APRIL 2016
From Our House to Yours
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY NEWSLETTER
FAMILY STORY: HALVORSON FAMILY Ashley and Joey Halvorson’s lives were
13 oz. Shay Ann Halvorson was brought
It meant the world to my husband and me
turned upside down when, at 24 weeks
immediately to the NICU where she would
to have this safe haven…”
pregnant, Ashley went into labor. Ashley had
fight to stay alive.
been feeling sharp pains and decided to go
The Ronald McDonald House was a safe
to the doctor to get things checked out. As
Ashley and Joey wanted to stay by their
place in an unfamiliar town when stressors
her pains continued, it was confirmed that
new little miracle’s side as she fought for
were already high. When Joey had to go
she was in labor.
life.Three days after she was born it was
home to return to work, he was given
time for Ashley to check out of the Ashley was nervous, confused, and scared
hospital and they had no place
as she was sent by helicopter to Fargo. In
to go. Emotions were on over
Fargo, they were able to stop contractions
drive as there was no way that
for four days, but at 24 weeks and six days
they could drive 112 miles back
a beautiful baby girl was born at 1 lb and
and forth to and from Thief River Falls every day and they could not pay for a hotel. That is when the
“It meant the world to my husband and me to have this safe haven...”
Halvorson family heard about the Ronald McDonald House. Ashley said, “I am not from a very big town
comfort knowing that Ashley was in a safe
and driving in Fargo scared me. I was so
place with great people helping her every
blessed to have found the North Ronald
day.
McDonald House. I did not want to leave my baby’s side, and I was able to walk to the hospital and spend every day with her.
“I have no idea what I would have done if I
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