SEPTEMBER 2020
FALL 2019
98 Nights
Family Story
The Schatz Family When Noell and Dustin Schatz’s baby, Xavier, had to be airlifted to Fargo from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Bismarck, ND, they knew they had a long road ahead to reunite their family and bring their beautiful baby home. On top of that, Xavier’s twin, Xander, and mom, Noell, were still being cared for in Bismarck. Dustin knew that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley (RMHC-RRV) would be there and would be able to help lift their burdens.
new home in Steele, ND, when they found out they were pregnant and
expecting twins! On August 7th, 2019, Noell came home from work and her stomach felt extremely tight. At first, she didn’t think it unusual but soon she started having complications.
Noell was scared and worried that
she would have a miscarriage. Noell
knew the pain and heartache that their
family had gone through when she had previously had a miscarriage a few short years ago.
Noell and Dustin were airlifted from
Steele, ND, to the Bismarck hospital
where she was instantly wheeled into surgery for an emergency cesarean
Before their
section to deliver their twin boys three
Noell and Dustin,
extremely fragile; Xander was born at 2.6
family, were just
2.2 pounds, 12 inches long. The boys
NICU journey,
months early. Their little miracles were
along with their
pounds, 13 inches long, and Xavier was
settling into their
were immediately intubated and put into their own isolates.
Doctors noticed a problem with Xavier’s stomach that they weren’t equipped to fix. Just days old, Xander and Xavier
were separated for the first time when Xavier was airlifted to Sanford Health
Continued on pg. 2
The Schatz’s Family continued
the bowel. Although
For 98 nights, the Schatz family stayed
NEC, he was able to
RRV while they went through the ups and
he developed some be treated without surgery. A few
downs of their NICU journey.
days later, Xavier
“The Ronald McDonald House is an
hemorrhage. They
my family and I would have done without
had a pulmonary
amazing organization. I don’t know what
almost lost him. “We
it,” Noell said. “The kitchen and amenities
will forever be grateful to the amazing
medical team at
Sanford. They saved our baby boy,” Noell says.
Xavier was going to
in Fargo, ND. At Sanford, medical staff
close to their twins by staying at RMHC-
be in the hospital for
found a perforation in Xavier’s stomach
the foreseeable future in Fargo so Noell
made him susceptible for contracting
their twins and Xander was transferred
affecting the intestine of premature infants
knew the road to recovery was going to be
that can ultimately destroy the wall of
that they could all be together.
which caused air in his stomach. This
and Dustin made the decision to reunite
necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease
from Bismarck to the NICU in Fargo. They
that causes infection and inflammation
long and rocky, and all that mattered was
were so helpful! Having a place to store
our own groceries and cook our own food was a life saver... The House also helped us with toiletries and provided blankets if we needed them. Anything you can imagine, they helped with.”
5 year old big brother, Keegan, still talks
about the playrooms, staff members, and
activities. These small touches helped the
family have fun together during a stressful time in their lives and when that wasn’t
enough, they were able to pull strength
from staff and other families who helped them realize they weren’t alone in what they were going through.
A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER Executive Director
2020 has not been the year that we planned or expected. It has thrown us all for a loop to say the least. Rest assured that despite the challenges we have faced since March, one thing
remains the same for us here at RMHC of the Red River Valley - our commitment to ensure our families have everything they need so they can focus on their
sick child. We know it’s tough times for
everyone and we are so grateful for your continued support and friendship. The
well-being of our families is at the heart of everything we do and we are following the
advice of health officials to
keep everyone safe as we continue to care for them during this trying time.
While 2020 has had its
hard moments, it also shows the
made monetary donations to support
donors, advocates and volunteers –
continued support!
best in people. People like you – our
who have dropped off food, donated gift cards and needed items, and
our mission. I am so grateful for your
RMHC GOLF TOURNAMENT Admittedly, when we first started planning
our 2020 ForeRMHC Golf Tournament, we were nervous but on July 12, 13 & 14th,
124 golfers took to the course at Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead to support the RMHC mission! With the generosity of our community, we gave each golfer a
goodie bag and followed along using the #ForeRMHC hashtag. In total, we were
able to raise a gross total of over $29,000
towards keeping families together while they stayed near their sick child in the hospital.
YOUR SMALL CHANGE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE 2020 has shaped up to be a year like no
all the monetary donations when we know
text RMHCFargo to 269-89, connect
times, we have pulled strength from our
not pursue our mission without each one
monthly limit and boom. You’re done!
other. As we’ve navigated these rocky community and supporters because
without them, we couldn’t keep providing
times are tough and uncertain. We could of you.
a place of solace to our families. We
We know everyone’s financial situations
each person who has provided a meal or
a new way to give. Our Round-Up for
want to extend a giant thank you to
restaurant gift card, dropped off donations of wish list items and pop tabs, as well as
are different, so we want to introduce
RMHC program allows you to donate
monthly without any hassle. You simply
your primary debit or credit card, set your Spare change from each purchase will be donated to supporting RMHC.
RMH RIDE When it was clear that a large gathering
in June would not be possible for the 2020
RMH Ride, the volunteer committee started
SAVE THE DATES
dreaming and scheming how they could still make a great impact
for the families at RMHC of the Red River Valley, because “…even pandemics can’t force people to stop caring for other people.”
Throughout the summer, committee members and volunteers sold
raffle tickets for the chance to win a 2020 Harley Davidson Barracuda Silver Street Glide and other cash prizes! The RMH Ride also hosted a Fun Run that was a combined effort to support RMHC of the Red River Valley, as well as local businesses.
Participants were encouraged to donate for an entry form that had
over 100 local stops that they could visit between July 22nd – August 22nd to collect stamps, throw darts, and win prizes.
On Saturday, August 22nd, an outdoor event was held at the VFW
in New York Mills with a live auction and, of course, the drawing for
the motorcycle raffle! The exciting evening ended with a live band on stage, as well as freewill donations for camping overnight.
We are so grateful for all the work that was put in to make sure that the families at RMHC of the Red River Valley are cared for! Huge
RMHC kudos to the committee and volunteers that made it happen!
Don’t forget to find us on social media to stay up to date on fun ways to get involved!
STRIPES MONTH in October Every year, we proudly show our RMHC pride by showing off our red and white stripes. They signify the work Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley does to keep families close to their precious children in the hospital. Don’t forget to break out your stripes and show us by using the hashtag #forRMHC on social media on October 16th! If you don’t have any stripes yet, you’re in luck! Through the month of October, your donation of $20 or more will not only provide a room for a family, we will also send you a pair of red & white striped socks! While supplies last. Please note in your donation if you’d like socks Follow us on social media and check out our website for more information on how you can join the fun happening in October!
32nd Annual SWEETHEART BALL Saturday, Feb 13TH, 2021
32nd Annual
Our 32nd Annual Sweetheart Ball will take place on Saturday, February 13th in Fargo. Please watch our website & social media for details as we get closer to the event!
February 11TH, 2021 Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online giving event co-hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, the Impact Foundation, and the Alex Stern Family Foundation. Your support on February 11th will help us work towards our goal of keeping critically-ill children close to their families as they grow strong in the hospital.
RMHC FALL WISHLIST When we ask families what meant the most to them during their stay, they have often said the homemade meals from volunteers. As we navigate the waters of COVID-19, we temporarily suspended our volunteer meal program. Without these volunteers, we need more help than ever to provide meals for the families we care for so they do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Here are some ways you can help: • Gift cards to restaurants • The ingredients to your favorite meal with a recipe card so our staff can cook for the families • Frozen meals such as pizza, meals in a bag or easy dinners! • Monetary donation • Grab and go snacks such as granola bars, apple sauce, pop tarts
4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING S, FARGO, ND 58104