Over 1600 guest families have used the Siouxland Ronald McDonald House while their child was receiving medical care. Here are a few stories about their stay:

Michael:

It was a beautiful day in May when the accident occurred. It was one of those days that every one was outside enjoying the spring weather, Michael included. He was out riding his motorcycle with a friend when suddenly he tried to stop almost stopping his life. For the next 76 days and nights, Michael struggled with his life and recovery. His family struggled to remain by his side although they lived over 60 miles away. Luckily for them, a nurse told them about the Ronald McDonald House and for almost 3 months they experienced the loving, warm, supportive environment of our "home away from home".

Brittany:

It was early October, a beautiful fall day in Northwest Iowa. Brittany was one week away from turning 8 and walking home from school with her sister and friends. She suddenly decided to cross the street and didn't see the oncoming car. Brittany's life changed forever. She was rushed to the local hospital and then air flighted to Marian Health's Trauma Center. Brittany had severe head injuries and was in a coma. Her parents had no relatives in town and were staying in her room. One of the nurses told them about RMH and they checked in a few days later. According to Brittany's mom, the RMH was one of the main reasons she could make it through this horrendous time. Brittany's parents stayed here for 31 nights, many times just returning to the house to rest, shower and eat one of the meals prepared by volunteers or their community friends.

Late November, Brittany was moved to Sioux Falls for rehab and began to show incredible progress. She woke up out of her coma in December and actually went home for Christmas. Her progress continued and she moved back home on February 13th. She is truly a miracle and she continues to show signs of progress, is attending school ½ days and trying to adjust to a new way of life. Many people touched and helped this family through this experience-a showering of support from their community through bringing meals into the RMH each and every day! Their church, friends and other families at the RMH helped them to keep up the courage to face another day and never lose hope. We are pleased that we have a Ronald House that could help this family and over 600 families in the last 7 years.

Jacob:

The Joys of My Life have been my children. But the last little guy born to us in 1994, Jacob Taylor McLaughlin, came into the world thru a C-section delivery, breach and had a condition known as "Wet Lung". Amniotic fluid had gone down into his lungs and caused instantaneous pneumonia. His heart rate was running between 160-180 beats per minute. In 2 short hours after he was delivered he was being life flighted to a Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit via Life Flight Helicopter in Sioux City, Iowa. It was during the next 12 days, my life was deeply impacted forever through the caring, empathy, and kindness of complete and total strangers...or friends we just had not met yet. My wife was back in a local rural hospital, and I was by my son's side in the Sioux City St. Luke's Hospital. I watched my baby son be put on life support with a heart/lung machine, prayed for his little life, and experienced some miracles of God during the time I was there. Jacob and I bonded as he grabbed with his whole hand daddy's little finger, a life changing moment between a father and a son.

Daily I would get up early in the morning at 5, and usually not leave his side till 10:30-11:00 P.M. in the evening. I would get dressed in my yellow smock and face mask and be with him as often as was allowed. I will never forget the night my State Farm man, Steve Johnson from Onawa came to my room with a bag of half eaten snicker candies and shared them with me, prayed, and consoled my heart as Jacob's dad at the Ronald McDonald House. Nor will I forget the little intern that awoke me in the middle of the night prior to the doctors deciding to put Jacob on full life support. I will never forget the kindnesses shown to me from total strangers, the encouragement from other parents, and the competence and care of the medical staff at St. Luke's. The doctors told me Jacob had the choices between blindness, asthma, or death. He ended up with asthma and surviving. I did not have to look far though to see other parents and infants who had far tougher situations to deal with, and there was little hope in their situations. I did what I could to offer them help and encouragement. The Chaplain's staff was great and the many wonderful people at the Ronald McDonald House were incredible supports.

Today, Jacob lives a pretty normal "little boy life", playing soccer, football, riding bike, running, playing, throwing an occasional tantrum here and there, and just doing little boy things. All my children are special to me, but he is the grabber of Daddy's Heart today. I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux City in November of 1994. In June 1998, I later wrote this song.... Jacob's Prayer.

Jacob's Prayer

- Written by Robert D. McLaughlin June 1998 -

Dedicated to my son Jacob Taylor McLaughlin,
Burgess Memorial Medical Staff, St.Luke's Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit Medical Staff, Mercy Medical Air Care & Flight Staff,
and the wonderful caring staff of the Ronald McDonald House of Siouxland... Many thanks..Bob McLaughlin

Verse One:
I've got a little boy who is three,
He laughs and plays and brings joy to me,
I watch him run and play in our yard,
Life doesn't seem very hard.
But I remember when he was born,
He nearly died and my heart was torn.
Just to watch him,
Just to breathe life,
The pain cut like a knife.
Well I was searchin' for a place to stay,
Where I could live beside him everyday,
A nurse told me bout a place that was there,
God must have heard my prayer.

Chorus:
Oh the House that Love Built,
Was made for you and me,
When a mom and dad,
Who've had all they've had,
Need a refuge in their time of need.
Oh the house that love built,
Was made for hurting families,
And it's nice to know,
There's a place to go,
Someone there who'll try to meet the need.

Verse Two:
A cup of coffee,
A late midnight snack,
A place to retreat and lay back,
A phone call comes in the middle of the night,
There's someone there who'll guide you right.
Back to the hospital day after day,
Suddenly the doctor says he'll be OK.
Joy and Thanks come from my heart,
Now he can make a new start.

Chorus:
Oh the House that Love Built,
Was made for you and me,
When a mom and dad,
Who've had all they've had,
Need a refuge in their time of need.
Oh the house that love built,
Was made for hurting families,
And it's nice to know,
There's a place to go,
Someone there who'll try to meet the need.

Verse Three:
Now when I think back on how he came here,
I'm so grateful for people who care,
Doctor's and nurses, and volunteers,
This is my Jacob's Prayer.
Chorus: (Very Slowly)
Now when I think back on how he came here....
I'm so grateful...for people who care...
Doctor's and Nurses and Volunteers....
This is my Jacob's Prayer....

View a video clip of one of the past guest families talking about the services of the Ronald McDonald House.

RMHC Services Video...

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