Family Profile
Box Family
Home: Seymour, MO (Webster County)
On December 21, 2019
Daxton was admitted to the hospital at just 5 weeks old with RSV. Within the first 24 hours, his condition quickly deteriorated, and he was placed in the PICU. It was one of the most terrifying things of our lives, seeing our 5-weekold baby attached to so many things. That night, our nurse had Larry from the Ronald McDonald House come speak with us. Instantly, you could see he shared the same concern for Daxton we did, and he was there to help us in any way he could. We live an hour away and leaving Daxton was not going to happen. We had no idea there was a House inside of the hospital, just a short walk and elevator ride away. We checked in and met the staff who were calm, inviting, and showed us compassion and understanding. It was wonderful to have a place to shower and sleep for a few hours; and it gave us a chance to recharge and face the new challenges that came. We were at the House during Christmas-time, and up until then, we had only come late at night and left again after a shower and few hours of sleep. We took turns so the baby was never alone. I came to do laundry around dinner time one day when a lady came and asked if I’d like to eat. I told her no thank you, I needed to get back, but she insisted on fixing me a to-go plate and stayed with me while I got things ready. She told me her family comes to the House to prepare and serve dinner as a family several times a year. As I left, I noticed her family sitting and visiting with the other families I had only seen in passing at the House. It looked just like a Christmas family dinner. Until that time, I only passed people in the hall - sharing a knowing smile, a nod, and understanding their pain and the uncertainty of each moment. However, from then on, I began to slow down when I came to the House. RMH says they are a “home-away-from-home” and I started to understand this more every day. As I engaged with families, we shared accomplishments and gave encouragement if there was a setback. We saw several families leave and shared in their joy of returning home. Our return home was bittersweet, we left families and now friends behind. We have since returned to the house a few times to provide meals. Our first time back, a young girl I met was still there and we visited for a long time. Seeing Daxton so healthy and thriving, gave her hope that soon their baby would be home. We fixed her husband a to-go plate for later just as the lady had made for us. A plate of food, a plate of hope, a plate of friendship and understanding. This is why the Ronald McDonald House is so important, it fills a dire need for the families of very ill children. It gives families a bit of normalcy in a storm only those that have endured can understand. A house is just where people live. A home is a place filled with families, love, hope, friendship, compassion, laughter, and sympathy. Now I understand why the Ronald McDonald House is called a “home-away-from-home.”
#forRMHCozarks
ShareAHeart.org