NewsRadio Savannah and our sponsors The Dewitt Tilton Group and Express Employment introduces you to the Dutcher family and their Ronald McDonald House Of The Coastal Empire experience:
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire generously gave me the gifts of love and compassion and helped me transition from horror to hope.
My baby, Kylie, was born at 32 weeks during an emergency c-section following serious complications during my high-risk pregnancy; she was transferred to the NICU at Memorial Hospital, 4-hours away from where we live, and I did not see her again for 48 hours.
At just 3 pounds, 9 ounces, and barely over 15 inches Kylie was the tiniest human, but also the biggest miracle, I’d ever seen. My baby girl was critically ill with a poor prognosis, but when her precious hand gripped the tip of my finger with surprising strength, I knew she was a fighter.
Two simple truths set in right away. One: I had to be with Kylie. Two: my saving grace and solution to living 200 miles away? The Ronald McDonald House. I was able to get a room at RMHC, just steps away from Kylie. The staff and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House love their roles. Their ongoing expressions of concern for me and for Kylie were heartfelt. It was clear that the families staying at the House were their top-priority, and it brought me such peace during an extremely distressing time.
Staying at Ronald McDonald House renewed my faith in humanity. At Thanksgiving we feasted on delicious food and were surrounded by kindness. At Christmas we enjoyed the warm atmosphere created by holiday decorations and a gorgeous tree by the fireplace. RMHC didn’t stop at giving us a place to be for Christmas, but it actually GAVE us Christmas! Through the extreme generosity from the community, we were able to have gifts for our children, for us, and there were even personalized stockings at our doors Christmas morning. I was able to host my other children for Christmas, whom I missed terribly, while staying close to Kylie. RMHC is a home away from home for the whole family.
Because of the Ronald McDonald House, Kylie and I were able to be together from morning until late at night and in-between. I held her against my heart, read her stories, sang her songs, and tucked her in at night.
Words do not exist to express the level of gratitude I felt, still feel, and will forever know in my heart, so I will have to settle for a sincere “thank you.” Thank you RMHC staff and volunteers for everything—for baking, cooking, cleaning, decorating, making hand-made gifts filled with love and so much more. Thank you partners who support RMHC’s mission. Finally, thank you to the everyday people with their own lives who pause to give of themselves to make sure people like me and my now-thriving-infant were to be together when it matters most.
How to help:
⏰ Accepting monetary donations between Now - December 16th, 2024
📍 Please deliver all cash, check, and gift card donations directly to iHeartMedia Savannah, 245 Alfred Street Savannah, GA 31408
💳Forms of donations accepted:
- Click here to make an online donation to the RMH. Add "Shop With A Cop" in memo.
- Checks made out to Ronald McDonald House with "Shop With A Cop" in memo.
- Visa, Master Card, AmEx or Target cards.
- Cash
Sponsored by The Dewitt Tilton Group and Express Employment!