When we found out during my pregnancy that one of our twins had craniosynostosis, our world shifted. We were referred to a Neurology specialist before she was even born, meaning her specialized care team was already by our side from the very beginning.
She was born with sagittal craniosynostosis, which caused her brain to grow into her forehead and protrude out the back, leaving her little head severely elongated. In November 2021, when she was just one month old, she was scheduled for a minimally invasive sagittal strip suturectomy. This skull surgery involved removing portions of her skull bone to correct the way the bones were fusing, opening up room for her brain to grow normally without directly operating on the brain itself.
We spent the night before her surgery at the Ronald McDonald House: Boise, which made an otherwise overwhelming and stressful evening so much easier for our family.
Navigating major surgery with newborns is difficult but doing it with twins added a whole new layer of heartbreak. At the time, our daughter was the calm, gentle twin, while her brother was severely colicky and needed me constantly. We couldn’t bring him with us to the hospital. Leaving him behind was excruciating, but we had to ensure we could give her our complete focus.
I will never forget the sound of her whimpering when she woke up from surgery. She was so tiny—still wearing just a size 1 diaper—with cords attached all over her little unclothed body. Seeing her in so much pain broke my heart. Moving her even slightly caused her to whimper more, so I was terrified to hold her. Instead, I pulled a chair right up to her bedside, held her hand, and sang to her through the night.
I never wanted to leave her side, but I needed to stay strong for her. That is where the Ronald McDonald House Idaho became our lifeline. When my husband would tell me I need to rest, I could step away from the Pediatric ICU and go to the House to get a few hours of quiet, restful sleep. Hearing her whimper made it impossible for me to rest in the room, but having a peaceful place nearby meant I could recharge.
She spent one night in the Pediatric ICU before being moved to a regular room for her second night. Without the House providing a safe, quiet refuge, I wouldn’t have been able to function. Their support gave me the strength to handle that terrifying hospital stay and return home to care for two one-month-olds—one recovering from major skull surgery and one struggling with severe colic—along with our four-year-old who was patiently waiting for his turn with Mommy.
While we were there, she was gifted a collectible rare bear from the House. To this day, she calls it her “special bear” and knows it comes from the time she had surgery on her head and that she became our brave little cranio warrior.Today, our daughter continues her journey with regular neurology and ophthalmology check-ups for intracranial pressure monitoring every six months, which will continue until she turns 18. We are so thankful that the House still provides a place for us to stay during these frequent trips. They make these ongoing appointments a little less about doctor visits and bring back the magic of childhood. We are endlessly grateful to the Ronald McDonald House: Boise for holding our family up during the hardest days of our lives and giving us a home whenever we need it most.
– Benson Family | 11 Nights at the Ronald McDonald House: Boise | Kimberly, ID
YOUR donation does more than provide a place to stay; it transforms what a family’s stay can be. Together we can continue to promote healing, strengthen families, and remove barriers to care.
