Seventy-five percent of the guests that stay at the Ronald McDonald House Missoula (RMHM) are families with infants in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Community Medical Center. Women with high-risk pregnancies who use the RMHM rose nearly 20 percent from 2014 to 2015.
The Ronald McDonald House Missoula (RMHM) is located on the Community Medical Center Campus. They welcome families with a permanent residence more than 40 miles or 40 minutes outside of Missoula and whose pediatric patient, under 21-years-old, is being treated at a Missoula hospital. The counties served the most at the RMHM are Silverbow and Lewis & Clark followed by Ravalli and Lake counties.
Tara's son Juliean was born with spina bifida and many other complications. Tara stayed at the RMHM for more than a month while her son was in the hospital. After they were released, Juliean lived for three weeks. Tara called Cindy Larson and Kathy O'Day and they were able to go and visit them before he passed away. "It just meant so much that she would think of us as her support during that time," said Larson. Larson continued, "Everyone has a story but not all good ones. That's not our job. Our job is just to provide a place for them to stay and to facilitate the family being together as much as possible."
Kathy O'Day shared the story of Holly who stayed at the house for 94 days. Her daughter ZyEnna weighed 1 pound, 10.5 ounces at birth.
Kya and ZyEnna. Kathy O'Day shared the story of Holly who stayed at the RMHM for 94 days with her second grade daughter Kya. Her daughter ZyEnna weighed 1 pound, 10.5 ounces at birth. Kya became O'Day's assistant. She filled out a time card and was paid $5 for her work at the house. ZyEnna is now a healthy little girl.
MISSOULA - For a child to end up in the hospital can be a difficult thing for parents and loved ones. The challenge is compounded when the child is being treated in Missoula and the family lives outside the Missoula area.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana includes the Missoula House and Kalispell Family Room. The mission of the Ronald McDonald House of Missoula (RMHM) is to provide a home away from home for families who have a pediatric patient under the age of 21 being treated at a Missoula hospital. Guests must live 40 miles or 40 minutes outside the Missoula area and have a permanent residence. Stays are arranged through the social workers at the area hospitals and can be for one night or as long as needed.
The national chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded on the idea that keeping parents together with their children during a time of crisis contributes to healing. Founded in 1974 through a partnership between the Philadelphia Eagle's NFL player Fred Hill, owner Leonard Tose and general management Jim Murray, a Philadelphia children's hospital and Ed Rensi, the McDonald's regional manager, Ronald McDonald House Charities has grown to include 329 houses in 33 countries.
The RMHM was founded in April of 2006. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit and has its own Board of Directors. While the Glacier Co-op owners/operators of McDonald's Restaurants fund portions of the RMHM's annual operating costs, the majority of the operating income comes from individual or corporate donors and grants.
"One hundred percent of the donations made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana stays locally with the house," said RMHM Executive Director Amy Peterson.
In 2015, the RMHM had 208 individual family visits for a total of 2,132 nights. Peterson said the RMHM has a lower number of visits with longer stays than some of the more traditional houses because 75 percent of the guests are families with infants in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or are high-risk pregnancy mothers. In 2014, the high-risk pregnancies were six percent of stays and in 2015 it increased to 24 percent.
"We ask for a $25 donation per night but we will never turn anyone away for cost," said Peterson. "That's where our donors' contributions really come in to help cover a night's stay for those that can't afford it."
The RMHM has eight rooms complete with two queen-sized beds and bathroom. The two full kitchens, dining area, laundry facilities, a playroom and library are shared. Wi-fi is also available. There is also a full conference room that is rented out to community groups.
The RMHM employs seven paid staff and volunteers that staff the house 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The staff makes sure the guests feel welcome, assists with any questions and helps maintain the house. Groups, businesses and individuals in the Missoula community support the house by bringing hot meals to the guests in the evenings, cleaning, visiting with a therapy dog, donating food for the pantry, helping out with specific projects or making quilts for the guests. One Missoula resident stops in every Thursday for less than 20 minutes and waters all the plants.
"She loves plants and it's just remarkable that someone is willing to do that," said Peterson. "Every little bit helps and every dollar helps as well. Over Christmas we had a lady send $1 as her contribution and prayers. It really made me realize that every little bit helps."
Kathy O'Day started volunteering at the RMHM in 2011 and was hired November 2013. She tries to show the guests that everyone at the RMHM cares and are sympathetic towards their situation.
"I feel like we are really helping out people who have been in a tough situation," said O'Day. "When you walk in the door, hopefully you feel like you are at home, your home away from home. My motto is we are so happy to have you here and we are so happy to have you leave."
O'Day loves getting to be a grandma and holding the babies when they come to visit.
"I love having the siblings [guests] here. I get paid to work with guests. I get paid to help the house run. And some days I get paid to color," said O'Day.
Cindy Larson started volunteering at the house in May 2009 organizing photos and guests stories, made up event fliers and helped with the gingerbread house contest at the Southgate Mall in December. Larson was hired in 2013 and manages the RMHM social media and coordinates volunteer groups.
"I enjoy most getting to know the guests and being a support to them," said Larson. "I see the house allowing parents to remain close to their children. Even staying in a hotel you have to drive back and forth and the separation would be so hard."
"The [RMHM] house is not just a place to stay or get a warm meal or place to do your laundry, it provides an internal support network of people who are experiencing the same sort of situations," said Peterson. "As cliché as it sounds, a lot of times our guests do become family because guests swap stories, advice, rides and they are helping each other out. That's really important in the healing process as well, to realize you're not alone."
For more information about the RMHM visit http://www.rmhcwesternmontana.org or find the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana on Facebook. A wish list of items is available on their website and on Amazon.com by searching for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana. Join them April 30 from 5-9 p.m. for a Family Fun Night carnival at the Valentine Community Center, 2811 Latimer, Missoula.
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