When Kaiya Mack was born with a rare life-threatening condition called gastroschisis, her parents, Mariah and Jonny, were 2,500 miles away from the advanced medical care that their first baby’s life would depend on. From their home in Honolulu, the couple traveled to the Bay Area where Kaiya underwent multiple surgeries immediately after she was born, spending four months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Until you have a sick child you don’t understand that feeling of stress,” said Kaiya’s father, Jonny. “The fact you can be in this community and share with other people and they help you and it’s for free and they don’t ask you for anything in return—it’s a blessing.”
Housing families nearby and inside the hospital makes access possible.
Thanks to donors like you, we provided nearly 34,000 overnight stays to families with sick children. Mariah and Jonny were relieved to learn that once they arrived in the Bay Area, they would have a community of support to lean on — moments from Kaiya’s life-saving medical care.
“If it weren’t for Ronald McDonald House I wouldn’t be here,” — 10-year-old Kaiya
By donating today, you can ensure RMHC Bay Area is there for sick children and their families, providing comfort and support when and where they need it most.
P.S. We have more to share with you about Kaiya’s medical journey. Keep an eye on our social media for more updates and sign up for our newsletter.
nearby and inside the hospital
for families with sick children
of free psychosocial support
offsetting $1.4 million in meal expenses
distributed thanks to our Second Harvest food bank partnership
donated for Comfort & Joy with an estimated value of $88,000
in Ronald McDonald House School (Carter Family Classroom)
delivered to families at the hospital
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