“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.” ― Ben Okri
As we embark upon Winter Conference to take in our professional development, we also begin our last push for the 2017-2018 Social Responsibility Campaign. I hope you recall that this year we are supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and, to date, we have already raised $711 at the Fall Conference. I could go on and on about the many great things they do to fulfill their mission: “Keeping families with sick children close to each other and the care and resources they need." I think it would be more powerful to share a genuine story of what RMHC has done for one particular family:
The Kennedy's Story
Our babies came at 27 weeks and 6 days. They had been growth restricted in utero due to preeclampsia. That was a very scary day. Chad received the call a couple of days later that a room had opened up at the Ronald McDonald House for our family. I didn’t want him to leave me, but we didn’t want to miss the chance on our room. When I was discharged, I was pretty scared to leave the hospital because even though we only moved across the street, it felt like we were too far away from our sweet Piper and Cooper.
We were too worried about the babies to worry about ourselves, but the staff at the House made sure we did take care of ourselves. I have never witnessed so much care and love for strangers than we did while we were there. The staff and volunteers took care of us and the house. People came all the time to donate wish list items and money and every night someone volunteered to cook meals for us and the other families. It was and is truly amazing. I can only hope that I show that much love and compassion to someone else.
Piper came home when she was two months old, but Cooper faced a few setbacks and required a couple of surgeries along with regular medical attention, so he had to stay in the hospital. Chad stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and I went home with Piper. Finally after two and a half months, Cooper came home! They will be a year old soon and are doing very well. Cooper has come completely off of oxygen and is now taking the bottle a little. They are our joy. During our four and half months you all have become our extended family and we love you. Thank you for helping us through our most trying time.
Chad, Krista, Cooper and Piper Kennedy
Community Social Responsibility Campaign
Chris Parrino
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