From Our House to Your - January 2020

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JANUARY 2020

Yours From Our House to

FAMILY STORY The Davidson Family Melinda and Luke Davidson first learned about the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley through a volunteer project during their time at Concordia College. Little did they know, that mission would impact their lives for many years to come. While pregnant with her fifth child,

Melinda Davidson was placed on bed

rest due to preterm contractions. After a month, she was rushed from their

home in Menahga, MN, via ambulance to Essentia Health Hospital in Fargo for an emergency cesarean section. Six weeks early, Melinda and Luke

welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Jacob, into their lives. Jacob was immediately

admitted into the Neonatal Intensive

Care Unit (NICU) due to his early arrival, leaving his parents in a whirlwind of

emotions; they were excited for Jacob to join their family, but the early arrival left

them overwhelmed, underprepared, and struggling to get their feet under them. Melinda and Luke were 87 miles away

from home and needed to find a place to stay while they helped Jacob grow. Their doctors advised them that skin

to skin contact and quality time were the best ways they could help their

baby. The burden of finding a place to

stay that was close to the hospital but

We love to share about RMHC whenever we can because we know the amazing impact it had on us and others,

also affordable was lifted from Melinda

the hospital throughout the day, ensuring

reminded of the Ronald McDonald

the way as he grew stronger and learned

and Luke’s shoulders when they were

one parent was with Jacob every step of

House Charities of the Red River Valley.

to eat without help from machines. Luke

The Davidsons felt at ease as they

at the House were crucial for his family. He

the next 17 days. They took turns visiting

the House, and instead of skipping supper

walked into their temporary “home” for

said that the meals provided by volunteers was often able to run from the hospital to

Continued on pg. 2


The Davidson Family Cont. able to find solace and peace in the kitchen, where a hot cup of tea would keep her company.

Both she and Luke came to love the dining tables at the Ronald

McDonald House so much that

love to swim, fish, and go on road trips together! You can hear the Davidson

family share their story at this year’s

Sweetheart Ball on February 8th, 2020, at the Delta Hotel in Fargo.

they bought one for their own home.

“We love to share about RMHC whenever we can because we

know the amazing impact it had

on us and others,” Melinda said. “It was amazing, comfortable, because he had no time, be greeted with a home-cooked meal. In five minutes, he

and we were overwhelmed by

the generosity of gifts and meals and

was on his way back to Jacob’s bedside.

volunteers! We know first-hand now how

When Luke and Melinda’s four other

donated by a group can make in a day

brother, the Ronald McDonald House

one in the hospital.”

and enjoy time with each other. And during

Today, baby Jacob is strong enough to

children came to visit their new baby

became a place for their family to gather her many sleepless nights, Melinda was

much of a difference the meals and time

when you are focused on caring for a little

keep up with the rest of his siblings. They

A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER Executive Director In the 4th quarter of 2019, we opened our new Ronald McDonald Family Room at Essentia Health. In just three months, we had over 1000 visits to this new space that provides comfort and support just steps from their child’s hospital bed.

As we being 2020, it is a great time to reflect on the wonderful happenings of 2019. We had our first full year in our new, expanded Ronald McDonald House. This new home has allowed us to serve over 100 more families per year – over 460 families were served! In addition, this new space has allowed us to offer more space, more activities, and more connections.

We could not do what we do without the incredible generosity of you, our donors and volunteers, who make all this help possible. From serving over 250 meals to our families after a long day to making it possible for every child at RMHC to take a trip to the Magic Room to pick out a new toy to provide a restful night sleep for a family after a long day at the hospital, you made a difference for so many families.

Thank you for your commitment to keeping families together! Thanks,

Jill Christopher


SAVE THE DATES DATE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 2020 NEW LOCATION

DELTA HOTEL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

6PM-MIDNIGHT D I N N E R , L I V E & S I L E N T AU C T I O N S , L I V E BA N D

TICKETS

$75 OR $600 FOR A TABLE OF 8 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED:

701-232-3980 OR WWW.RMHCFARGO.ORG

It’s the perfect pre-valentine’s day date!

GIVING HEARTS OPENS DOORS February 13th, 2020 Show your support for RMHC this Giving Hearts Day, coming up on Thursday, February 13th, 2020! Your giving heart can open doors for families experiencing the illness of a child. Make an online donation of $10 or more at givingheartsday.org Thank you to Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation, and Alex Stern Family Foundation for coordinating such a wonderful day of giving! Follow along on Facebook for more details!


2019: A YEAR IN REVIEW

1,053 visits to the

Ronald McDonald Family Room From October to December, 69 families were able to use the Ronald McDonald Family Room. The room was visited 1,053 times.

Top Diagnoses PREMATURE BABY EATING DISORDER CANCER SURGERY HIGH RISK PREGNANCY

1,160

463 family stays

In 2019, the house was 84% occupied with 463 family stays and 76% were unable to pay for their stay.

WE ASK FAMILIES TO CONTRIBUTE $20 TOWARD THEIR STAY IF THEY ARE ABLE. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY.

volunteers AND

4602

76

OF FAMILIES WERE UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THEIR STAY.

volunteer hours

IN MEMORY/HONOR Gifts were made in memory and in honor of the following people in 2019. If you made a memorial or honorarium gift in 2019 and it was omitted, misspelled, or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology and notify our Development Director, Erica, at 701-232-3980 or Erica@rmhcfargo.org

IN HONOR OF 37 People Adam Polasky Alexis Swenson Alyssa Little Amy Bryant Bethany Bakke Betty Kelner Brian Oknick Brock Heiser Cayson Rusch Charlie Wimer Cody Berg Cody Lang Cyle Warcken Dan Ekstrom Daniel Fluge Dean Peterson Declan Spessard Dennis Bjorland Deven Anderson DJ Lundstrom Eli Dorrheim Erica Johnsrud Graham & Logan Gretchen, Jonathan, Raina & Jacob Hal Bishoff Hannah Hoffmann Hattie Scott Jason Eder Jill Christopher Joe Hoffner John and Corrine Hawthorne Jon Nistler Jordan Allmaras Kara and Cade Kostohryz

IN MEMORY OF Keegan Kostohryz Ken Olexa Kennedy & Kade Lance Holden Lexi Nistler Linda Soderberg Linden Prom Matthew Watson Michelle and Jason Durso Nancy Rasmussen Nick and Shauna Wimer Nolan Johnson Paul Duchene Paul Speral River and Dakota Berg Roger Kahler Ruby Ryan Scott Bartsch Scott Wadena Sharon Heinze Spencer Mack Stefan Chizek Superior Insurance Clients The Binfet Family The Neuharth Family The Rolfson Family The Schoepp Family Tiara Girls Torie Rusch Zayne

Agnes Schmidt Alayne Milner Alexa Young Alvin Barethsen Amanda Perkins Benton C. Degerstrom Betty Nordling Betty Stadum Beverly Hall Bill Grode Bob Scott Brian Eraker Brinley Brooklyn Roehrich Bruce Durheim Bruce Olson Calen Schmidt Chris Decker Christopher Lubbers Clara Wilde Connie Ihry Culley Oothoudt Dale Ihry Dan Johnson Dan Kenna David Dinkel Delanne Flynn Denny Clubb Donald Bauman Donna Sheldon Dorothea Grow Eden Rose Quast Ethelyn Johnsrud Eugene McNulty

Faith Westby Gladys Mae Smith Gretchen Rivers Helen Severson Hudson Seykora Jalanta Czernek Jeanne Bentz Jerry Stewart Jessy McKinnon Haberman Joan Penning Joan Pope John Evenson John Freer Joshua Jacob Hoffman Julie Jorgensen Julius Brown Kathy Stolt Kevin Anderson Lavaugh Moreland Lavern Frank LaVonne Brass Leon Carroll Sr LeRoy Samuelson Lowell Barden Lyla Rath Mark Prestegaard Marty Hettervig Mike Lyman Mike Lyman Norma Rittal Pam Elton Rytter Paul Suomala Peter Richman Phyllis Kusnierak

Rev. Gordon Berntson and Julius Brown Rhett Jacob Pavek Rudolph Fronk Rudy Schmidt Sandi Freisen Sara McAllister Sophia Brademeyer Thomas Falls Thomas Lehrer Vayda Bryelle Salo Vernon Hammer Wayne Monge


CHRISTMAS STORE Sickness doesn’t stop during the holidays, and neither do we. During the holiday season, we are happy to offer a small piece of Christmas to families who may not otherwise have the time or resources to shop while they care for their critically-ill child in Fargo. We are overwhelmed by the generosity our community shows by

participating in the Giving Trees, stopping by the House with boxes of toys for donation, or filling our kitchens with delicious goodies. This

kindness and holiday spirit emanates through the Ronald McDonald

House as children open their gifts from under the tree and check their stockings to see what Santa had brought them. None of this would have been possible without your support.

As we took down the Christmas tree, unplugged the twinkle lights,

and put our stockings back in storage, we took a moment to reflect on the memories made during the past few months. We are so

grateful for all of our donors in 2019, and we cannot wait to see what 2020 has in store.

A special thanks to McDonald’s Restaurants Dakotas Association! Your support is greatly noticed and appreciated.


THANK

YOU

Thank you for your continued support over the past decade. Whether you’ve been involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley for ten years or just a few months, we are happy to have you. 2019 has been a huge success, as we served more families than ever before, and we cannot wait to see what the next ten years hold for us. Happy New Year!

4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING S, FARGO, ND 58104


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