On October 1, 2020, our beautiful baby girl, Isla Grace Christian was born at UVM Medical Center. However, our first glimpse at our first daughter was filled with a horrifying fear unlike anything we have ever experienced before. While being welcomed into the world, Isla Grace got stuck (shoulder dystocia) and was unable to breathe for her first four minutes of life outside of mommy’s belly. No tears, no screaming, no blissful first hugs between mommy and daughter, no daddy cutting the umbilical cord; just a traumatic silence followed by what felt like hours, and dozens of medical staff bursting into the room. As Sara and I held each other, crying and praying, the NICU team shuffled Isla’s blue body out of the room. After what seemed like an eternity, the NICU team returned to the room to inform us of what had just happened and that Isla was currently intubated to be put on a ventilator. She had been diagnosed with HIE (hypoxic ischemic Encephalopathy) a traumatic brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation during birth. She would be going through a treatment know as hypothermia therapy, a process where her body is kept at 92*F for 72 hours in order to minimize any further damage to her brain and vital organs.

Time ceased to exist and no words can describe the helpless, fully encompassing, and utterly gut wrenching feeling of the unknown once we were told that only time would tell what her future may hold. The next day, Sara and I were to be discharged while Isla would be held in NICU for what would become nine days. At the time, nobody knew just how long she would be staying in the hospital, but all we knew was that we were not going to leave her side.

While staying with her that first day, a social worker talked to us and informed us that there was an available room at the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington. Without knowing what to expect, we agreed to stay there until Isla could come home with us. When we first arrived at the Ronald McDonald House, Stephen introduced himself while taking our temperature. We were the only guests at the time and he gave us a tour of the beautiful home.

And a home is exactly what it is. On the kitchen table were various homemade doughnuts and brownies and cookies, snickers, chocolate, and other treats to take as we pleased. The refrigerator was stocked with food and not only was it stocked, there were approximately five to ten different homemade meals portioned and dated for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our room was beautiful with a living room and bedroom fully furnished and everything was tidy and clean. The dining room downstairs was where Sara and I ate dinner after getting back each night. While Isla Grace was in the hospital, I just didn’t have the emotional/mental/spiritual energy to put any focus towards mundane responsibilities like getting a hotel room, buying hygiene and going shopping and making dinner and finding restaurants. On top of everything else, they even provided Sara with a breast pump to feed Isla Grace.

It may be called the Ronald McDonald House, but it is a home. Because of this organization, Sara and I didn’t have to worry or stress over any of these things. Because of the Ronald McDonald House, we were able to be there solely for our daughter.

I’ve always known that the Ronald McDonald House was a charity of some sort, but I never knew the specifics. What they do is go above and beyond to give peace and hope to the family who is facing the horrors of not knowing whether their son or daughter or brother or mother is going to make it out of that hospital. We see the terminally or chronically ill child; the Ronald McDonald House sees the family of the terminally or chronically ill child. Thank you to all of the employees and volunteers at RMHC. We are so eternally grateful.

Love, Prayers, and Many Thanks
Sara, Micah, and Isla Grace Christian

To help RMHC guests like the Christian Family, consider a donation this holiday season!