Hello, my name is Carol;  my teenage daughter Sydney and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Providence. The collective “personal experience,” of the staff at the RMHC, which included, Joanna, Sue, and Monica, among others, was invaluable.  The staff that we encountered were caring and welcoming, and their hospitality was heartwarming.  Our “personal experience,” was incredible.

The entire staff was warm, sensitive, and supportive.  They made a daily effort to ensure that everything ran smoothly throughout our stay.  They were equally respectful in engaging us in conversation, as well as affording us any level of privacy.  They were pleasant and responsive to any questions that we had in the house, or about the area.  In short, they were like family, in our home away from home.

We were provided, through the generosity of others, an incredible opportunity, and freedom to focus on the treatment for our family.  We had an immaculate, secure, warm haven at a very tumultuous, and stressful period in our lives.  We had incredible, nutritious meals prepared (COVID-19 times) by many generous patrons of RMHC.  And it was a benefit to meet other similar families.  The patients, and parents, could interact, relate, and find comfort in each other.  It was also helpful to know that my sons and husband, back at home and school, could visit if they were able.

Another of the most important aspects, for our family, was the proximity of RMHC to my daughter’s treatment facility.   Since my daughter often found it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, due to not sleeping well at night, the proximity afforded her some much-needed sleep time.    Part of the difficulties for us was the need to rush in our commute, back and forth from home to treatment, and back home again, in order to be on time for the community or at-home exposure therapies.   The RMHC alleviated this additional stressor in transitions, as she could receive her community therapies near to the RMHC.

Although my daughter’s OCD, and anxiety will never cease to exist, neither will our gratitude for the helpers that we encountered at the RMHC, along our bumpy road.  We truly appreciate all that RMHC and its patrons provided for our family!  Our hope is that future families in crisis can have the same opportunity.