10 Feb A Nurse’s Full Circle Journey with the House

Posted at 14:48h in Family Stories by

For 25 years, Joy MacDonald dedicated her career as a nurse at CHOP, working in NICU and PICU to support families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. As part of her role, she often referred families to the Ronald McDonald House.

“As a nurse, I would tell families how wonderful the House was, but I never truly understood the impact it had on them,” Joy recalls. In the spring of 2024, Joy found herself on the other side of that conversation when her 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with brain cancer. “Life changed in an instant,” Joy says. “I now live my life 15 minutes at a time. With a sick child, that’s what we do.”

Joy and her family currently live in Florida, but they knew they needed to get Hannah to the best place for her treatment. “There was no question—we were going to Philadelphia,” Joy shares. While Joy arrived at CHOP, her husband, Darren, checked in at the Ronald McDonald House and got an early peek. He returned happy to reassure her, saying, “You’re going to love it!” Joy’s personal experience with the House gave her a new perspective on its mission. “It’s not just a place to sleep, it offers safety, comfort, and a sense of belonging,” Joy explains. “I can’t imagine going through what we did without them.” After a long day at the hospital, the family would return to the House for rest and nourishment. “The simple things—like grabbing hummus and carrots from the fridge—made a world of difference,” Joy says. “It was one less thing for me to worry about, and for that, I’m forever grateful.”

Though Joy’s family had a strong support system, her experience deepened her empathy for families without the same resources. “Not everyone has what we had, but the Ronald McDonald House is there for everyone,” Joy says. “It gave us the comfort of knowing we had a safe place to rest when we couldn’t be at the hospital.” Joy says her perspective on the House has shifted. “I thought I understood what it meant to the families I cared for as a nurse, but now I truly know.”