Occasionally a story about a child in care at RMHC reaches a board member or a committee member, that tugs at the heart strings. Sometimes it is the quilter themselves that has had an experience.
One such story came through email and we felt compelled to share it with you. Thank you to Liz Shakell for taking the time to tell us and be so open with such a personal family experience. And thank you to Melody and her family for allowing us to hear the story and for rising up and giving back. You truly are heroes!
This is the story as Liz, the grandmother told us, you better grab a tissue:
When I first heard of this project quilt Canada had taken
on for Canada 150, I was filled with
pride and gratitude. To be part of a project that involves quilters from across
Canada and now it seems from around the
world warms my heart. I had another reason to hop on board. Ronald McDonald
house is very close to my heart and the opportunity to give back was a project
I wanted to be part of.
In January 2012, our granddaughter Melody at the
age of 2 1/2 ,living in Corbeil ON was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia. In a moment she and her families lives were turned upside down. She
was airlifted from North Bay ON to Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in
Ottawa. Those first days involved a battery of test and procedures including
bone marrow biopsy, blood work, X-rays,insertion of a port a Cath for
chemotherapy,etc. Her parents wouldn't and didn't leave her bedside.
It was at this time they were offered respite at
The Ronald McDonald House right across the street from CHEO. Although they were
reluctant to leave Melody even for a few minutes, it meant they could have a
place to go that would offer them some comfort. A bed to sleep in was very
welcoming.
They soon found out how special RMH was! They met other families
going through difficulties they could talk to, a kitchen to cook in, meals that
community organizations offered, laundry facilities, a living room to
share, and even exercise equipment. It was home away from home.
It meant as grandparents
we could travel to visit them, bring them food, offer relief at the hospital, and
they had a safe place they could go to that was really close to Melody.
This
was even more meaningful, when after six weeks in the hospital Melody was allowed to
go "home" and that meant going to RMH. They didn't actually return to
their own home in Corbeil until the end of March!
What was amazing to me, were the friends and support
Melody gained during this time. She would return after a long day of
chemotherapy and procedures and would ask to see her friends. They would get
together and watch movies or play games . Sometimes depending on how her blood
counts were she would be isolated and have to stay in her bedroom away from
everyone.
On one occasion her friend Casey, who was 13 at the time and was just
finishing her treatment, she knew what it was like to be isolated, so she brought
Melody a little kitchen of her own she could play with in her bedroom. There
are many stories at friendship and support I could share.
Melody and her family
spent well over 100 nights at RMH over the course of her 2 1/2 year treatment
and still spend the occasional night when they travel to CHEO for follow up.
It's really hard to explain exactly how important
RMH is and what it means to families who have to be away from home and away
from their children. Even though I worked in health care and knew about RMH I
really didn't understand, and I really didn't appreciate how very important it
becomes in the lives of these families. It really does become their home and
gives them one less thing to worry about when their world is falling apart.
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