A week ago today I brought my children up to Seattle. For the first week she was here, Heidi slept in Jordan's hospital room. The following week, we were approved--based on the severity of Jordan's illness and the likelihood of an extended time in the hospital--to stay in a really incredible place called the Ronald McDonald House. This is a residence that has rooms like a hotel, shared areas where children can get distracted from their worries and illnesses, and a feeling like a temple.
On the main floor they have several play areas for younger kids, a movie area, a computer room for kids 11 and older, a video game area and an outdoor play structure that is fenced in; one level down is a big kitchen where each family has a small personal fridge, a shared freezer, a personal cupboard and shared plates, cups, bowls, dishwashers, stoves and ovens, and everything you need to cook and clean; down another level is a bigger play area with ping pong, Foosball, air hockey, old-fashioned arcade games, a teenager room with more video games and televisions for movies, and a padded area for small kids with little houses and slides and "enchanted" trees. The top two floors are residences where we have room for 6 and just across the hall is a study where the kids can sit and read or play a game together.
Having a place for kids to play and parents to stay that is just blocks from the hospital is wonderful. What is REALLY incredible though is that it is paid for not by hospital money but by volunteer time, by parent involvement, and by donations from individuals and corporations. As a result, families that don't know how long they are here (such as us), or families that can't afford to be anywhere else can stay here at little or no cost.
In addition, volunteer groups prepare and share meals 5 nights a week and for those days and nights where meals aren't prepared by volunteers, there is a large pantry full of donated food that families can use with staples such as flour, rice, cereal, tunafish, etc. Several nights ago we had a biker "gang" in all leathers bring dinner for everyone. Tonight dinner was brought in by a company and along with dinner, the acclaimed children's band Recess Monkey played for the kids, while other volunteers set up sugar cookies and frosting for the kids to eat on all the tables.
Sometimes it can feel like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (there is even a fridge stocked with chocolate milk), except that for all the fun the kids are having and all the joy seen on their faces, every family is here because one of their children has a life-threatening illness. That makes this place and the volunteers and staff that serve in it very special.
When I see a family from east Seattle with a 10 year old daughter that is fighting cancer, or see a 5 year old pushing her 6 year old sister down the hall in a wheelchair, or a young girl not more than 7 with tubes coming out of her nose as she smiles at everyone who passes, or see a 13 year old girl who is also a cancer patient wheeling herself down the hall, I recognize that this is not just a place to rest, it is a house of faith; and it is a sacred place.
Every day and night parents pray for the lives of the children they have here and weep for the same helplessness we feel for Jordan. And we share in these prayers and hopes, not just for our children but for those children and families we see around us. And I know with absolute certainly that the prayers of these parents and the challenges of all the children and families here don't go unnoticed and that this house of faith is also a house where angels dwell.
Tonight I participated with my brother-in-law in giving a priesthood blessing to my 4 year old son and to Jordan as they prepare for surgery tomorrow. And in this house of prayer and in the children's hospital which is also a sacred place, I felt the presence of those angels. And I am again grateful I can feel the joy these children feel that comes from the love of others and the watchful care of a faithful Father in Heaven.
When my family is through this, one of our commitments is to serve others in the Ronald McDonald house near St. Vincent's and to try to find other houses of faith like this one, where we can pass on a little of the gift we have been given.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts, Ryan. You described the Christlike love and service and spirit so beautifully. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have volunteered a couple of times with a group from work at the Ronald McDonald house at Emanuel in Portland. I can attest to the divine intervention that goes on at these sites. The first time we went we were supposed to provide lunch, however our organizer hadn't understood that we were also supposed to bring the food. The site manager said, "Well here's a pantry with staples and there are some leftovers in the fridge that you can use." It was truly a miracle of "loaves and fishes" that I'll never forget. I was in charge and we cooked from scratch, with no recipes, with what was on hand and ended up with a wonderful meal for the families. I felt the Lord beside us blessing his children.
ReplyDeleteOur love and prayers are with your family, Ryan.