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The Ronald McDonald House of Indiana first opened its doors in 1982 to provide a loving, caring and affordable place families can call home while their children are being treated at Riley Hospital for Children or other Indianapolis area hospitals. The House offers a refuge for families enduring the emotional and financial hardships associated with having a hospitalized child. At the Ronald McDonald House, families draw hope and strength from meeting others who are going through similar experiences.
You will read some heartwarming stories of Ronald House families in the Ronald McDonald House family album, A Treasure of Family Memories. Thanks to the outpouring of volunteer support and ongoing generous private contributions, the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana is able to provide this haven for families in need both now and into the future.
Terry Redding
South Bend, Indiana
It was dark, dark circles under their son's eyes that brought Allen and Denise Redding and their six-month-old son to Riley Hospital for Children for tests. Allen "Terry" Redding, Jr., was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer that attacks the nervous system. It was 1982, the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana had just opened, and the Reddings were among the first guests. Denise said it was great having a safe place within minutes of the hospital in which to stay, especially when her husband returned to work in South Bend.
"Coming back to the House at night was like coming home to us,"Denise says.
"There would always be people there asking how Terry was doing, letting us know how their children were doing."
Terry was not quite three when he received his last chemotherapy treatment. Today, Terry doesn't remember anything about his illness and those difficult days. "Having a sick child was like nothing we ever could have imagined," Denise says. "But being there at the House was something we always look forward to. The people there were so nice, and it really helped on the five-day chemo rounds."
Sue Maines
Fort Wayne, Indiana
The Ronald McDonald House of Indiana was just a frame skeleton when Walter and Eleanor Manes brought their daughter, Sue, to Riley Hospital for Children. The Fort Wayne teenager was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. She faced a long treatment and recovery regimen. Her parents faced the challenges of finding a place to stay away from home. Before Sue "graduated" from Riley, however, the House was opened and her parents enjoyed the comfortable surroundings of a home away from home while Sue received treatment during the early 1980's.
Walter recalls the help that came from others in the House who were in the same situation as his family. He was particularly pleased that he could have home-cooked meals.
Today, Walter and Eleanor are adjusting to an empty nest. Sue has moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to seek her fortune and warm weather, after completing a degree in business at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne and working a while in her hometown. Her father reports that she is healthy except for a tendency to catch cold. As a result of their warm experiences at the House, Walter and Eleanor are fundraisers and advocates for the House back home in Fort Wayne.
Emily Fleetwood
Evansville, Indiana
Little Emily Fleetwood, with her brown curls and big eyes, stole the show at dedication ceremonies for the 1989 addition to the Ronald McDonald House. The Evansville toddler was one of the first children to receive a liver transplant - in fact, two transplants, since her first was rejected. She was hospitalized at Riley for eight months. Physicians and staff at Riley steered her family to the Ronald McDonald House. Emily's mother, Robin, stayed at the House throughout her daughter's hospitalization back in 1988. On weekends, her father, Rick, an Evansville school teacher, joined them and sometimes her grandparents came down from South Bend to be with her. It was a "refuge" after a day at Emily's bedside, said her grandmother, Bernice Garner. "The companionship and camaraderie with the House volunteers and other families was very helpful -- everyone was wonderful to us," added Mrs. Garner, who is now a widow and living in Evansville with Emily and her family. Today, Emily is healthy and happy. Her great love is dogs.
Te'Ana Armstead
Gary, Indiana
Little Te'Ana came into the world on September 6, 1996 -- almost 20 weeks sooner than expected and weighing only 1 pound 5 ounces. She remained in a Gary hospital until her condition worsened and her tiny lungs collapsed. She was transferred to Riley Hospital in late January, 1997, when she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. Her mom and dad, Towana and Tony, stayed at the Ronald McDonald House for the entire seven months she was in Riley. David comments that House volunteers were warm and helpful during a very heart-wrenching time in their lives. He also mentions how appreciative he was of the wonderful support the House receives from the community. Complimentary Pacers and Indianapolis 500 tickets provided the Armsteads and other House families with an opportunity to take a break from stress-filled days.
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