Disclaimer :: This post was was sponsored and written by the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth to bring awareness to Fort Worth Moms readers.
The holidays are here! The trees are decorated, the halls are decked, and the stockings are hung up. But families at the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth (RMHFW) will be spending their holiday vacation a little different this year. Instead of holiday parties and family trips, it’s hospital trips and doctor visits. Some families have been staying at the House since before Halloween, and some may check-in on Christmas Eve. When you have a critically ill child, you will do whatever it takes to make sure you are close to them.
In the midst of the most tragic time of their lives, RMHFW brings families together for the holidays. The House’s toy closet, which becomes “The Holiday Store,” is a revolving door during the holiday season. It is open to the families to pick out gifts for all of their children, not just the one who is sick. Student volunteers wrap all of the presents, and families get to set up Christmas morning in the living areas to enjoy their day similarly to how they would if they were at home. Even though they might not be at their actual home, Santa still stops by.
In the 55,000-square foot house, everywhere you turn is decorated to make life bright and cheerful for families who have to spend the most wonderful time of the year away from their loved ones. RMHFW isn’t just a house; it’s a home. It’s a home where you make friends who become more like family, and a home where your own family grows.
RMHFW helped Leslie Kirkpatrick and her family.
“We were six hours from home, but never had a closer time as a family than our stay here,” Kirkpatrick said. “Our two younger children were placed in local schools so they could stay with us instead of with family back home. Our micro-preemie was born at 24 weeks and zero day. Today he is about to be 11 and is currently in fifth grade! While we saw a lot of sad times and situations for ourselves and for other families, we are grateful we still have him and he is very healthy.
“Our stay at RMHFW is a highlight of our lives. We learned who we were as a family . . . . We went back home to a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home and hated how it separated us all — it was too big! We were used to being so close.”
When you’re put in a bad situation, you must make the best of it. Staff and volunteers work to make the House a loving and caring environment; not just during the holidays, but year-round.
The House couldn’t run without the help of the Fort Worth community. From volunteers working the front desk, to the groups cooking hot meals, to people donating from of the Amazon “House Needs” list — every person is vital to the operation.
So, while you are out holiday shopping for your family, decorating your house and tree, and getting into the spirit of the season, think about all of the families at the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth. They might not get to be at their home for the holidays, but it is people like you who make the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth a home for them. If you are interested in getting involved the mission, please visit rmhfw.org.
Caroline Speer, communications coordinator for the Ronald McDonald House, graduated from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University in 2017 (GO FROGS!). Caroline has had a heart for helping children for as long as she can remember. She is also involved in the Kids Hope program and mentors low-income students. She is engaged to her college sweetheart and can’t wait to marry him in 2020.
