The Spuhler Family
Bradley and Kathleen Spuhler welcomed Baby Everett on July 7, 2011. He was 3 days late. The only reason the couple went to the Visalia, Ca Hospital (Kaweah Delta) that day was because Kathleen hadn't felt him kick in a while and they were growing worried. Once they arrived the doctors told them that Kathleen was actually having contractions and not feeling them and when a contraction hit Everett's heart rate was dropping. They rushed Kathleen into an emergency c-section and when Baby Everett arrived, he didn't make a sound. The doctors worked frantically to get him breathing and immediately rushed him to the NICU. Kathleen never got to see her new baby boy.
Shortly after, the nurses came in and told the couple they would need to send Everett to Children’s Hospital Central California for a platelet transfusion. They wheeled Katheen down, bed and all, to the nicu so she could see him for a few minutes before they took him away. Kathleen remembers the fear of being stuck in Visalia because of her surgery and having Everett and Brad at Children’s Hospital.
A social worker from Kaweah Delta called and got the family on the waiting list for a room at our house. Brad remembers being at the hospital alone with Everett and having the comfort of walking back to the house to sleep. “I would have been sleeping in my car.” He went from the oscillator to normal room air all on his own in two weeks. “They had him on blood pressure medicine and he had two more platelet transfusions and elevated bilirubin count for a while, we found out he had holes in his heart and that he had down syndrome, which the other hospital hinted at but wouldn't say outright,” recounts Bradley. The Family got transferred to the Endeavor side of the NICU which normally means they would be leaving soon, but they ended up spending 4 weeks there trying to get him to eat on his own. “That's when we left Ronald McDonald house and were staying in the room with him. Drastically different sleeping conditions sleeping there vs. the Ronald McDonald house. It's impossible to sleep in there. We just couldn't get him to eat anything even remotely close to a whole bottle. He would take maybe 10ml, 20ml if we were lucky out of the 70ml they wanted him to take. He would swallow a bunch of air with each gulp but refuse to burp, fall asleep while eating, have bad acid reflux and just quit. After a month of that we just ended up getting a mic-key and taking him home to work on feeding,” said Bradley.
The Spuhler Family is now home and thriving! Everett is 4 months old now and off a lot of his medications. Kathleen and Bradley have returned to the house to bring much needed wish list items. “We will always be thankful for the comfort we found here.”
The Engle Family
The Engle Family welcomed their second Baby Boy on May 5, 2010, Rocco was a happy baby and seemed as if he was as healthy as could be. At 5 days old Rocco’s Mother took him to his first check-up after leaving the hospital. Thinking it would just be a regular check-up she went without her husband, but after a few moments Michele learned that this appointment wouldn’t be regular. As Michele held their older son, 19 month old Enzo, in her arms, her babies Pediatrician listened intently to his heart. He continued to listen for a longer than “normal” period, when the Dr. finally looked up at Michele, she remembers having tears already flowing down her face. She immediately knew something was wrong. Rocco’s pediatrician found a heart murmur. The Doctor called Children’s Hospital Central California and by the next morning Rocco was scheduled for an Echocardiogram. The next day the Engle Family waited patiently while their 6 day old son had countless tests run on his heart. His diagnosis was Ventricular Septal Defect. He had 2 large holes in his heart. After 3 months of waiting to see if the holes would close and Rocco not gaining weight and having heavy breathing, the Engle Family decided it was time to schedule surgery.
September 10th, 2010 was surgery day. The day that Rocco’s parents recall as the scariest day in their lives. At just 4 months old Rocco underwent over 6 hours of open heart surgery to repair the holes in his heart. He spent a week in the PICU at Children’s Hospital. While Rocco was in the PICU his parents Jeremy and Michele were fortunate enough to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
“It gave us so much relief and comfort to have a nice place to stay so incredibly close to our baby boy. Anything can happen after open heart surgery and it was comforting for us to know we could be at Rocco’s side in a couple minutes or less,” remembers Michele.
Rocco is now a thriving baby boy! He celebrated his 1st birthday in May and is doing great. The only part that remains is the scar that is fading fast on his chest and the memories that his family and parents have.
“I feel like everything happens for a reason, this is an experience we will never forget and we are forever changed, but I believe we are better people because of it. We have been able to educate our family, friends and co-workers about the Ronald McDonald House and support them in fundraisers and donating toys and our time, it really opened up our eyes. We never imagined that we would need the Ronald McDonald house, but we were so thankful to have it when we did, they really helped us get through this devastating time in our lives and now we will continue to take every opportunity to give back to them. “ Michele Engle
The Thralls Family
On December 30th 2010, Jessica and Christopher Thralls gave birth to their darling little girl, Jadalynn at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore. Unknowingly, Jadalynn was born with an ABO blood incompatibility that nearly 20% of babies are born with every year. Of that 20%, only 1% are severely affected. Jadalynn, unfortunately was a part of that 1%. Jadalynn remained on base for an additional 6 more days undergoing tests and treatments that could be performed there, until it was realized it was more serious than the doctors had originally thought and she would need to be taken to a Children’s Hospital.
Jadalynn’s father, who currently serves in the Navy, had gone months without leave; but when he heard about his daughter’s condition, he immediately took leave to be by her side. Because of her worsening situation, and breathing troubles Jadalynn had to be airlifted from the base. Jessica recalled the worst part of the whole ordeal was that she couldn’t touch her little baby girl. She imagined how terrified she must be and just wanted to be able to comfort her and hold her, but was unable to.
Christopher remembered that after arriving at the new hospital, they tried to send him
home because of limited space in the double room. That was when they got a call that a room had opened at the Ronald McDonald House next door. The family will never forget the comfort they found and the small amounts of rest they enjoyed at the house.
Jadalynn, was in the NIC U for 10 days, and stayed in the PICU until she was 3 weeks old. After more than a month of hospitalization she was finally allowed to go home, but due to her condition she soon after developed RSV and had to return to the hospital. The family spent another week at the Ronald McDonald House. “I honestly don’t know what we would have done if the house didn’t have a room for us. We couldn’t have afforded to travel back and forth from the base. We would have been sleeping in our car, and I can’t even think of that. We are thankful for the house and glad to start helping them,” said Jessica.
Four months later, Jadalynn is a bouncing bundle of joy. You would never be able to tell that her young life was a fight, a battle she won.
The Dow Family
What better way to kick off our Mission May Celebration than by remembering our Mission May Baby Rylee Dow! Rylee and her family were profiled by CBS 47 last year when we kicked off Mission May. This year they will 
reconnect with the family in the next few weeks, just in time for Rylee’s first birthday!. We will be giving you an update on the amazing strength of a Valley Family and the fight their little girl beat! When Robert and Cynthia Dow found out they were having a baby, they never expected they would have to deal with a list of complications. Cynthia had to have an emergency c-section and delivered their daughter Rylee 14 weeks premature. Rylee was airlifted to Children's on May 7th (when she was just a day old) and weighed only 1 ½ pounds. "She had some initial bleeding in her brain, and problems breathing. She was on supplemental oxygen, and also a ventilator," said her dad, Robert Dow. Rylee had a problem with an artery in her heart and doctors had to collapse one of her lungs to control her breathing. The only thing that makes it easier on these first time parents is being able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. "They can be near their children's bedside around the clock. Rather than having to spend the night in their car, burden the nightly cost of a hotel, or constantly make the trip back and forth from their home in Lemoore," said Hannah Johnson, a spokesperson for the Ronald McDonald House. "It only takes us about ten minutes to get from here up to her room and scrubbed in so that we can be with Rylee," said Robert. The Dow Family found a home at the Ronald McDonald House for five months while Rylee got stronger. They finally got to go home in late August even though Rylee was still on a feeding tube for a month or so they still were thankful they got to bring their little girl home. Stay tuned for an update on the Dow Family and pictures of one year old Rylee.
Rylee turned one on May 6th. She has absolutely thrived since coming home to Lemoore with Cyndi and Bob. She rolls over and can sit up entirely by herself. On April 27th Rylee was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy on her right side, her daughter assured the parents that she will definitely walk one day. “I never thought I would have a baby with special needs or that I could handle having a baby with special needs, but Rylee makes every day worth living and is our pride and joy. She is everything we could have asked for and so much more.” said Cyndi Dow.
The Waybright Family
Their first thought was, how are we going to afford to stay in Fresno? Madera is 120 miles from their house in Bakersfield. Even if they found an affordable motel, it would still be a drive to the hospital and David had to be there for the surgery at 5:00 am!
They remembered seeing the signs for the Ronald McDonald House as they entered the hospital campus on their many visits, but never gave it a second thought. This time, it was their first thought. They contacted everyone they could think of in Madera, using the Ronald McDonald House website. Nikki, the house manager for the Ronald McDonald House called back and put the family in touch with one of the hospital social workers, who got them on the list for a room at RMH. When the house called the Waybright's to tell them they could come up the night before surgery, they were relieved. One less worry.
When they checked in, Amber Waybright (David's mother) remembers the entire staff as being welcoming and happy to help them with any need. They were shown their room, taken on a tour of the home, and offered dinner (provided by Jon Anabo, a volunteer that has cooked a warm meal every Monday for the past ten years). Amber and her husband remember being shocked that the house only asked for a $15 donation per evening stay! As they settled in for the evening, the family found comfort in knowing that they were just a short walk away from the hospital where David would be undergoing surgery the next morning.
"We continue to feel blessed to be a part of the Ronald McDonald House of the Central Valley. What began as just a few days, turned into an 8 night stay. On April 20, we were fortunate enough to return the favor as we prepared dinner for the families on site. It was just a small gesture in comparison to what the staff provides to the families," relayed Amber.
Amber remains thankful for the experience, "Many people go through their life thinking that they will never need services. It won’t happen to me. In a way, I’m glad it happened to us. It has made us more aware of the services provided by the house. We got daily showers, queen beds to sleep in, a fully stocked kitchen to use, and a place to relax, but mostly, we got peace of mind knowing that one of us would be able to be with David, while the other rested."
She wants to pose a challenge to you all to take the time to either volunteer at the house, or donate in someway. Everything counts: from an extra package of toilet paper or laundry soap to offering to provide a meal or clean the common area. There is something that you can do and it will be appreciated. If not just by the staff, but by the thousands of families that call the RMH home.
The Beckett Family
Carson Beckett and his family have been regulars at the Ronald McDonald House the last three years, but on Tuesday (August 25th) when they stopped by it wasn’t to check into our house, it was to bring donations. The Beckett Family is truly a pillar of strength. Carson, now 11, has been battling cancer for six years. Looking at Carson, you would never know he has had to go through numerous treatments and lengthy Chemotherapy sessions; he looks like a carefree boy who loves video games and his friends. The Beckett’s have been visiting Children’s Hospital for six years on a monthly basis; it was three years ago that they began staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The drive from Bakersfield was beginning to take its toil on the Family so they decided to check in to one of the rooms in our house.
“It was so nice to be here with families going through something similar, you never think that you will need a place like this, until you do,” said Alicia Beckett, Carson’s mother. On one trip home from the mountains, Carson got very sick and they had to make a detour to Children’s Hospital. “We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House that time and literally had nothing with us, you had everything. Laundry detergent, home-cooked meals, shampoo, everything.”
The Beckett Family recently moved from Bakersfield to San Luis Obispo, but still makes the six hour drive to visit Children’s Hospital every so often for doctors appointments. On their particular visit on the 25th they came to drop off toiletries for our families. “We try to do all we can because we know how important the Ronald McDonald House was for us,” said Alicia.
Everyone has a story. And this holds especially true for all of you connected to RMHC. You have high points and low times. You have setbacks and rallying spirits. You have tales of inspiration and stories of encouragement. The Beckett Family’s Story is one that inspires, encourages, and brings hope.
The Rios Sanchez Family
In 2009, Ana Sanchez and Rocky Rios welcomed their newborn son, Isaac, into the world at a Merced Hospital. Ana noticed that her son’s breathing was irregular, and when a nurse took off his blanket, his chest was sunk in deep with a struggling effort to breathe. Isaac’s parents will always remember the doctor saying, “There was no hope.” They recall that immediate moment to be one, they will never forget. Isaac’s doctor decided that Children’s Hospital Central California would be the best place for him to get a chance at survival. Isaac was airlifted that same day and Anna remembers being informed by a Flight RN about the Ronald McDonald House, a place where her family could stay and still be close to Isaac. Once the family approached the House with their situation, a room was made available.
Ana says her stay at the Ronald McDonald House helped her cope because she could relate to all the families who were sharing similar circumstances. She says her family could “let out stresses with each other [the other families].” Children heal faster when their family is there to support them, and Anna said that without the house, that wouldn’t have been a possibility for her family.
Isaac’s dad, Rocky Rios, was not working during Isaac’s time of need so he could be at the hospital with his son. He said he loved being in close proximity to the hospital because he could just wake up and see his son right away. To him, this was the best part about staying at the House.
This February, Ana updated us on Isaac’s health. Isaac turned two years old in September 2010, and Ana says his height is that of a four year old. His doctor believes his height will peak at about six foot five inches! Ana and Rocky can now say that Isaac’s story shows that there IS hope.
Candee Rocha
We will forever remember our surprise visitor that came to us in early February of this year. Candee Rocha’s journey with our house began in 1987. She moved that year with her two sons, Sam and Anthony (Tony) from Omaha, NE to Santa Maria, CA. A few months later, Tony, who was a year old, became very ill. After taking him immediately to a hospital in Santa Maria, and the doctors ran every test they could think of, Candee was told if Tony made it through the night, it would be best to fly him to the Children's Hospital in Fresno. She stayed up all night and sang and talked to her son. She prayed that Anthony would get through the night,and her prayers were answered first thing the next morning when Anthony was put on a medical flight to Fresno. Her first two nights were spent sleeping on chairs and wherever else she could find space. They were also spent calling her 8 year old son, Sam, reassuring him that his brother was okay. On the third day, Candee found out about The Ronald McDonald House. The moment she walked in she was introduced to a kind and warm grandmotherly type woman who showed her around. She was AMAZED! She remembers thinking how badly she needed to wash her clothes, take a shower, and most of all, get a good night sleep in a bed. Candee said, “But what I found most helpful was the support of the other parents, walking in my shoes. So for the next three days, I truly was dependent on the kindness of strangers.”
And then it happened, any parents' worst nightmare, the death of their child. Candee was consumed by so many different emotions; she said she felt totally lost. She remembers the feeling of going back to the Ronald McDonald House, preparing to pack up and leave. “It was wrenching,” she recalls. The same kind woman (the RMHC house manager) that showed her around when she first arrived came to her and as Candee remembers, “She gave me a strength I didn't know I had in me.” The house manager explained to Candee that they needed to go through the check-out process and informed her that the "House" asked for a $7.00 a day donation for each family’s stay. “A wave of panic struck me so hard I could have been knocked over with the tap of a feather. I didn't even have as the saying goes, ‘two nickels to rub together,’” she said. Candee recalled the next thing she felt was a warm, gentle pat on her hands and the voice of the former house manager saying, "Not to worry, if you have nothing, you owe nothing."
From that day forward and for nearly the last 24 years, Candee made a promise to herself that if she ever made it back to Fresno, she would indeed pay off her “debt.” Over the last 24 years she had another son, Michael, and along with her oldest, Sam, she taught them how and why it was important to leave their change at the McDonald's restaurants. She said it was for Tony and other families just like theirs who needed that help.
In early January, Candee needed neck surgery and as soon as she was able to travel, her father sent her to recuperate in the warm California weather, insisting she would heal faster. Two weeks later, her cousin Toni (who Anthony was named after) who lives in Clovis wanted Candee to finish recovering in her home. Candee agreed on one condition: that Toni take her to the Ronald McDonald House, so she could pay them back.
Candee remembers pulling into the parking lot and suddenly becoming overwhelmed with emotion, she almost was not sure she could walk in. She said it immediately took her back to what happened 24 years ago, but she was on a mission and was not leaving.
“A lovely woman let us in and asked if she could help me. I told her even though I know this wasn't the ‘house’ back in 1987, that I was here to clear my debt. The look on her face was of utter amazement. She said, ‘No one, no one comes back and does that especially after that many years.’ To some my story may seem a little on the crazy side over $21.00, but all I can say is that I was raised by wonderful parents who always worked hard at teaching good morals: to be honest, to be kind, and if possible to pay it forward,” said Rocha.
Candee says her short stay at the house in 1987 left a mark on her heart and we can gladly say it left one on our’s. We will never forget her return visit.
