pre-med. |
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| Grace Kim, 18 |
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