Meota,
Saskatchewan
57 Nights
Stayed
Our first experience with Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan came in July 2025. We had just spent 2 weeks in the JPCH after Lael had been diagnosed with Leukemia (B-Cell ALL). Our journey started in rural Saskatchewan at a small hospital in Turtleford. They found something in his blood that they could not explain and sent us immediately to the JPCH. The doctor gave us comfort with his last words – “May God help heal you”. On arrival the doctors had a pretty good idea what was going on and set his treatment in motion. We were devastated with the news but knew that from the start we were in good hands. Lael received the best treatment from the doctors and nurses and staff. The social worker worked with us to be referred to Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan. We moved over to the house with all of our belongings packed in our vehicle.
We were met with smiles, empathy, hope and love when we arrived at the house. I can’t remember who led us through the house, we were on such an emotional and unknown journey. Yet through it all, God’s help was evident. The care that the staff had for our family allowed us to function in a completely new home. From the front desk, to the kitchen, to the cleaning staff, to the volunteers, everyone went out of their way to make this our home. The welcome signs on the doors said “Welcome Home Rayner Family”. Nothing could have stated it better when on the first night of our stay, Lael’s little sister was welcomed into the world. We had Lael’s grandparents at the house everyday helping to look after Lael and Reaiah. Welcome Home indeed. The RMH made their house, our home!
Lael’s treatments continued for the next three weeks while we stayed continuously at the house. The treatments were rough but he persevered. After leaving the house at the end of the 3 weeks we were provided treatment maps which meant frequent trips back to Saskatoon and Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan. Lael named the Ronald McDonald House – the Red House. As we have come back to stay many times, Lael gets excited to stay at the Red House. He enjoys coming in the main door, and seeing who is at the front desk. He has grown more comfortable in the home away from home. He has become more comfortable and definitely feels at home in the Red House. The home built on love is truly that. The love that we have been shown makes us feel welcome, safe, and happy. The people that work there and the people that are staying there for their own medical reasons have become friends and family. Their familiar faces create a feeling of belonging and compassion. To us, Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan and the JPCH have worked as if they are one unit. Without both, our journey would have been more difficult. Looking back on the journey so far, we can see that God has been working with Lael and his recovery and with us as well to keep us in good hands.
If anyone wants to know how important the Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan has been, I don’t think we will ever be able to quantify how important and how valuable a resource the Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan (staff, volunteers, residents, everyone) has been for us. It is invaluable. I would tell others that this might be one of the most important resources that our family had the opportunity to be able to use to keep us together. By keeping us together through Lael’s medical journey we have been able to be a family and deal with everything. Thank you to the Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan for doing that for us!
