Strengthening families with a community of care

Tyson Family

On November 4, 2024, Lillie gave birth to twins at just 27 weeks pregnant. Instead of bringing her babies home, they began their journey in the NICU. Newly postpartum and recovering from surgery, Lillie suddenly found herself a mom of five, with three little ones at home who still needed her love, care, and attention. She remembers wondering how she was going to do it all. How could she be there for her twins in the hospital while making sure her other children still felt safe, loved, and cared for?

Then, Lillie’s family received a call that changed everything. They were connected with Ronald McDonald House, and during a season when she felt stretched beyond what she could handle, they gave her family a place to stay and so much more.

They cared for Lillie when she needed caring for, too. She had a safe place to cry, talk through her fears, take a shower, rest, and simply reset before walking back into the hospital or returning to her other children. The staff listened, encouraged her, and reminded her that she didn’t have to carry everything by herself.

Lillie shared, “While the world around us was focused on Christmas, my entire world was focused on keeping my family together.” She worried about her older children missing out on the joy and traditions of the season. But the staff made sure they felt special, too. They played with the children, did crafts with them, and helped make Christmas feel like Christmas during a time that felt anything but normal.

Ronald McDonald House gave Lillie and her family a sense of stability when their world had been turned upside down. She could keep her children close, focus on her twins in the NICU, and be the best mom she could be during an incredibly difficult season.

Lillie wants other parents walking through a medical crisis to know that it’s okay to ask for help. They don’t have to carry it all alone.

Martin Family

Mateo’s journey began the moment he entered the world. At birth, he experienced a sudden medical emergency that left his brain without enough oxygen and blood flow. He was diagnosed with Moderate Hypoxic‑Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and rushed to the NICU, where he spent his first month surrounded by monitors, cooling therapy, and a team fighting alongside him. No one knew what his future would look like, but Mateo showed his strength from the very beginning.

After going home seizure‑free on medication, his family hoped the worst was behind them. But at five months old, Mateo suffered two neonatal strokes. His seizures returned and eventually evolved into Infantile Spasms and later Lennox‑Gastaut syndrome, a severe epilepsy that affects every part of his development.

Even with these challenges, Mateo continues to shine. He communicates through his expressions, his sounds, and the way he responds to love. Every small milestone is a victory his family celebrates.

Because Mateo requires frequent specialist care and long medical stays, his family often has to travel far from home. Ronald McDonald House has become a place of stability during those difficult journeys. It gives them a room to rest, meals after long hospital days, and a community that understands what it means to care for a medically fragile child.

For Mateo’s family, the House is more than a place to stay — it’s a lifeline. It allows them to stay close to the care Mateo needs while keeping their family together, supported, and surrounded by compassion.