JANUARY 2017
From Our House to Yours RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY NEWSLETTER
FAMILY STORY: DUVALL FAMILY Beautiful baby Mataya Duvall met her
for Mataya and fearful of what their
them to twist and eventually rupture.
Mom and Dad for the very first time
uncertain future might include. Such a
At this point, doctors did not expect
on January 17, 2016, a frigid wintry
diagnosis required baby Mataya to have
Mataya to survive. Still, she underwent
day. Upon arrival, Mataya had difficulty
a biopsy, spinal tap, multiple scans and
emergency surgery in order to remove
breathing on her own and at just six
chemotherapy in efforts to shrink the
part of her intestines. This ultimately
hours old was taken by helicopter from
tumor in Mataya’s chest which was also
resulted in another long, stressful hospital
wrapped around her
Mom and Dad were exhausted from the strain of Mataya’s medical journey and were able to find support at the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo
stay of 44 days and three surgeries.
spine and aorta. 68 days later Mataya was able to leave the NICU, returning to finish her chemo treatments on the Pediatrics floor. Mom and Dad were exhausted from the strain of Mataya’s medical journey and
Bemidji to Fargo. After examinations
were able to find support at the Ronald
in Fargo, Sanford doctors diagnosed
McDonald House in Fargo. At the end of
Mataya with cancer. Immediately, Mom
her seventh round of chemo, Mataya’s
and Dad were overwhelmed with worry
small intestines became inflamed causing
Continued on page two
Continued from page one
Today, Mataya is smiley and joyful in the midst of her continued frequent hospital stays. Due to her compromised immune system she has been getting recurrent infections with each resulting in an urgent
trip to Fargo and typically a three-day
To hear more about the Duvall’s RMHC
hospitalization. Throughout this turbulent
story, please join us Saturday, February
endurance Mom and Dad have stayed at
11th at the Sweetheart Ball. Tickets
the Ronald McDonald House to be close to
available online at rmhcfargo.org or by
and advocate for their dazzling little girl.
calling 701-238-3980.
3 days old is when Mataya was diagnosed with cancer
6 hours old is when Mataya was taken by helicopter to Fargo
-23 degrees Fahrenheit was the temperature when Mataya’s Dad slept in their vehicle on their first night in Fargo, before finding out about RMHC
68 is the number of days Mataya spent in the NICU
9 days old is when Mataya began her first round of chemotherapy
97 nights the Duvall family has stayed at RMHC
A Note from Jill Christopher EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I have had a hard time writing my usual column for this newsletter. In fact, I have started it numerous times and never come up with an end product. I have stopped not for the lack of things to write, rather for too many. I want to tell you about everything that has happened since our last newsletter. I want to talk about the amazing generosity of our donors like the time we were nearly out of laundry detergent and within a week our shelves were full again. About the time that our Christmas room was looking low on gifts and in walked donation after donation to ensure that none of our families went without. About the amazing volunteers that came in and filled our counters with cookies and home-cooked meals. About the children who instead of exchanging gifts at school brought items for our store and the first-graders who gave their Bell Bank Pay-It-Forward money to the Ronald McDonald House. I want to tell you about how the generous response to our appeal letters has helped us fix items in need of repair around both our houses. But most, I want to tell you about a family that was afraid that they wouldn’t have Christmas presents this year and they cried when they saw all the items in our Christmas store. I want to tell you about the mom that has a very tiny baby and is so grateful for the support that the Ronald McDonald House provides. I want to tell you about the siblings getting to play in the snow outside and feel “normal” in a very abnormal time. There are so many stories that I could tell about the generosity we saw in 2016 and the numerous families that we helped due to that generosity. You made this all possible and I am so grateful. Thank you for all you did for the Ronald McDonald House in 2016. We could not do this without you.
Gifts were made in memory & honor of the following people in 2016.
If you made a memorial or tribute gift in 2016 and it was omitted, misspelled, or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology and notify our Development Director, Erica, 701-232-3980 or Erica@rmhcfargo.org
I N M EMO RY O F Arlene Nissen
Arthur C. Horway, Jr. Baby Quayle Beth Agnew Bettie Massey Betty Workin Beverly Hammer Byrdie and Audrey Charles Driscoll Chase Besette David Bowe Deacon Conrad Schuster Dennis Ronholdt Donna Voxland Elizabeth Agnew Gary Bennett Gary Denault Glenn Larson Isaiah James Wing James Peterson Janice Theodorson John Leiniger Josephine Joyce Balzum Kent Bartl Laura Johnson Lien Marso
Lorna Ogle
Rylie McNelis
Gertrude Burck
Lyle Hansen
Sandra Morgan
Jamie Bradley
Maggie Flaten
Stanley Pope
Jessica Letexier
Margarette Shmidt Mary Jo Johnson
John and Edi Mattson
I N HO NO R O F
Kara and Cade Kostohryz
Megan, Blake and Brady Justesen
Kelly Ophus
Norma Liberkowski
Alia
Ken and Vivian Uhren
Omar Amundson
Amelia and Troy Peterson
Levi Letexier Dobmier
Orville and Orpha Hedrich
Anne Alzheimer
Logan Wolden
Pam Messerschmidt
Ashley Petersen
Matthew Keller
Raymond Burkhardt
Bentley Gohman
Nathan Artz
Richard Eckart
Benton Degerstrom
Peighton and Garret Grommesh
Roy Huddle
Brayden Rolfson and Family
Peterson Charity Registry
Russell Vogel
Brent Weston
Piper Paisly Johnson
Scot Burhold
Caitlin Rakow
Ron and JoAnn Abrahamson
Solomon David-Schill
Carly and Calen Schmidt
Sara Hanneken
Stan Sandvik
Carol Neisen
Suzi Karvonen
Stanley Rice
Cathy Giddings
Talia Hay
Steven McGregor
Caymen
Thomas Ostendorf
Vayda Bryelle Salo
Chase Bradley Besett
Tony Banger
Vera Nelson
Cooper Peterson
Vickerman Family
Zach Burris
Cyle Warcken
Katie Wyum
Gary Ihry
Dale Carnegie Business Group of ND and Western MN
Joan Svaleson
Neva Parmlay
Mary Ihry
Dorlan and Rhonda Lybeck
Duwayne Gill
Erica Johnsrud
Eula Gill
Ethan DiFiore
Galen Gill Benton Degerstrom
First Lutheran WELCA Gabee Feller
Kelly Binfet Jill Christopher Ruth Hagel Paxton Petersen Brent Weston
A little piece of Christmas – Thanks to you! Our hearts are bursting with humble gratitude
not have the time or resources to shop while
We are so thankful to all our donors in 2016
at the generosity shown by all the individuals
staying with their critically-ill child in Fargo.
and are looking forward to all that 2017 will
and businesses that took part in giving trees to
bring for RMHC!
donate items to our Christmas store in 2017.
Our community’s kindness has helped ensure
Not only are our hearts bursting, the store is
that the many families who thought there
A special thanks to McDonald’s Restaurants
bursting from your generosity too!
wouldn’t be gifts under the tree this year due
of the Red River Valley! Your support is always
to medical expenses or not being able to shop
noticed and appreciated.
Every year we are able to offer a small piece of Christmas to our families who otherwise may
had gifts under their Christmas tree.
Save the Date
PRESENTED BY MCDONALD’S OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY
Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at the Holiday Inn Doors open at 6 p.m. Live & Silent Auction $75 per person
Dinner served at 7 p.m.
Dance to Live Entertainment with The Deadbeats until Midnight $600 per table
Semi-Formal Attire
Reservations Required
Tickets Available online or by calling 701-232-3980 Visit our website for sponsorship information & to view the auction items
701-232-3980 – WWW.RMHCFARGO.ORG
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 RD , 2017
Fargo Force Game $1 from every single game ticket will be donated to RMHC! Special Chuck-a-Puck prizes with Chuck-a-Puck proceeds donated to RMHC! You’ll also have a chance to meet Ronald and stop by the RMHC booth to purchase your own red and white striped socks!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2017
YOUR SUPPORT KEEPS FAMILIES JUST A HOP, SKIP AND JUMP AWAY FROM THEIR CRITICALLYILL CHILDREN! Make an online donation of $10 or more and your donation will be matched up to $4,000. Giving Hearts Day is February 9th, 2017. The theme for Giving Hearts Day is #GoMatchyMatchy with the hope that you’ll invite a friend or two to support the charities you love on the biggest giving day of the year. Give online on Giving Hearts Day to make a donation to keep families a hop, skip and JUMP away from their critically-ill children. Also, join us at Sky Zone on February 9th where 20% of proceeds will be donated to RMHC in Fargo!
GIVINGHEARTSDAY.ORG
2016 Year in Review 326
Families Served IN 2016
Top Diagnoses
PRE-MATURE BIRTH EATING DISORDER CANCER
WE ASK FAMILIES TO CONTRIBUTE $15 TOWARD THEIR STAY IF
OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS IN 2016
THEY ARE ABLE. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY.
77
OF FAMILIES WERE UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THEIR STAY.
Thank you for all your support in 2016! WE ARE HO NO RED T O HAVE YOU WI TH US I N OU R MISSIO N T O KE EP FAMILI ES C LOS E. WA RM WISHE S AS WE START 2017 A N D HA PPY N E W YEAR FROM OU R HO USE TO YOUR S !
1330 18TH AVENUE SOUTH FARGO, ND 58103