Mick and Jacinta's Story
Pictured right: Jacinta with Balin’s Brother Hunter, and Mick
Just over six weeks ago, Mick and Jacinta Cannon heard they could access care for their son Balin in a mental health unit at Orange Hospital and Mick and Balin drove almost 8 hours from close to the Victorian border knowing they could stay nearby at Ronald McDonald House Central West in Orange.
Staying at a Ronald McDonald House while the couple accessed specialist care for their son was nothing new for the Cannon’s who have stayed at several houses in NSW and Victoria while their son was being treated for a range of complex issues.
Four weeks after Mick’s arrival, Jacinta was able to follow with the couple’s youngest son who was approaching his 13th birthday.
“Here at the house it turned out to be such a special day. Bailin was able to come to the house to be part of our party celebrations and Mick had organised a cake for Hunter who was turning 13,” said Jacinta.
“And to top it off – staff and volunteers organised a lovely gift bag for Hunter and as well there was a team of local chefs here cooking up a meal – it was just a special day for Hunter and all of us,” said Mick,
Jacinta and Mick both speak in glowing terms of the house in Orange.
“It really is a home away from home,” said Jacinta.
When Mick first arrived at the house after Balin had been admitted for acute care he says he doesn’t know he would have managed if he wasn’t able to access the emergency pre-prepared meals at the house.
“I was spending 12 to 15 hours a day in the unit with Balin to support him and if I hadn’t been able to access one of those wonderful home cooked meals, I know late at night I would have just driven to a petrol station to pick up what I could,” Mick said.
According to the Cannon’s the set up at the Orange house has enabled them to spend as much time as possible nearby supporting their son during his treatment.
“There is everything here we could possibly need and more,” said Mick.
“The design of the Orange house is so clever – so many individual spaces for families to suit their various needs,” said Mick.
For Jacinta, being able to walk with their son Balin in the green spaces around the house is very therapeutic.
“He just loves nature and there is so wildlife much wildlife to see on our walk,” she said.
Mick Cannon said all kudos must go to the designers of the house in Orange which he says has been beautifully integrated into the green spaces.
“Being here is a therapy in itself and we are just so grateful to everyone – the staff and all the volunteers,” he said.
Without being able to access the free accommodation ad support services, the Cannon family says it would be difficult to come up with the thousands of dollars required for private accommodation.
“It’s hard for any family to come up with thousands of dollars f you had to pay for accommodation,” said Mick.
The family know they have many challenges ahead but say their journey has been eased with the support of RMHC Central West.
