MINUTES MATTER

{MINUTES MATTER

BY JOANNE RYAN I PHOTOS BY BRODY WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY

“There are certain mortal moments and minutes that matter. Certain hinge points in history of each human. Some seconds are so decisive they shrink the soul while others are spent, so as to stretch the soul” Neal A. Maxwell

The power of a single minute… Neal Maxwell captured it best in this quote… a single minute can shrink or stretch one’s soul. Today more than any other time in history, life is moving at an unprecedented speed, partially because we can both receive and send information instantaneously. We find ourselves in a constant state of stimulation both mentally and emotionally. As a result, days and weeks become a blur and precious time seems to dissipate as part of daily distractions. At Ronald McDonald House Charities we know firsthand the healing power a family member will have for a child who is born critically ill or becomes critically ill or injured. Having someone they love, and trust be part of their daily care team enhances outcomes, speeds recovery and shortens length of stay. For these children, the importance of each minute that a family member can be at the bedside cannot be overstated.

When a family is blessed with a healthy child, milestones are counted by days, weeks, then months then years. But when a child is born or becomes critically ill or injured, milestones may be counted in minutes. At Ronald McDonald House Charities Rochester, we know that in those moments families need someone that can help them navigate simple logistics so that their energy can be preserved and focused on their child’s care and recovery.

RMHC Rochester is part of a Global mission with 837 chapters located in 65 states; 176 in the US, 5 in New York State, and we are so fortunate to have one right here in Rochester. All

committed to serving one mission… ‘Keeping Families Close”. We care for the family, while our Healthcare partners care for their child. We are so fortunate to partner with both URMC and Rochester Regional Health. Through this partnership, we surround the family with a comprehensive patient center approach. As our healthcare partners are focused on providing state of the art pediatric care, we are focused on providing programs and services in support of the family through our Westmoreland House, House Within the Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital. We also have RMHCR Family Rooms located at Unity Hospital, Golisano Children’s Hospital and the first in the nation Mental Health and Wellness Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Through these programs and services, we help families to navigate times of great stress and uncertainty, and for some the unthinkable. Every day, we witness the incredible strength of the families in our care. We provide a home away from home, a safe haven, to get some real rest, a quick shower, a good meal and a chance to recharge and regain the energy needed to be the very best support for their child. We address logistical challenges and eliminate distractions so their precious energy and most importantly their precious time remains close and focused on their child.

For a family in crisis…. time can feel like it is standing still or spinning out of control. Life as they once knew it changed in an instant and in these instances, it’s about getting through the next moment… focusing on breathing and taking the next step as they process a devastating diagnosis or unimaginable news.

RMHCR is proud to provide supportive services that meet daily needs, but we are so much than just a

“Today more than any other time in history, life is moving at an unprecedented speed, partially because we can both receive and send information instantaneously.”

good night’s sleep, the home cooked meal, transportation, a place to do laundry or get a warm shower; while those things are essential, we know that the most important thing we can provide is time with their child and that it is the minutes with their child that matters most. This is a realization that came early on in my tenure here at RMHCR. Meeting one of the moms who shared her courageous journey with me was life changing.

At her 12-week prenatal checkup they found out that they were having a girl, with two big brothers at home this joyful news would complete their family. But moments after receiving this news the sonogram also revealed devastating news, a profound cardiac defect that would result in significant challenges for their child to survive beyond delivery. Because of the advances of medicine, following her birth, they had the gift of three weeks with their daughter. Minutes mattered more now than ever and throughout their stay, the RMHCR team worked to clear all logistical barriers so that she could focus all of their energy on the time they had together… Three short weeks and we were proud to ensure that each of her 30,240 minutes in those three short weeks counted.

At Ronald McDonald House Charities Rochester, we welcome over 800 families annually and provide over 10,000 covered nights. We save families almost $2 million by providing lodging, meals, and transportation. And while these are the supportive services that we are best known for, the power of our mission rests in the importance of ensuring that every minute counts and if the result includes the unthinkable, we support families every step of the way.