Ronald McDonald House -- A home away from home when you need one

Dear editor:

On Friday, March 13, Kaden Shiloh Wallace Stinson was born at Nevada Regional Medical Center. He was later transferred to Freeman Hospital in Joplin where it was determined he needed heart surgery to correct transposed arteries. He was then air-flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where he will soon be undergoing heart surgery. He is the son of Steve and Rachel Stinson and grandson of Jim and Joyce Wallace, of Nevada, and Ron and Shirley Stinson, of Belleview, Ill. Big brothers Mark and Koda Stinson are anxiously awaiting their little brother coming home. We are so thankful for Children's Mercy Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

Ronald McDonald House

After Kaden was transferred to Children's Mercy in Kansas City, the hospital made arrangements for us to stay at the Ronald McDonald House located one block up from where Kaden would be staying. I cannot say enough about the hospitality shown us as a family by the Ronald McDonald House here in Kansas City next to Children's Mercy Hospital. Besides the convenience of being able to walk down the street anytime we want to see baby Kaden, there are the added benefits of living in a place that is "just like home," except nicer.

We are staying in a room that sleeps six on Sleep Number Beds. The room is still large enough to accommodate all our luggage and we have our own bathroom. I believe there are something like 19 sleeping rooms in the house we are staying in.

Every night supper is carried in and served by different church groups, families and civic organizations. The first night we were here supper was brisket, baked chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, pie and cookies. It is so wonderful to get to leave the hospital and come home to a wonderful meal prepared by people with a heart for those in situations just like ours. Usually a family's sick child is in a hospital far from home. The kitchen here is open 24 hours a day, with two large refrigerators stocked with food, as well as a stocked pantry for our use. The pop machines only cost 25 cents if you choose to use them.

There is a full basement with a large screen TV and a playroom for the kids next to it. And adjacent to that is a laundry room with several washers and dryers for our convenience. Soap and laundry needs are furnished.

In fact, everything you could possibly need is furnished in these houses including bedding, towels and food.

I would encourage you to give generously to the Ronald McDonald House. Little boxes can be seen in the McDonald's all over the country. I can vouch that it is a worthwhile organization and the money will go to help those just like our family who find themselves needing a place to stay so we could be close to our little one while he is in the hospital. And if there is a Ronald McDonald House located close to the city in which you live, please volunteer there or even donate items that can be used there. How I wish I could do that, but none exist close to where I live.

If you are like me, you don't really think about places like Children's Mercy Hospital and Ronald McDonald Houses until one day you wake up and find yourself in situations like ours. I am sorry I haven't been involved up to this point, but from now on I will support them through donations of money and pantry supplies and by encouraging you to support them also and in any other ways that I can. Please join me in getting the word out about this wonderful place to stay when illness strikes.

Thank you

Joyce Wallace

Nevada