It is more than a toy.

The items you choose to send from our Wish List. The ones you and your family pick out with care and bring to our House. According to guest mom Tiffany, they are more than just toys. They are life changing. Here is her story:

“I’m not sure where to begin. I took my 18-month-old daughter to the ER thinking she had a stomach bug. Soon, she had tubes in, was down to 14 pounds, lost her ability to talk except basic one-word babbles, and struggled with walking and motor skills.  We turned to Cincinnati for help. Our lives had been turned upside down in more ways than one. 

Before Addie got sick, I had never been away from my kids before. Ever. My other daughter, Ava, has always been very shy and nervous about me leaving. Then, suddenly, she’s “alone” for almost a month. She was having a very hard time coping with the changes. She seemed like that innocent girl was gone and she was so scared of everything. After any call or text I would receive, she would cry and say ‘you’re leaving again.’

We headed to Cincinnati for Addie’s care; Ava was just pitiful. At this point, I’m feeling like I’m a failure as a mom for leaving her. But I didn’t have a choice. I was so overwhelmed then and felt like my family was on the verge of collapse.

Then, we got into Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House.

When we got there, they gave us a ticket to the toy closet. I didn’t have a clue what that meant or the impact that small rectangle was going to have on my family. They walked us to a “toy closet” where the kids turn in the ticket for a brand-new toy, blanket and stuffed animal! I was shocked and worried that Ava was going to be upset because Addie was going to get this stuff. But they told Ava she could get it all, too. I remember exactly what she picked. Ava typically just kept her face in her tablet 24/7 but she put her tablet down and wanted to carry her items. She turned and squeezed them, and we went to our room. It’s like something started to happen.

I don’t want to jump to the end of my story but looking back, I realized this was her starting to feel like a kid again and feel safe. It might sound dramatic to some, but being able to stay there gave me my daughter back. Over the time we stayed, she started to feel safe and happy and actually left happier than she was before Addie got sick.

Getting a new toy or a blanket or stuffy can be more than a toy to a child. When I say the RMH gave me my daughter back or gave her happiness back, that is absolutely true. How could I ever repay or explain what they gave me from a mom’s standpoint?

Over the years we’ve stayed at the House, it has provided a place for Addie to get the medical care she needed. She wouldn’t have been able to get it without the House.

It has provided a safe and comfortable environment for Ava to flourish and grow and feel she belongs. Ava says she wants to grow up and be a chef at Ronald McDonald House.

For me, it has provided friendships, support and, more than anything, it gave me a place to be Mom to my kids and gave me Ava back. It gave back her happiness and innocent moments that she needed.

What the Ronald McDonald House has done for my family is something I hoped to put into words but I’m not sure I can because saying ‘it’s priceless’ is not nearly enough to describe it. We are grateful, honored, thankful, humbled, supported and so much more for being able to stay here.”

If you’d like to provide much more than a toy to a family staying at our House, please check out our wishlist and bring smiles and joy to children when they need it most.