28 Mar The Chaffins Family Story

It’s nice just having a place to go at the end of the day,” said Ashley Chaffins about the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston. Her daughter, Caroline, is recovering from the second of three surgeries needed to correct her Hypoplastic Left Heart condition. Born at MUSC, she had her first surgery only eight days after birth.

At five months old, Caroline weighs a mere 12 pounds, and has a heart the size of a walnut. She also has what doctors call an “endurance issue”, where her body doesn’t have enough stamina to nurse a bottle. Because of this, she is fed through a G-tube. Even with help from night nurses, Ashley gets up every three hours to turn on Caroline’s food supply.

“The hardest part isn’t the surgery, it’s the recovery. You’re used to them being a certain way, and they just aren’t ” she said. Despite all this, Ashley remains cheerful. “She’s a little sassy pants,” she says, laughing, “Even at home, she rolls around and chews on her toes.”

Being a single, working mother, Ashley said that Ronald McDonald House has lifted a huge financial burden for her during this time of need, and she is grateful for its hospitality.

Baby Caroline Chaffins