21 Jun Growing Up with the House

Natalie, from Charlotte, North Carolina, counts the House as her second home. She’s been staying with us since birth, and she most recently returned to take pictures in her cap and gown as she graduates high school this year. 18 years ago, when she was born prematurely at 30weeks and with a congenital heart defect, her family was faced with a long road and many questions.

“We were prepared for surgeries, and she was born prematurely on top of that,” her mother, Kelly, explains. “In Charlotte, they said she needed to get to at least 8 pounds before they could perform surgery. We waited and
waited and almost lost her.”

“It was a godsend to come to Philadelphia to treat her,” Kelly recalls. “And the Ronald McDonald House was the  cherry on top. It was amazing.

“I feel like I’ve grown up with the Ronald McDonald House,” Natalie reflects. “From when I first here, to now, it’s like watching a little seed grow into a flourishing garden. I’ve seen this place evolve into a huge community, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”

Now, as Natalie approaches adulthood, their Ronald McDonald House journey continues. “This place has been a lifeline for us,” she says. “Without the support and sense of community here, our journey would have been much more challenging.” She still travels to Philadelphia to be a part of a survivorship program at CHOP, and she loves to stop by the House to see how it continues to grow.