Meet Chris Petti, one of the Ventura Ronald McDonald Family Room’s (VRMFR) Platinum donors. We took her on a tour through Ventura County Medical Center’s (VCMC) new 16-bed Pediatric Unit, our Family Room, and the Quiet Room. She was amazed by the growth we have had since opening in 2022.
Here is her story about her journey with the VRMFR and VCMC.
“I became aware of the Ventura Ronald McDonald Family Room from my daughter, Alisa Hall, who was a member of National Charity League of Ventura County Juniors and was a board member and the sponsorship chair in the early years of fundraising inception for the concept of the Family Room. When my now 18-year-old granddaughter was born, she was born in crisis, and was taken to VCMC. She was in the Neonatal unit for 6 days and I knew I wanted to give back for the care they provided for her.
Amy Towner, the CEO of Health Care Foundation for Ventura County, had called and asked if I could take a look at the Family Room and maybe give them some financial support. The day that I came and met with Amy and RMHCSC leadership. They pled their case and said what they needed to make it possible, and I was on board immediately.
I was a pediatric nurse, and I know the need for things like this in the hospital. I didn’t want them to have a Ronald McDonald House, where they had to walk outside of a building in dark streets to go to some place. The fact that it was inside the hospital was what really sold me.
The contribution started the Family Room all off and now that I am back again today to see how much it has grown and how good the undertaking is, I’m thrilled. I just want it to continue going forward.
My favorite part of the Family Room is that they have a Quiet Room where families can go and rest and be away from it all for a while. Plus the fact that they can come back here and do some laundry, get something to eat, they can make a snack. It’s very hard to be with a sick child 24 hours a day, so they need this space where they can come in and regroup.
I think it’s 100% necessary that if people want to get involved in something, they get involved here. It’s in your community, it’s your children, it’s your neighbor’s children, why in the world would you not want to get involved?”
We are so grateful to Chris and her donation. It was the largest donation we have received to date and was the seed money to get us started. Our Ronald McDonald Family Room would not be here without her. It was such an honor to bring her back to tour our space and see its’ growth. Chris’s call to action to get involved is an important one. Please reach out to our Manager, Jacquelyn Syndergaard, at [email protected] to learn about how YOU can make an impact.
