11 Dec The Hall Family

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My wife Andrea and I found out at 20 Weeks that our unborn son Knox had fluid on his Kidney and would have to been seen by specialists in Charleston, we live in Myrtle Beach. So every week we came down for ultrasounds and different test to try to figure out what this large cyst was on his Kidney. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to figure out what it was and we had to wait until he was born to get a better diagnosis. We had a scheduled C-Section date in Charleston for February 19th, but our son had a different plan. My wife went into labor on February 6th and had an emergency c-section and our beautiful baby boy was born. He was then rushed into the nursery so he could be prepared to be helicoptered to Charleston. Seeing my son for a very short period of time and watching him get into a Helicopter was the hardest thing I ever had to do. There was nothing I could do to help him and that was a horrible feeling to have. So I said goodbye to my wife and drove down as fast as I could to meet him at the hospital. The last thing I was thinking about was where was I going to stay, frankly I didn’t care if I had to sleep in my truck. I arrived in Charleston to find my son doing well (praise GOD!) and I got to finally hold him. The nurses were awesome and tried to find me a place to stay even though I never asked them to. They said that there were able to get me in at the Ronald McDonald house across the street. I felt bad because I didn’t think we would be in Charleston long and I did not want to take a room from someone that needed it more than I did. I went and checked in around 5 that day and met a very helpful young woman who told me what I should expect by staying there. I was taken to my room and put my stuff down and headed right back to the hospital. I stayed there until I was told I had to leave. I was picked up by a police officer and escorted to the front door step of the Ronald McDonald House which was great since it was very cold out that day. I was always remember walking into the kitchen being extremely tired and overrun with emotion from the events that had happened that day and there was a whole kitchen full of food. Also there was another great young lady that asked how I was doing and we spoke for a few minutes and it made me feel better to talk to someone about what had happened. That night I laid in my bed and just prayed that everything was going to be OK. At that point I had no answers, I was in Charleston by myself without my wife who was recovering from major surgery who I obviously couldn’t help and my newborn Son was in the NICU and we had no more answers on his Kidney or if there even was a Kidney. The next day my Wife was released (amazing to me that she had the strength to drive 2 hours after major surgery, if that doesn’t show a mother will whatever it takes to see her baby then I don’t know what does.) She was able to see our son, he had many procedures performed on him through the next few days. Unfortunately still no answers. Every night and morning a police officer would pick us up and drop us off at the Ronald McDonald house. We met another couple there that was going through a similar situation with Kidneys but a much, much more severe situation. It was amazing to be able to talk to other people and get support from other people that we had never met before but shared a bond of the love and well being of our children. After 6 days of being in Charleston we were released, what an amazing feeling to know we could go home and see our other children. I met with an employee who started to sign me out and told me that I did not have to pay if I couldn’t. I thought to myself I couldn’t pay you enough money for what you did for my family. You can’t put a price tag on that. Great News Baby Knox is doing great, he is 7 weeks old now. We still do not know everything about his Kidney function, we will no more in a few months when a different scan can be done. He is fitting right in with his other brothers.

I am sorry for the long story but I wanted you to know how unbelievably grateful my family is to not just the Ronald McDonald house but the employees of the Ronald McDonald house. People don’t understand the emotional toll it takes out on you when you are in a different city, at a hospital where your child is at and you can do nothing for them. Honestly, it was very hard for me to except all the help that you provided me, I have always had a hard time with people helping me I feel like I can do it all myself. I was very wrong this time, I NEEDED help and you were there to pick me up and help us along the way. We are one of the lucky few who were able to walk away from the hospital with a healthy baby and I pray everyday for that and I also pray for the families that did not have the same outcome. To wake up everyday with a message or little gift on our doorway meant so much to us. We could battle another day. The services you provided us were something I will never forget and will always be in debt to the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston. I have spread the word here in Myrtle Beach about the experience we had in Charleston and have asked people to donate when they have the chance. Speaking from experience, you never know what the Ronald McDonald house does until you have to live there and see the struggles and triumphs and the helping hands that people provided for us. I felt that it was necessary to write this email so that we could formally Thank You from the bottom of our hearts that you made that horrible time much more comforting for our family. Please keep up the great work that you do and we will be spreading the word about the work that the Ronald McDonald house does.

From a very grateful Family,
Matthew and Andrea Hall Mason, Easton, and Baby Knox[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]