More than just a "home away from home"
When little Harper was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after a fall, with her mum Julia by her side they quickly found themselves travelling hundreds of kilometres away from their home and the rest of their family, in need of urgent care and accommodation.
The rapid changes to life as they knew it were hard to comprehend, and the focus required to care for her seriously ill child was in danger of being surpassed by the everyday stresses of life, particularly that of financial burdens.
“For families like us who don’t have options of places to stay near the Hospital, having Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW take away the incredible financial stress was such a relief. It was one less thing we had to worry about,” said Julia.
“When Harper’s brother Noah and sister Aria can come and join us it is a really special time. It brings a sense of normal back to our lives and helps with Harper’s recovery.”
“If we weren’t able to stay here at the house, the cost to stay elsewhere means we would struggle financially. Nothing would stop us being by Harper’s side, but it would have put a lot more pressure on us as a family.”
Harper and her family have now returned home, after 108 nights at Ronald McDonald House, saving them over $12,000. We were so pleased to be able to ease the weight of added stress from financial burdens as well as giving them a space where they could have the comfort of everyday routines and a sense of community.
