When Adina Flores’ son, Alex, was born 18 years ago, he arrived prematurely and was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Within his first two weeks of life, Alex underwent two open-heart surgeries. Following the second, he was airlifted from their home in Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford—a hospital and city Adina had never visited. With her husband and eldest son still at home, she arrived in Palo Alto alone, scared, with only the clothes on her back and less than $20 in her pocket.
The House became our home, a place where we could prepare meals, where our older son could play with other children, and where we found solace among other families going through battles like ours.`` — Adina, Alex’s Mom
Over the years, the Flores family has experienced the full spectrum of RMHC Bay Area’s support. For shorter hospital visits, they accessed Day Pass services like shower and laundry facilities, no-cost hot meals, and had a moment to catch their breath from the chaos of medical care. During longer stays, Alex’s siblings stayed with Adina at the House. The youngest, Isabella, even participated in RMHC Bay Area Summer Camp activities with other House siblings.
In July 2024, the Flores family returned once again—this time for Alex’s heart and liver transplant. While other kids worried about grades or sports, Alex had to worry about survival. The Flores family faced not only the emotional strain of having a critically ill child, but also the devastating financial toll. Over those 196 days, the House provided the consistency, support, and sense of community they needed to stay strong and present for Alex during his recovery.
Today, Alex is getting stronger and is looking forward to graduating high school in person. As the Flores family adjusts to a new normal, they continue to draw strength from the community that rallied around them. The support of RMHC Bay Area—and the generosity of donors like you —remains a lasting part of their journey.
We joined other families who understood all too well that we were part of a club that no one wanted to belong to, but we find something magical inside the walls of the House. Hope, and courage prevail, and we draw strength from one another. — Adina, Alex’s Mom
We hope hearing the Flores’ family story, you are able to reflect on the impact you can have with a legacy gift to our charity. By leaving a gift in your will, you are not just making a financial contribution; you are planting seeds of compassion that will resonate through generations. Together, we can uplift families, transforming moments of despair into hope.
Palo Alto, CA, May 20, 2025 — For more than 18 years, the Medina-Flores family of Sacramento has turned to Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area (RMHC Bay Area) for its array of critical family-centered services that have helped them navigate their son Alex’s complex medical journey. Read more about Press Release: RMHC Bay Area Honors 18-Year Journey of Central Valley Family...
When Adina Flores’ son, Alex, was born 18 years ago, he arrived prematurely and was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Within his first two weeks of life, Alex underwent two open-heart surgeries. Following the second, he was airlifted from their home in Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford— Read more about When a Child is Sick, the Whole Family is Sick—and Heals Together...
Aloha from the Sylva-Kanagusuku 'SK' Family 🌸 At RMHC Bay Area, we believe in the power of family. For the SK family, that power has been their greatest strength during Kinsley's medical journey. When Kinsley, the youngest of four siblings adopted by Jennifer and Lahela, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder causing severe epilepsy, her family traveled 2,500 miles from Hawaii to Stanford for life-saving surgery. Read more about Kinsley’s Story — Together Through It All...
When 5-year-old, Brennan was diagnosed with a brain tumor after suffering from seizures. This family’s world changed in a matter of seconds, but from the moment they got the news from the doctors in Reno, Nevada, Jason, Brennan’s dad shares, Read more about Brennan’s Story — The Best Experience You Never Want...
