I had visions in my head of what the Ronald McDonald House was and looked like, but I never really understood it until I was there. They offered me a room the very first night I was there. Of course I refused. I was the crazy mom who wouldn't leave her baby alone with those nurses who knew nothing. (of course I don't really feel this way now, but at the time no one knew anything about Keean besides me and his dad).
The Ronald McDonald House was new to the hospital. Unlike other hospitals, this one was attached to Children's and you could access it from the 3rd floor of the hospital. This was AWESOME because that's where Keean was. The Infant Care Center (or ICC) was on the 3rd floor along with the NICU. To be honest, I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to utilize the RMH if it weren't on the same floor as Keean. But it was. So, I was right there. In case anything happened. I didn't have to travel up elevators or stairs. I could just walk down the hall. I can't imagine how I would have handled it if I would have had to leave the hospital to stay.
I will never be able to describe exactly what this place was like, but it was beautiful. If they were trying to make a "at home" atmosphere, they completely out did themselves. It was perfect. The pantry was open to all, there was a huge kitchen, nice comfy furniture, an exercise room, a patio so you could sit outside and a big screen television. This part of the RMH was accessible to families and friends every day until 10pm. The rooms were behind a door you needed a key for. In the morning you sign up to be on a list to get a room. The rooms are first available for the emergencies and the parents that have critical babies. If they aren't used up by these parents, then you are notified that you get a room to stay in for the night. You would go check in and get your key. Check out was by 10am the next morning. You would then be put on the list again and await the day hoping to get a room for the next night. It was not an option to just get a room for the entire time, so every night you would check in and every morning you would check out. I wish I had taken a picture inside one of the bedrooms, but I did get a picture of the living area. The rooms had a nice queen size bed, a tv, and a beautiful bathroom with a shower. It was awesome to go somewhere away from the beeps, the chatter, the machines and the lights of the ICC and to feel a little normal. There were showers in the hospital restrooms, but it was more like a locker room shower. At the RMH it felt more like home. It was refreshing and relaxing.
There were people who volunteered their time to come serve a meal for supper. Sometimes these people had never set foot on Children's campus, while others had spend months there with their children and wanted to give back. It was amazing to see all the volunteers come feed complete strangers going through a tough time. We have talked to our kids and want to go back and do the volunteer thing and give back like so many others do.
I am so very thankful for the RMH. And so very thankful it was right inside the hospital so I didn't have to take a bus or a cab to sleep. It was right there. Right down the hall from my baby. And that was the only way I would leave.
After given permission to take Keean out of his room, we thought it would be fun to sit with him at the RMH and watch some television. Little did we know that this was not allowed. OOPS. The person from the front desk felt horrible, but asked us to leave and use the family room that was within the hospital. The family room was right around the corning from the RMH and had couches, toys, a television and a kitchen. We spend lots of time in there when we could. BUT, our time with Keean being out and about outside his room didn't last too long.
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