Steinbach family reflects on Ronald McDonald House stay

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This article was published 09/05/2022 (1103 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

McHappy Day has taken on a whole new meaning for one Steinbach family.

The annual McDonald’s fundraiser is held to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities, offering a portion of proceeds from all McDonald’s menu items sold on that day.

This year the event takes place Wednesday, May 11, but one employee will be looking at the event in a different light for the first time.

Marcilla Friesen said she’s always enjoyed the excitement of the day, the knowledge they were raising funds for a worthy cause. But after she and her partner Jordan Kanhai spent six days in Ronald McDonald House and three more in the organization’s Family Room at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg, she has a new appreciation for the importance.

“It was such a huge blessing,” she said. “I’m just so thankful we were able to stay there.”

Marcilla and Jordan’s journey began when their two-month-old daughter Khalia began having issues. She wasn’t sleeping, eating or acting as she should.

The couple brought her to the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg, where she was quickly admitted with a heart rate of 233 and fever of 39.5 C.

That first night is something Marcilla will never forget. Because of COVID protocols only she was allowed to be by her baby’s side.

“It just kept getting worse and worse,” she said.

Two days in Khalia was diagnosed with Group B Strep. Marcilla said she was diagnosed with Group B Strep during her pregnancy, something that one in four women will experience. However, she was told it was treated while she was in labour and Khalia would be fine. However, seven weeks after she was born, Khalia began to show symptoms.

After the first night of staying close to Khalia while she was in a medically induced coma, Marcilla said she was told about the Family Room operated by Ronald McDonald House. And while she’d always known about the charity, she admits it did not come to her mind at the hospital.

“Honestly I was so overwhelmed with what was going on I didn’t even think of Ronald McDonald House,” she said.

A place to shower, a bed to sleep on, snacks and even some meals were available. And while she and her partner still spent as much time with Khalia as possible, that support made a difference.

“It just made everything so much easier,” she said. “We were so close to our daughter, two floors away.”

The couple was told that Khalia would be in hospital for 10-14 days, so they knew they had to make a plan. She was off on maternity leave and Jordan’s boss arranged for him to be able to stay close as well.

After three nights in the Family Room, the couple initially tried to stay with his parents.

“I had such anxiety being that far away from my daughter, it was so hard,” she said. “I just couldn’t stop crying.”

Jordan drove her back to the hospital that night and for the following six days they stayed at Ronald McDonald House.

Their story is not unique.

In 2021 Ronald McDonald House Manitoba supported 866 families for a total of 3,892 nights of accommodation.

Of those 78 families came from the Southern Health Region including 17 families from Steinbach.

A new facility is being built with plans to open in July. That will increase the space from 11,000 to 48,000 square feet and from 14 to 40 bedrooms.

That’s great news for Marcilla.

“I just think it’s amazing that more families can be blessed and be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House,” she said.

The need is there. Ronald McDonald House reports that in 2021, 358 families were turned away as they were at capacity.

Ronald McDonald House Manitoba was established in 1984 with their Family Room being opened in 2010. They strive to offer the comforts of home including private bedrooms, fresh meals, laundry facilities, access to wellness programming and a social network of support from others who understand the unique challenges of caring for a sick child.

The savings for residents adds up as well, estimated at $1.3 million for Manitoba guests in 2021.

Now almost eight-months-old Khalia is a typical happy baby. She’s trying to crawl, loves to babble and is the delight of the first time parents.

“She’s doing so good,” Marcilla said. “We love her to death, she’s so sweet.”