McHappy Day

Tomorrow is McHappy Day! Its an important day for our family. Last year, I did my part and ate a Big Mac to support the cause. I craved Big Macs during my pregnancy...to the point that my friend Jelma began to refer to my baby as "Ronald!"
When Ayla showed up 7 weeks early, St. Thomas didn't have a Ronald McDonald house. The hospital was fairly empty so the nurses just put off discharging me so I could stay with Ayla. When they did discharge me, I spent two night away from her and then she got sick. Her body began to swell up and she became lethargic. St.Joes couldn't take her that day, so she had to remain in St. Thomas that night. The nurses made up a bed for me so that I wouldn't have to leave her. In the morning, Ayla was seriously ill. Standing there and watching ST. Joes' transport team load her into the transport isolette was so hard, but not being able to ride with her was the hardest thing I'd ever had to deal with. I was alone at the hospital that morning. Before I left St. Thomas, Ayla's Dr. sat me down and prepared me for what I would see in the NICU at St.Joes. The hospital social worker then came in and asked if she could call Ronald McDonald house on my behalf. The staff at St. Thomas were/are amazing! They were our earth angels! They called St. Joes everyday to check on Ayla and to let me know that they cared. A year ago, I had never been to St. Thomas and now when I drive down the 401 and see the St. Thomas exit, I get teary-eyed!

Before I had even made it to London, I had a phone call from RMH. They apologized for not having a room for me, but said they had made a hotel reservation for me. My first 24hours at St. Joes hurt so bad! When I got there, I couldn't find Ayla...the hospital was under construction. By the time I got to the NICU, I was a huge blubbery mess. The tests that I saw done that day were scray...Ayla had a long line iv put in. It took the Dr 7tries to get it in. He was in the middle of that when I got to finally see her. There was blood everywhere and it looked beyond painful, but Ayla was so sick that she did't even move. I thought I was going to pass out watching, but I knew if I did, they'd make me leave. The Dr. finished and then looked at me and said, "I really don't think she'll make it 24hrs." When Brandon got there, it was so hard to sit and try to talk about it. When we finally left to go to the hotel, we could barely even function. We made it through the night and Ayla had her first blood transfution. By the morning, RMH called the hotel to say they had a room for us.

RMH was my home for the next 5.5wks. I wouldn't have made it through without the support from RMH. They provide so much more than a bed! Volunteers come in and prepare a homemade supper every night, and you have access to laundry, computer, phone, a pumping room for the new mommies and transportation for those who don't have a vehicle. The first morning, we woke at RMH was Father's Day. We had both completely forgotten, but as we went to leave for the hospital, Brandon found a Father's Day gift outside our door. The amazing staff left gifts for all the fathers. Monday morning the director called me down to her office, because she wanted to meet me. She gave me a quilt for Ayla and a stuffed moose, which became known as "Zuess the Guardian Moose." He stayed with her at the hospital and was misplaced only once. Brandon panicked and the staff tore apart the NICU to find him. He still sleeps with Ayla at home. Her quilt is used when she plays outside now. RMH gave me a place to rest so I could be strong for my daughter and a way to build routine into my life.

The whole point of this post it to help you put a face to RMH and what they do. We are always hearing about fundraisers for this or that and I know it helps to see a face. McHappy Day is special day for us because we can celebrate an organization that gave my daughter what she needed most, her mom! So get out there tomorrow and buy your Big Macs, Happy Meals and Happy Feet!