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t m c » p u l s e | s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 5 A t MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, the aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafts through the air as a volunteer prepares to make her rounds. At Texas Children's Hospital, mothers and fathers find a moment of solace in the sanctuary of a private bedroom, resting their eyes for a few hours while harnessing the strength needed to support their child. At Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, parents regain a semblance of normalcy and control as they do laundry and cook dinner, bolstered by the solidar- ity of other families who share similar experiences. On Holcombe Blvd, the frenetic beeping of hospital monitoring equipment is replaced by the ringing of infectious laughter and the eager barks of the House's resident labradoodle. At Ronald McDonald House Houston (RMHH), families with seriously ill children being treated in Texas Medical Center institutions find much more than warm beds and a roof over their heads—they're enveloped in an atmosphere of care, compassion and support. Offering a nurturing environment to all families of children facing a potentially life threatening condition, A Home Away From Home B y A l e x O r l a n d o including those in need of an organ transplant, major cardiac surgery or fighting cancer, RMHH operates a total of 86 rooms and provides support services in sev- eral locations throughout Houston. Spanning across the medical center from a freestanding, 50-bedroom House on Holcombe Boulevard to smaller facilities inside Texas Children's Hospital, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, all of these programs loudly proclaim a home away from home in every detail from well- stocked bookshelves to ironing boards. "We operate very much like a hotel in terms of the services that we provide, but the big difference is that this is a hotel with a big heart," explained Mikki Donnelly, director of advancement for Ronald McDonald House Houston. "The gift of a room and a place to stay is one thing, but the gift of sharing your story and finding solidarity is something else entirely. Very seldom do the families who have stayed here talk about the accommodations themselves, but they all talk about the sense of community with other fami- lies and the feeling of support that they receive from volunteers who come in and just listen to what they have to say." Families who come to Ronald McDonald House Houston are facing the reality of every parent's worst nightmare in the serious and often life-threatening illness of their child. In the wake of the trauma of their diagnosis, the prospect of finding a safe, affordable place to stay in an unfamiliar city, while dealing with a sick child, can make a stressful situation even more difficult. Coming from all walks of life and represent- ing a full spectrum of cultural and economic back- grounds, these families journey on parallel paths—they all share a common bond through their children's experiences. "The Ronald McDonald House provides, clearly, a place to stay, but that is way down the list of import- ant elements," said Emily Crosswell, a member of the Ronald McDonald House Houston Board of Directors and an integral figure in RMHH's development since it's inception. "The families support each other, the staff and volunteers support the families, and the community comes into our House and is able not only left: on holcombe Boulevard, a 50-bedroom house provides a welcome place to stay—often for extended periods—for families and children. in 2013, they provided 16, 583 nights of lodging to more than 519 different families. riGht: ronald mcDonald house houston's resident labradoodle mogie, pictured with a young patient, helps kids and their families feel relaxed in their new home. "mogie: the heart of the house" by kathi appelt was released earlier this year. (credit: ronald mcDonald house houston) with a total of 86 roomS throuGhout the texaS meDical center, ronalD mcDonalD houSe houSton offerS a warm anD welcominG environment to familieS of chilDren facinG life threateninG conDitionS