CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s a spot that takes care of households at their best time of want.
And on Friday, a brand new Ronald McDonald House opens a brand new location inside Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital.
CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot takes us inside and peaks to a household who is aware of firsthand how the charity transforms lives throughout a good time of want.
“We knew a little bit about the Ronald McDonald House and the charity and what it stood for and what they did, but to be there and to actually experience it has shed so much light on us personally about how truly awesome it is.”
Husband and spouse Dave and Anna Dickerson are speaking concerning the help they have been receiving from Ronald McDonald House right here at Grand and St.Clair in downtown Chicago.
They’ve been dwelling right here for the previous six weeks since their son Miles was born at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital.
“When he first was born, we had no idea what to expect. We were actually expecting the worst,” stated his mom Anna Dickerson.
Miles has Noonan syndrome and cardiomyopathy. He’s been within the neonatal intensive care unit, specializing in cardiac care at Lurie Children’s Hospital after he was born three weeks early, on July twelfth.
“It was such a relief not to worry about a commute,” stated his dad Dave Dickerson
Staying on the Grand and St. Clair location helped the couple be at Miles’ bedside constantly. Now, the charity is opening one other location downtown to assist households just like the Dickerson’s be even nearer to their infants in intensive care.
Inside the Ronald McDonald House at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital, there’s the Family Respite Space. It’s the place households can share a meal, siblings can play within the play space, whereas mother and father are simply steps away from their infants. The neonatal intensive care unit is steps away.
Five bedrooms can even be constructed at Prentice for households with a essential have to be by their new child’s aspect within the neonatal intensive care unit. The bedrooms are anticipated to be full this October.
Holly Buckendahl is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
“We save families, collectively about $10 million a year in hotel lodging and food and transportation services. We want them to focus on their sick child,” Buckendahl stated.
“It has been a lifechanging experience,” Dave Dickerson stated.
“We forever be grateful for Ronald McDonald. I don’t know how we would have done it without them,” added Anna Dickerson.
Local pediatric hospitals accomplice with Ronald McDonald House Charities to refer households in want. The group depends on donations. Click here to search out out how one can assist.
