NewsRadio Savannah and our sponsors The Dewitt Tilton Group and Express Employment introduces you to the Perez family and their Ronald McDonald House Of The Coastal Empire experience:
Our experience with the Ronald McDonald house began in April 2024. In February 2024 after a visit to the hospital in Reidsville GA, we were given the news that we had been waiting to hear for years, I was pregnant but not only was I pregnant, I was already six months pregnant. We were in shock. I was then transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center for possible pre-eclampsia and kept overnight.
After the testing I was cleared from preeclampsia, but they found abnormalities in the ultrasound. I began seeing the high-risk pregnancy OBGYN in Savannah. We were told once our baby girl was born, she would be in the NICU for testing due to abnormalities. At 30 weeks I began to have having a problem with my amniotic fluid being low. I was hospitalized at least two days out of the week for fluids. At 37 weeks we went in for an external cephalon version so we could try to deliver our baby normal. But when getting ready for the procedure, they noticed my amniotic fluid was very low and they started prepping me for a c-section instead. We only had three months to get ready for our baby’s arrival and honestly, we were not ready or expecting to have her this soon. Three days after delivery we were discharged but our baby was not. We were told she would remain in the NICU until healthy enough to go home. Our baby was born with hip dysplasia, one kidney, PDA, spina bífida, and a shorter leg, they narrowed it down to Vater Syndrome.
The day I got discharged I remember feeling like I was breaking into pieces and began crying knowing I was having to go home and leave my baby in the hospital. A nurse came up to me and asked if we knew about the Ronald McDonald House which we did not. She explained it to me, helped me fill out the application and faxed it in for me. I traveled back and forth for a week until I was called and told there was a room available for me. I got my stuff ready to go stay at the Ronald McDonald house since it was hard for me to find a way to see my baby every day. We only had one vehicle working and my husband was not able to get any days off. He had to continue to work and our oldest daughter also had to continue with school.
Even though we were separating for the first time, the Ronald McDonald House made the impossible for us possible. I was able to be closer to my baby girl and be by her side every day until she got discharged. I was able to be there to see her progress. Being able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House was a true blessing. The staff was very caring and provided lots of support. They took the time out to check on the baby and me and would also see if there was anything I needed help with. I can honestly say they were a godsend during difficult times for my family. I don’t think I could have been able to be part of my baby’s health progress if it wasn’t for them. I am truly grateful for the Ronald McDonald House and its staff. May God continue to bless them.
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!