Meet Alex and Brad, and how Ronald McDonald® Family Room CHOC at Mission made a positive impact on their lives.
After their pregnancy with their first daughter, Alex and Brad were introduced to Ronald McDonald Family Room® CHOC at Mission. Alex had unexpected complications with her pregnancy and was rushed to the hospital for an emergency c-section. After hearing that their daughter was going to be in the NICU for a period of time, Alex and Brad knew that they were going to be in and out of the hospital daily.
Alex and Brad immediately felt the support from the Family Room – located directly on the floor of the hospital. From a stocked kitchenette to a shower and sleeper rooms for naps, the Family Room allowed Alex and Brad to find a sense of comfort within the hospital while being there for their daughter.
With the Family Room being just a few steps away, “I could just come right up and visit my baby,” Alex said. “We had this great [Family] room here where they had some wonderful volunteers that were just very supportive of us and just made us super comfortable [...]”
Later, with their second pregnancy, they turned to Ronald McDonald Family Room® again. While no parent plans to be back at the hospital, this time was different. The Hemphills knew the support they would have from the Family Room staff and volunteers.“Our first round here, we weren't really aware, or maybe it was just so much of an overload of what was going on that... but now we're so much more comfortable. We know everyone here. Joni [Family Room Manager] has been super great, super sweet. So, we are more familiar and it’s easier […]”
Now, the family of four is doing well and encourages others to support Ronald McDonald Family Room® for future families like theirs: “We feel that Ronald McDonald House has really supported us as parents in a time we didn't know we were going to need it and didn't even know it existed. So if you can support [the Family Room] as well, you'll be supporting people like us."
