Case studies

The House helped us bond with our son

Rachel Jones and Theo Pinnock are a young couple who have been blessed with a little boy this year. But starting a family has had its ups and downs. In fact, their little boy, Jaiden, was born twelve weeks premature and was very ill with a stomach infection. 

This unfortunate development kept Jaiden in the hospital for three months. When he was transferred from Guildford Hospital to St Georges hospital, the family were referred to our Ronald McDonald House in Tooting.

Rachel and Theo live in Woking and don’t drive, so getting to see Jaiden was a real difficulty for the young parents. The House came as a blessing and after putting their name on the waiting list they were soon welcomed into the cosy and warm eight bedroom House.

Since April 2011, Rachel and Theo have spent three months in the ‘home away from home’ and were able to see Jaiden every day.

Rachel said: ‘It really gave us a warm and friendly feeling. We were able to stay together as a couple and support each other. I also believe that having this facility helped us to bond with Jaiden a lot more. We could not have travelled from Woking each day to see our son.’

Whilst visiting the House recently, we managed to capture two smiley faces and a deep asleep Jaiden.