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
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