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Bring festive cheer to our Houses

There’s no place like home for the holidays. But for some families with children in hospital, “home” isn’t gathered around their family tree. It’s being close to their sick child miles from their front door. By providing free accommodation at hospitals across the UK, 365 days a year, Ronald McDonald House Charities will be keeping families together this season. And that’s what really makes a house a home.

By providing free accommodation at hospitals across the UK, 365 days a year, Ronald McDonald House Charities will be keeping families together this holiday season.

A Christmas away from home

Last year, Amy Hackett and her husband Anthony spent Christmas at our Ronald McDonald House in Oxford. Their son has chronic lung disease which is a result of being born prematurely.

Born at 32 weeks he was intubated soon after delivery and ventilated for 10 days. He was sent home on oxygen which gradually weaned down. Although warned he was more at risk of virus and chest infections due to his condition, Alfie was doing really well. 
That was until 18 December, aged 5 months, when he was rushed to the hospital with cold like symptoms. He soon went from bad to worse and his oxygen requirements went up. He was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis (RSV Positive). Sadly, the doctors soon told the family that Alfie needed to be ventilated again. He was transferred to The John Radcliff Hospital.

Amy said: ‘It was getting late and we were exhausted. I would’ve slept on the floor in a corridor to be close to Alfie, as we had to go through the worse moment of our lives when we thought we would lose him again.

‘The next day we were given a room at Ronald McDonald House Oxford and although Alfie was still fighting for his life I immediately felt better. It was fantastic and had everything we needed to keep us sane and comfortable so that we could remain strong for Alfie. For the first week we didn’t want to leave his side and the thought of going home was unbearable.’

The lead up to Christmas day went quickly and although Alfie was still very poorly it was comforting to see everyone getting into the Christmas spirit. The House in Oxford had a big Christmas tree and there were crackers for everyone.

‘We were touched when we returned to our room one day to find a Christmas hamper with biscuits, mince pies, wine and presents for Alfie and his sister, Izzy. It reminded us that although we were going through a difficult time it was still Christmas. ‘The family spent another three weeks in the House and returned home on 12 January. Since then he has had a lot of colds and become a bit of a “happy wheezer”- a lasting symptom of the bronchiolitis.

‘We’re so proud of him and despite all his problems he is a very happy content child who doesn’t let his condition get him down.’

Read about other families spending Christmas in our Houses.

Make holidays sweeter for families with sick children

You can brighten this Christmas for families with children in hospital by donating now. Here’s our Christmas wish list:

• £5 will buy tea and coffee to get families going during cold winter days
• £10 will buy mince pies and Christmas pudding to get everyone into the festive spirit
• £15 will buy a present for a sibling to continue believing in Santa
• £20 will buy a tree and decorations to bring hope and joy
• £25 will buy a turkey to gather families around our Christmas table

The easiest way to do it is by TEXTING your donation to RMHC00 (e.g. RMHC00 £5).

If you want to do more to spread the holidays cheer and raise awareness about what we do, you could host a gingerbread making party for your friends and family. If you work with schools, what a better theme for a crafts session than decorating gingerbread men and Houses? 

Or just visit our home page and click on the Personalised Christmas Cards button. You can design your template using a range of themes and 50p for every card bought will come to Ronald McDonald House Charities.