Everyone wants to be home for Christmas
When Kirsty and Mark first arrived at Ronald McDonald House in August with their son, Zeke, they didn’t think they would be away from home at Christmas.
18 month old Zeke had been diagnosed with Leukaemia and so he could receive the treatment he needed, their family had to leave their home in Forster to head to the John Hunter Children’s Hospital.
Kirsty loves the holidays. A self-confessed big kid at heart, when she’s at home, she goes all out to bring Christmas joy to her family. Making it snow with shaving foam flying from the ceiling fans, lots of fun and games, Christmas carols, and baking all manner of Christmas goodies. The smells of delicious Christmas foods is the tell-tale sign it’s Christmas.
Together with her older children, Logan 13 and Eva 9, they have created Christmas family traditions. Starting on Christmas Eve they watch a Christmas Movie in their matching Christmas PJ’s and open one present each followed by putting out, milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Christmas day is filled with food, fun and laughter with all the family.
“It’s been such a relief to know that our family will still have a special Christmas here at Ronald McDonald House.”
Kirsty and Mark, both having to take time away from working to support Zeke, were worried how they would be able to continue their family traditions. But thanks to our caring community, they can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it will be just as special as if they were at their home in Forster.
“Ronald McDonald House has really become our home-away-from-home. We see the staff and volunteers as an extension of our family and the donors make this beautiful House possible. It would be scary to think of the emotional place families like mine would go to without something like this. We’re excited to celebrate Christmas at Ronald McDonald House.”
