Our wonderful experience at Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa began in January 2005, after we had our beautiful but premature daughters Emilie (2lbs 2oz) and Gabrielle (2Lb 6oz). At the time we were living in Petawawa, Ontario due to our military posting there. We knew very little about Ottawa except where our doctor’s office was. The prospect of having two very sick little girls and not knowing where we would stay or where to get anything we needed for them was to say the least very nerve wracking. From our very first meeting with Cheryl, it was clear that we were in a warm loving home and as the days turned to weeks and then months “the house that love built” would give us much needed support and lifelong friendships. We were so thankful to be so close to our girls during this time. It made leaving the girls at night a bit easier to know we were only steps away from CHEO. The wonderful meals made by the volunteers that came into the house every week was such a welcomed sight at the end of a long day in the NICU. We were blessed to bring Gabrielle home (to Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa) on Feb 23, 2005, 2 weeks before her due date. We were overwhelmed by all the love and celebration at her homecoming. The 3 remaining months at RMH was a roller coaster for our family but all along the loving support of the staff, volunteers and other families kept us strong when some days John and I did not know how we would make it through another surgery, blood infection or blood transfusion for Emilie. Throughout it all we had people that laughed and cried with us and showed such compassion when we needed it. The morning after our Emilie became an Angel, the House wrapped its loving arms around John, Gabrielle and I as well as our amazing family that rushed from Southern Ontario to support us in those horrible hours after her death. The memory of that support still brings tears to my eyes. I always thought after that day that there were Angels that walked here on earth and they all choose the families of Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa to bestow their love to. In the years that followed we have returned for follow up visits for Gabrielle at CHEO. We are always so happy to return to the House to have a visit with our Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa family. We are happy to report that Gabrielle is a very happy and thankfully healthy 9 year old! She likes show her little brother Lucas pictures of her life in the NICU and those wonderful and memorable pictures at Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa. Our family would have never had the time we did with our girls to make memories to relate to Gabrielle and Lucas if Manoir Ronald McDonald House was not there. We will forever be eternally grateful for our time there to be a family. Thank you to the Staff and Volunteers of Manoir Ronald McDonald House Ottawa! All our love and gratitude, The Andersons #specialspotlight #rememberingemilie #ForRMHC #togethernessheals
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:44:25 +0000
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