Midal,
Saskatchewan
5 Nights
Stayed
Kenzie Stephens was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, on February 13, 2014, to Tim and Ashley Stephens. Her arrival into the world was sudden and fast. Due to the rapid delivery, she experienced a lack of oxygen at birth and required immediate assistance from doctors to help her breathe.
Despite those frightening first moments, Kenzie quickly appeared to recover. In the months and years that followed, she was a happy, bubbly baby who grew into a joyful toddler and child. To anyone around her, everything seemed wonderfully normal.
As Kenzie grew older, however, small concerns began to surface. There were subtle signs—sleepwalking, a fear of sleeping alone, and occasional unusual behaviors. At the time, these moments were easy to dismiss. Like many parents, her family chalked them up to childhood quirks, nighttime fears, or simply “kids being kids.”
Everything changed one night in November 2022.
Kenzie and her mother were watching a movie together when Kenzie said she was tired and went to bed. A short time later, an unusual sound came from her room. At first, it didn’t seem alarming—just something easily mistaken for the family dog.
But when Ashley went to check on her daughter, she found Kenzie in the middle of a tonic-clonic seizure. She was completely unresponsive.
Emergency services were called immediately.
By the time Kenzie was transported to the hospital, she had been actively seizing for approximately 45 minutes. She was in status epilepticus, a life-threatening condition in which seizures do not stop on their own. In that moment, everything became clear—the small, unexplained signs over the years were not random. They were part of something much bigger.
Kenzie eventually came out of the seizure, but life moving forward was forever changed.
Since that night, she has experienced ongoing seizures. Some have been large tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, while others are smaller focal or absence seizures that can be harder to detect but just as concerning. Her journey has involved extensive medical testing, including EEGs, ambulatory EEG monitoring, MRIs, CT scans, and blood work.
Despite ongoing care and multiple medications, her seizures are not yet fully controlled. For her family, life has become a continuous process of monitoring, adjusting treatments, and waiting—hoping to find the right balance that will bring stability.
Amid these challenges, the Stephens family discovered a source of unexpected support: Ronald McDonald House.
They first learned about it in 2024, after already making several trips to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for Kenzie’s care. Before that, they had stayed in hotels, unaware that this resource was available to them.
Finding Ronald McDonald House changed everything.
It eased the constant stress of arranging accommodations during uncertain hospital visits—times when they didn’t know if they would be returning home the next day or staying longer. Instead of worrying about where to sleep, they had a place that offered comfort, stability, and understanding during some of their most difficult moments.
Kenzie’s journey is still ongoing. Each day brings new challenges, but also resilience, love, and hope. Through it all, her family continues to stand beside her—learning, adapting, and holding onto the belief that better days are ahead.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To Ronald McDonald House—thank you. Thank you for providing more than just a place to stay. You gave our family comfort during uncertainty, relief during overwhelming moments, and a sense of home when everything else felt unfamiliar. Because of you, we were able to focus on what truly mattered—being there for Kenzie.
How You Can Help
Families like ours rely on the kindness and generosity of others to access the support provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities. If you are able, please consider making a donation. Your support helps ensure that families facing medical crises can stay close to their children without the added burden of worrying about where they will sleep. Every donation—no matter the size—makes a meaningful difference and helps keep families together when they need it most.
