"Ronald McDonald House allowed my husband and son to be close to me in the hospital"
Surprised but excited, Sarah and Brock were celebrating the news that they were pregnant with twins. Two boys that will turn the family of three to a family of five. But excitement came to a holt when Sarah went into labour early.
At 23 weeks pregnant, Sarah was flown down to Hobart with threatened pre-term labour. Feeling scared and extremely overwhelmed, the couple turned to Ronald McDo
nald House Hobart.
Met with open arms, Sarah’s husband and 2-year-old son, Lenny, stayed at the House while Sarah was in hospital. Sarah was grateful to have the support of her family during her hospital stay and it made the journey a little bit easier.
Sarah was in and out of hospital with a few scares until her waters broke for one of the twins at 26 weeks. Although her water broke, Sarah didn’t give birth to the boys until 4 weeks later.
At 30 weeks, Sarah and Brock welcomed Bowie and Paddy into the family while they started their life in the NICU. This was a long process for the couple, where they saw their baby boys being poked and prodded and placed on machines to ensure they thrived.
The boys were wrapped in special plastic to keep them warm, put on breathing machines and were tested vigorously to ensure they were going to survive and be healthy.
Seeing their premature boys was heartbreaking but every night they were able to leave the boys at the hospital for treatment and get the support they needed from Ronald McDonald House Hobart.
Being so close to the hospital, Sarah was able to be with the boys all the time and rush over if there was ever anything urgent. She was also able to spend quality family time with Brock and Lenny when they weren’t at the hospital with the twins.
After 78 nights at Ronald McDonald House, the twin boys Bowie and Paddy were able to go home. Their health and wellbeing progressed amazingly in hospital, something Sarah and Brock were amazed and thankful for.
Sarah and Brock are so grateful to finally have their family of 5 safe and home after a stressful and overwhelming time in hospital. Bowie and Paddy are growing stronger every day and we are so happy to hear that they were able to stay together through it all.
“We are forever grateful for the friendships with the staff, volunteers & families we met over the course of the 3 months we spent at Ronald McDonald.”
Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania
Children like Bowie and Paddy, who has needed months of treatment, miss out on time spent at home surrounded by their family. The purpose of Ronald McDonald House is to provide a safe and supportive home-away-from-home for families when they need it the most.
In 2019 Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania supported 2,402 families.
