We were first introduced to the Ronald McDonald House in Boise in January of 2018 when my son, Hunter, was born. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in Burley, Idaho and was sent to a specialist in Boise where I was told to pack a bag because I may not come back home. I spent a month in the antepartum department before I was induced at 37 weeks. My son was born at 4 lbs. and spent 6 days in the NICU. That’s when we were recommended to the Ronald McDonald House, as we had nowhere else to go at that time and didn’t have money for a hotel. The people there were so welcoming at the House. At that time the new Ronald McDonald House was being constructed next door.
We were again residents of the new Ronald McDonald House in November of 2022. Leading up to our extended stay, I was at a high risk for preeclampsia, and on the morning of November 16, 2022, while at work, I noticed that I could not feel my daughter moving so I went to my work nurse to see if he could check my blood pressure. My blood pressure was 160/107 so I left my work, telling them I didn’t know if I would be back and headed to my local hospital. There, I ended up being life flighted to St. Luke’s in Twin Falls while my husband drove. Once there and in a room, 10 minutes later I was told that they needed to do an emergency C-section and get my daughter out ASAP. Her levels were dropping, and they didn’t want to risk anything by trying to keep her in my womb. At 4:14 she was born at 29 weeks and 5 days, weighing only 2 lbs. 3.8 oz. Strapped to the table, I was unable to see her as they quickly took her and began working on her. My husband asked me if I was ok, and I told him to please be with her and follow her to make sure she was ok. Once he was back and told me she was alright, the doctors asked him if he was ok. The stress of the whole situation took its toll on him, and he ended up in the ER to get his blood pressure under control and the pain he was feeling in his chest. Later that day, I was finally able to see my daughter for two hours before she was transported to the St. Luke’s NICU in Boise while I stayed at the hospital for two more days due to my high blood pressure. I would have to say that the most difficult thing for me was to see them take my daughter away while I had to stay.
With COVID restrictions still in place at the hospital, we were recommended to the Ronald McDonald House in Boise. We had to leave our son with his grandparents for a while because he had gotten sick; so, he not able to come with us and would be unable to see his sister with the restrictions in place. Once at the Ronald McDonald House, we were given a tour of the new House and shown to our room. As soon as all our belongings were in the room, we headed straight to the NICU to see our daughter. We were not prepared to see our daughter with so many hoses and lines hooked up to her, and to see her in an isolette. She had a long road ahead of her being so tiny, and later we found out that she had a soft cleft palate. We were told that she would need to have surgery later to get that closed and she would have many appointments and therapies to monitor her progress. We have spent a total of 96 nights in the Ronald McDonald House including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s with the amazing staff and families there. There were times when I needed some advice or someone to talk to, and the staff was always there. My husband was unable to stay the whole time because of his work but he would travel every weekend and bring our son so that I could see him, and we could be together as a family. Every time you walked into the House, the staff or volunteers would have a big smile on their face and such a welcoming attitude. When you would share news about appointments, they would ask how it went and would be as happy as you were if the appointments went well. My son feels so at home there that he makes sure to give everyone hugs and show them his dinosaur toys every time he walks in. The love and support from all the people who work there, as well as the comfort you get from the volunteers that come every day to provide a good snack or amazing dinner for the families, is so heartwarming. The joy that kids feel when they are introduced to the hidden toy room and the scavenger hunts, they have for kids is enough to make them feel so loved and welcomed. The relationships you build with the staff and the amazing stories you hear from fellow families, who are also there, brings so much joy and appreciation for what is done for the families who are staying at the House.
To this day, we still become residents when our daughter, Aspen has appointments. She still has a long road ahead of her, but she is a very strong little girl and continues to improve. The staff at the Ronald McDonald House have seen how far she has come and are so excited to see her and get the chance to see her grow up. My son has made sure to give the staff his school pictures, which they keep on their front desk. I work with McCain foods in Burley and when they introduced a program to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to do my part and help the families that go there. I have done the program 2 times so far and hope that I am able to do more. I have shared my experiences at the Ronald McDonald House will my fellow employees who sign up to volunteer and have told them about the many programs they provide for families there. It helps encourage them to participate more and I can only hope that there will be more companies out there that can help such an amazing place as this one. I could not be more grateful for the love and care we got while we were at RMHC of Idaho.
~ Meek Family | Burley, ID | 99 Nights at the House
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