Dear Friends of San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House,
My husband Troy is an Army recruiter who served in Afghanistan. I’m training to be a teacher while taking care of our little girl, Lulu. When she was five, we took her to the doctor for a bad cough.
That cough was the only sign that she had leukemia.
Life as usual stopped that day, and Lulu began a grueling month of treatment. She was so scared going to the hospital. We did all we could to comfort her, while trying to make sense of what was happening. Nothing mattered other than being with her.
When things are bad, you forget your own basic needs. We couldn’t go home to sleep—it was too far away from the hospital, and we couldn’t bear to leave her alone. But at some point, you need to sleep and eat. And sometimes, you need to collapse in a private place where your daughter can’t see how weak and scared you feel.
In that lowest point of exhaustion and despair, Ronald McDonald House supporters like you help lift us up. We had a “home-away-from-home” to take care of ourselves while remaining as close as possible to our Lulu.
Thanks to you, we could release tense muscles in a hot shower at the Ronald McDonald House. It felt so good to stretch out on a fresh bed with a comfy pillow! And what a difference a cup of coffee and hot breakfast made in keeping us going.
Best of all, when the doctor called, we could cross the street and be with Lulu—not stuck in traffic as critical minutes slip by.
Leukemia brings ups and downs. The worst was when she was in intensive care for 20 days this May. We took turns at the hospital—me at Lulu’s side overnight, then Troy during the day.
Lulu has had to be tough beyond her years. She refuses to complain of any pain. But you can see it on her face. It’s so hard to see her suffer. Truly, Lulu needs all the encouragement she can get. And when we’re strong, we can be her best cheerleaders.
Lulu’s got eight more months of chemo to go, and she’s been doing great. We hope never again to need the Ronald McDonald House. But I know it’s here for us if we need it—and for so many other families with a child in medical crisis.
How amazing to think that community contributions are what keep the Ronald McDonald House open.
Please give to help keep parents with their little Lulus!
With much appreciation,
Tiffanie and Troy Treadway