Meet Jocelyn, Adam and Remi

Hometown Cambridge

Service Used Hamilton House, Hamilton Family Room

Days 6

Our Story

I will never forget the relief we felt as we were driving to Hamilton for Remi's surgery because we were informed that RMHC SCO had a room available for us. We had just enough time to check in and have a tour before we had to be to the hospital.

At a time that we were feeling so terrified and anxious, RMHC SCO brought such comfort, knowing that we would have a home base during our stay at McMaster. Knowing we would have everything we needed (and SO much more) made the medical challenges we were facing feel more achievable. My family and I felt pure gratitude and relief as many heavy weights were lifted off our shoulders.

Without the House and the Family Rooms in the hospital, I honestly don't know how we would have coped. Having to travel from our home in Cambridge to the hospital or staying at a nearby hotel would've added an immense amount of extra stress to our plates - physically, mentally, and financially. Having a room at the Ronald McDonald House is SO much more than just having "a room". You are truly provided with everything you could think of and then some. Knowing we had a room for reprieve both at the hospital and the House was game changing.

The Family Rooms in the hospital are such a great resource for all the families being treated in the Hospital - grabbing our morning coffee or meal, having a clean space to sanitize breast pump parts, and a having homey space to go for a little cry or see family/friends was a blessing. RMHC SCO truly thought of everything and I can't imagine what our stay would have looked like if we had not been fortunate enough to be provided with both spaces.

Annually, our family fundraises as part of the Pay it Forward for Families fundraiser. To us, paying it forward means helping ensure other families like ours will be afforded the same support and love that we were. We never in our wildest dreams imagined we would need a charity like RMHC SCO, and unfortunately this is the reality for too many families. If we can help be part of raising funds to ensure future families are taken care of at one of their most difficult times, we will forever do what we can to pay it forward.