Meet the Allen Family and how their stay at Ronald McDonald House Orange County brought them a community and special bond they never imagined during their most vulnerable moments as parents.
After two miscarriages, “it looked like the third time was the charm” for the Allens. Then due to complications, their daughter was born at 29 weeks and 1 day. “Although [our daughter] Jenna was originally in the hospital for prematurity, we’d later find out during her stay, she was born with a rare genetic disorder,” recalls mom, Victoria.
Due to the global shutdown and RMHOC undergoing construction, Victoria and her husband, Joseph, stayed at a partner hotel. “Although not being in close proximity with the other parents, I was able to make one connection with a mother during a Christmas Target shopping trip. Our babies were next-door neighbors in the NICU and shared the same nurse... As [some] may know, babies do not wear clothing in the NICU until they are both large and old enough. In this case, up until that day, both of our babies had only been able to wear a diaper.”
“During this Target trip the two of us cried and bonded over the nurse putting clothing on our babies while we weren't present. This may seem so simple, but small things like this are so important to a NICU mother fighting to have some involvement in her child's life when they are limited to a hospital. My husband didn't understand my tears earlier when explaining to him why I was upset, but this mother was having a similar experience as I. We could relate to one another, and it felt amazing to not feel alone and misunderstood. RMHOC introduced me to a group of parents who could understand and feel what I was feeling. RMHOC made me feel like I had found ‘my people’.”
“Ronald McDonald House OC showed up for my family and I in our most vulnerable and weak moment. Providing us with a clean and comfortable place to stay, food, encouragement, gifts during the holiday season, a listening ear, support on our saddest days and so much more. The House is a part of Jenna’s story and journey to making it home to us. We acknowledge it and are forever grateful."
At the 2024 Walk for Kids, The Allen Family brought together their own community, creating Team Jenna’s Village! “We support the house because we want to pay the kind gestures RMHOC extended to us, forward. We want to help refill the pot we once needed to pull from. We have seen the greatness this charity has put out into the world and will continue to encourage others to pour into it. The Allen Family will continue to cheer on the victorious children and families and provide any comfort and care we can for those who have experienced loss because that’s what being a community is about!”
