Regina,
Saskatchewan
17 Nights
Stayed
We first learned that something might be wrong during Indy’s 20-week ultrasound. What followed was a long stretch of medical appointments, and with each visit it became clearer that Indy would need extensive surgeries when she was born.
When the time came, Micah was flown by EMS from Regina to Saskatoon so Indy could be delivered. Shortly after she was born, Indy was flown again — this time from Saskatoon to Edmonton to the Stollery Children’s Hospital. What followed was a long and incredibly difficult journey. Indy’s surgeries came with complication after complication, and she ended up spending almost 300 days in the hospital.
For nearly a full year, our family was far from home. Life as we knew it was completely disrupted. But through all of it, one thing remained constant — we were able to stay together as a family because of Ronald McDonald House.
Being away from most of our support systems was incredibly hard, but the House became a support system of its own. The other families, the volunteers, the meals, the programs, and the incredibly reasonable cost to stay made it possible for us to remain together during the hardest year of our lives. Because of Ronald McDonald House, we could focus on what mattered most: being there for Indy and for each other.
Today, our journey with Ronald McDonald House continues. Indy still sees specialists in Saskatoon, and when we travel for appointments we often stay at the House. As I write this, we are in Saskatoon for cardiology and endocrinology appointments.
We now have three kids, and what used to feel like stressful medical trips has become something our kids actually look forward to. When we stay at Ronald McDonald House, it feels like a little vacation for them. The programs, the welcoming environment, and the sense of community make a huge difference.
Just like in those early days, Ronald McDonald House allows our family to stay together and face these challenges as a team. It turns what could be an overwhelming time into something manageable — even joyful.
We are incredibly grateful for Ronald McDonald House and the role it continues to play in our family’s life.
