Growing up, I remember seeing the donation boxes for Ronald McDonald House and occasionally dropping in whatever spare change I had in my pocket. Never in a million years did I imagine that, years later, I would be on the receiving end of that same generosity—not once, but twice, as a young mother.
Our first experience was in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, after the birth of our first set of twins. My husband was able to stay for five days, and because of the restrictions at the time, I never left the hospital. I only heard about the Ronald McDonald House through him, never imagining we would need their help twice! And what it would eventually mean to our family.
In 2026, we were blessed with another set of twins. After an emergency delivery at just 33 weeks, we knew our girls would need to spend some time in the NICU. With lingering health complications of my own following delivery, figuring out where we would stay was the last thing on my mind. Before I knew it, a hospital social worker had connected my husband with the Ronald McDonald House Family Room: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) in Idaho Falls, and I was able to stay there for just under a month.
Words truly cannot express how much that experience meant to us. Not only did we have a place to stay close to our daughters, but we were surrounded by little acts of kindness that made an incredibly difficult season feel a little more manageable. Toiletries, warm home-cooked meals, snacks, and even a handmade quilt were provided. These were things I hadn’t even thought to ask for, but they were exactly the kinds of comforts that made such a difference. It truly felt like a home away from home when our family needed one most.
Being just a short walk from our girls in the NICU was an immeasurable blessing. It meant I could spend more time close to them without the added stress of finding a place to stay or traveling back and forth. The Family Room also gave me the opportunity to invite my older children to spend a couple of afternoons with me. During such an emotional and uncertain time, those moments together meant more to my momma heart than I can put into words.
When I think back to those donation boxes I saw growing up, I realize now that even the smallest contributions can become something so much bigger. They can become a warm meal, a safe place to rest, a handmade quilt, or precious time together as a family when you need it most. They can offer comfort and take away just a little of the worry during a time when so much feels uncertain.
We will never be able to thank Ronald McDonald House Idaho, the incredible staff at the Idaho Falls location, and the generous donors who make this support possible, enough. Your kindness reached our family not once, but twice, and helped make two very challenging seasons of our lives a little easier. We are forever grateful to everyone who helps make this kind of love and support possible for families like ours.
– Lesuma Family | 28 Nights at the Ronald McDonald House Family Room: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) | Afton, WY
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.
