Family Stories
News Date
Oct
14
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The Watts Family Story
When Avery Watts was 11 years old, she had a heart attack. At age 12, she has already had two open-heart surgeries. She and her family are preparing for her third, scheduled for this November. When she was only six years old, Avery was diagnosed with a disease called Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia. This disease prohibits […]
News Date
Aug
13
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Kerr Family Story
“Kevin and I met in 2009, got married in 2011, and we tried for a family for 7 years. Finally, in January of 2019, we were blessed to announce that we were expecting. Then, amidst the joy of the good news, we were suddenly hit with a series of heartbreaks. A week later, we lost […]
News Date
May
11
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The Rogers Family Story
Chandler Rogers’ medical journey started eight years ago, when he was diagnosed with an intimidating condition in both name and symptoms: Nephrotic Syndrome due to Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Chandler’s kidneys were becoming damaged and scarred, eventually leading him to go into kidney failure. At sixteen years old, it was evident that Chandler needed a […]
News Date
Apr
10
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The Kaloroumakis Family Story
Madison Kaloroumakis arrived 10 weeks early to the world, weighing only 2 lbs 6 oz. Her diagnosis of IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) meant that she faced the first weeks of her life on oxygen, attached to machines, and hooked up to IVs. And she was far from home. The Kaloroumakis family, from Seaford, Delaware, had […]
News Date
Feb
17
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The Rateep Family Story
Four-year-old Olivia Rateep was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) when she was two years old. This rare disease affects her kidneys, producing scarring and organ function problems. The Rateep family lives in California, where they tried every treatment available for Olivia before coming to Delaware for a 9-week clinical trial for a new treatment […]
News Date
Dec
12
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The Cosgrove Family Story
During a mission trip to India, Tom and Dawn Cosgrove met Parimala at an orphanage when she was just two years old. After a lengthy adoption process, they finally brought her home more than five years later. During the time they were waiting to bring Parimala home to Grahamsville, New York, the Cosgroves knew she […]
News Date
Oct
10
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The Patel Family Story
In 2012, Jaydev Patel was diagnosed with T-cell Leukemia and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). At only fifteen, Jaydev faced his cancer diagnosis bravely and traveled from New Jersey with his family to Delaware’s Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children for treatment. After treatment was complete, Jaydev was proud to call himself a survivor. That was the […]
News Date
Sep
12
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The Molina Family Story
Twins Gabriella and Isabella Molina were born prematurely on April 18, 2019. Only hours after they were born, Isabella passed away in her father’s arms. Then, Gabriella spent months in the NICU, receiving treatment for multiple complications from premature birth. First-time parents Margarita and David were faced with coping with the loss of Isabella while […]
News Date
Aug
15
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The Somerset Family Story
For the Somerset family, home is two hours away from the medical care that Jason, 16, and Drew, 12, need. Being far from home is a stressor that adds to two already complicated medical diagnoses. Jason is a leukemia survivor. He fought his battle with cancer for several years, and also has a brain malformation […]
News Date
Jun
17
News Details
The Sullivan Family Story
Most teenage boys enjoy being active, playing sports, and the outdoors. Aidan Sullivan loved these kinds of activities when he was younger, playing football and hockey, and enjoying snowboarding and sailing. But when he sustained a hockey injury at age 10 that led to him being on crutches for 6 months, closely followed by a […]
News Date
May
20
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The Bates Family Story
When the Bates triplets were born 18 years ago, they were premature, arriving when their mother Ann was only 27 weeks into her pregnancy. As a complication of the early delivery of multiples, baby Emily was diagnosed was Diplegic Cerebral Palsy. Diplegic Cerebral Palsy causes the muscles to be stiff and contracted, making it difficult […]
News Date
Apr
17
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The Young Family Story
When a short trip for a scheduled surgery turned into a more than two-week stay, the Young family experienced the stress of not only an additional, unplanned surgery for 10-year-old Ian, but facing this while being far away from home. Precocious and kind, Ian has Morquio Syndrome. His family traveled from Mobile, Alabama for his surgery […]
News Date
Feb
14
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A Place for Our Family to Stay Together
Ximena Weldon was born with a hemangioma, a benign tumor made up of blood vessels, under her right eye. Hemangiomas are common, especially in infants, so the Weldon family only needed to monitor Ximena to make sure the hemangioma didn’t flare up, which doctors told them could cause issues with her vision. In August of […]
News Date
Dec
12
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It Felt Like Home
Infantile Spasms (IS) is a very rare, serious seizure disorder that affects young children. Annually, only about 1,200 children are diagnosed with IS in the United States. (Child Neurology Foundation, n.d.). 20-month-old Bryson Townes was admitted to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children for an extended stay due to IS. Doctors also diagnosed Bryson […]
News Date
Oct
09
News Details
Counting Our Blessings
The Cookus-Gnoinski Family Story Ten-year-old Abbey Cookus-Gnoinski had her eighth surgery in May, and spent her summer at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware while completing an intensive Physical Therapy Schedule before she started sixth grade this fall. She was born with Diastrophic Dysplasia, a type of dwarfism that affects joints and bones due to a […]
News Date
Aug
24
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Joyful No Matter What
Maddy describes herself as “the happiest girl in the world,” and it’s clear that she is. Singing Bruno Mars, laughing, and dancing in her wheelchair, Maddy’s warm demeanor and curious nature is contagious. Maddy and her grandmother Nancy stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware during the week while she undergoes therapy for complications […]
News Date
Jul
11
News Details
The Dodson Family Story
The Dodsons are a family who love the outdoors, camping, going to church, and having “Pizza Fridays.” Todd, Staci, Anna (2 years), Kyle (7 mos), and Max the Husky make up the close-knit family who reside in a rural, woodsy area of central Pennsylvania. At just three months old, Anna was diagnosed with four different […]
News Date
May
08
News Details
Not in This Alone
Lamar Wayman is an athlete. He played football, basketball, tee-ball, and practiced karate. But at age eight, Lamar was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his spinal cord and a cyst on his brain stem. In August 2017, he was admitted to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and underwent two major surgeries in just […]
News Date
Apr
13
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“Able to Just Be With Each Other”
When the Willis family experienced a serious car accident in June 2017, 8-year old Austin was ejected from the vehicle and landed on the asphalt. He was the only one in the car who suffered a lasting injury. “Austin has a traumatic brain injury,” his mom Ashley shares, “He had to learn how to […]
News Date
Feb
21
News Details
Our Second Home
Siblings Logan and Summer are inseparable. “Logan needs her,” their mom Linda says, “Summer has been by his side since his first visit. She helps him relax and feel more at ease.” The Weaver family has been coming to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware for 9 years. As a toddler, Logan started appointments at […]
News Date
Feb
14
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“Two Minutes, Not Two Hours, Away”
Baby Sevyn was born extremely prematurely, at 24 weeks gestation. He weighed only 1 lb. 9 oz. Immediately after he was born in Seaford, Delaware, he was taken to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, almost 100 miles from the family’s home in Georgetown. Since birth, Sevyn has battled complications due to his prematurity; including […]
News Date
Dec
12
News Details
It Comes From the Heart
Two-year old Maria loves the playroom at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. Every night after eating dinner, whether her Mom is done eating or not, Maria confidently runs to the playroom to be with her friends. Maria’s mom, Farah, says that playing with other children and making friends was not something she was able […]
News Date
Nov
07
News Details
She Never Has to Be Alone
When two-year-old Georgianna Cherry’s parents noticed their daughter’s stomach swelling, they originally weren’t concerned, but made a visit to the family doctor to be sure. The family’s world quickly turned upside down when they received a series of unexpected news. First, they learned there was a tumor on Georgie’s liver. Doctors assured them it was […]
News Date
Oct
13
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Nicholas, a Hero
“On November 31, 2016, my son Nicholas had his 3rd surgery to remove a tumor that had grown back. The neurosurgeon told me he may never walk again. I will never forget the day I checked into the Ronald McDonald House. I was alone, worried, scared, sad, and still trying to process what the doctors […]
News Date
Aug
09
News Details
“Home-away-from-home”
The Hoover family is very familiar with joy, and with heartache. Among their heartaches, they think about the child they lost, who would have been ten this year. They also think of their newborn baby, who has been in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for children since she was born […]
News Date
Jul
04
News Details
It’s My Home; it’s Her Home
At four months old, Jazmin was diagnosed with a rare liver disease in her home country of Jamaica. When her parents Jessica and Javion realized that the proper care for Jazmin wasn’t available at home, they began to search for help in other countries. Time was of the essence for the Dunn family, because Jazmin […]
News Date
Jun
12
News Details
Always There For Us
On July 26, 2016, Jordan and his mom Rebeca arrived to Delaware after a long flight from their home in Ecuador. That same day, Jordan received a blood transfusion of four pints of blood at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington. After being diagnosed with Leukemia in Ecuador, Jordan’s family flew to Delaware to receive treatment. Far […]
News Date
Feb
14
News Details
Sammy’s Sprinters
Sammy Speiss Hinkle’s family has stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware many times while Sammy underwent surgeries and treatments for his rare form of dwarfism at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Now, Sam and his family and friends participate in our K Run/Walk every year to support the House they called home […]
News Date
Jan
17
News Details
Garrett, a Hero
10-year-old Garrett is a hero. After being hit by a car in May, he made a long recovery at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Garrett and his mom spent several months at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware while Garrett received intensive rehab. While he has been discharged and able to go back home since, Garrett […]
News Date
Dec
12
News Details
It’s Like a Family Here
Rebeka’s Mom Donated Part of Her Liver to Save Her Daughter’s Life Rebeka has Biliary Artesia, a rare and life threatening disease of the liver. When she was 7 months old, Rebeka, her parents left home in Jamaica to receive medical treatment in Wilmington, Delaware. When her family arrived, Rebeka was hospitalized for months while waiting for […]
News Date
Dec
07
News Details
It Makes You Feel Less Alone
Malachi and His Family Stayed at the Ronald McDonald House this Summer Since he was diagnosed with dwarfism nine years ago, Malachi and his family family have been coming to Nemours/A. I. duPont Hospital for Children. Only recently when he needed surgery did they start to stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. During […]
News Date
Nov
14
News Details
Lilly’s Love and Laughter
Lilly was born in Uganda and taken to a foster program run by her now-adoptive mother, Emily. After knowing Lilly for only a few days, Emily decided that she wanted to adopt her. In Uganda, adoptive parents must foster their child for three years in the country. One year into this process, Lilly was diagnosed with leukemia. […]
News Date
Nov
04
News Details
Ian’s Salute to Bravery
Ian’s Journey Ian has a rare musculoskeletal disorder. His journey has been a long one, with more than 20 surgeries and rigorous physical therapy. In order to be closer to Ian’s medical team in Wilmington, DE, his family made the decision to move from Texas to Maryland. During visits to the hospital, he and his family have […]
News Date
Oct
24
News Details
Little Levi’s Miracle Flight
Levi is one of just 21 people worldwide with a rare form of dwarfism. Because his condition is so rare, he visits to different doctors around the country for treatment.”¬ Biggest Flight Ever Over the summer, Levi flew from his home in Mississippi to Wilmington, Delaware for an orthopedic evaluation. (This was the 100,000th flight arranged […]
News Date
Sep
08
News Details
The Last Day I Cried
Ryan’s Family Knew He Was a Fighter “He’ll try anything. He gets mad if you try to help.” That’s mom’s way of describing Ryan, watching as he slides down the mini roller coaster in the playroom. Ryan is a lively 3.5 year old who has achondroplasia. After almost losing Ryan to a common cold at […]
News Date
Aug
25
News Details
Much More than a Place to Stay
Pablo’s family traveled from Chile and found a new home. The Lasso Degand family believes the Ronald McDonald House is much more than just a place to stay. Pablo was born with Morquio Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. As he grew, walking became increasingly more difficult as his deformities progressed rapidly. Pablo’s family began […]
News Date
Aug
12
News Details
A Real Feeling of Connection
What child looks like a princess wearing halo traction as though it was her crown? And what five year old tells the nurse who stuck her with an IV, to “walk the plank” for causing her pain? Precocious, sweet Zoe does. Having traveled across the country so Zoe could undergo a life-altering spinal surgery at […]
News Date
Jan
08
News Details
We Enjoyed Christmas Eve at the House
Since the Fennelly’s first stay in October of 2014, they’ve unpacked their bags at their “home away from home” 6 times, totaling 61 nights. Time after time, they pack their car and make the trek from Virginia to Delaware so Sean can receive orthopedic treatment at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.
News Date
Dec
04
News Details
A Place Where Friendship Grows
The families of Evelyn Wichie and Samantha Haney have communicated with each other over the past four years through a parent Facebook group that focuses on Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, which is the condition that both girls…
News Date
Nov
09
News Details
A Silver Lining
Five month old Dean is nothing short of a fighter. He was born with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, an enlarged and thickened heart muscle, an extremely rare condition in someone so young. At just two weeks of age, Dean started treatment with specialists at …
News Date
Oct
20
News Details
She’s My Miracle Baby
The Marshall family has five children, Nathan, Natalie, Natalia, Elizabeth, and Izabella. The family has been coming to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware for the past eight years ever since their oldest son Nathan was born. Four of the children have b…
News Date
Sep
09
News Details
“Everyone is family here, everyone is a team”
The Fulginiti family has been coming to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington since son CeJay was a week old. When CeJay turned four, the family realized through talking with their doctors, that they were able to utilize the Ronald …
News Date
Jul
15
News Details
“We Couldn’t Have Had a Better Place to Stay”
“She’s the love of our lives,” said Cindy Malone about her six year old daughter Carley. “We did everything you can think to make sure she was healthy.”…
News Date
Jun
02
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“I Feel Safe Here”
Manuel was three months old. Manuel has a form of dwarfism known as diastrophic dysplasia which affects cartilage and bone development…
News Date
May
08
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“You treat us like family, You treat everyone like family”
Brenda and her seven year old son David have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware on and off for the past two years…
News Date
Mar
12
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“It’s the support that keeps me coming back”
Tara Stevens first stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware six years ago when her youngest daughter needed heart surgery just four days after she was born…
News Date
Feb
12
News Details
‘It’s the Simple Things”
The Tiffany family from Pennsylvania has been coming to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware for nearly 5 years. Nicholas, age 12, suffered severe brain trauma when he was in a car accident at 18 months old. They decided to travel four hours to Nemours/A…
News Date
Jan
12
News Details
“Not Having to Worry”
The Forbey family is from Galloway, New Jersey. Lloyd and Tamaiya have been married for 21 years and have 5 beautiful children together. On June 6, 2008, Tamaiya gave birth to their handsome son, Isaiah. Four weeks after Isaiah was born they noticed his s…