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A Home Away From Home: How RMHCCI Supported Jamie, Duncan, and Delilah During a Critical Time

When little Duncan needed specialized care in the NICU and PICU at OSF, his family faced a challenging and uncertain journey. Born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex heart condition made up of four heart defects, Duncan required a 30-day hospital stay. For his mom, Jamie, and sister Delilah, the question quickly became: how would she manage this alone, and how could she care for both children during such a critical time?

That is where Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Illinois (RMHCCI) stepped in. For five days, Jamie stayed at the hospital with Duncan. Once she and Delilah were discharged, RMHCCI became their home away from home. “It removed the worry,” Jamie shares. “I didn’t have to wonder where we were going to stay or what we were going to eat. I was close to the hospital and could focus on Duncan’s care.”

At RMHCCI, our mission is to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. From safe and comfortable accommodations to warm meals and being steps away from medical care, the support Jamie, Duncan, and Delilah received allowed them to focus entirely on what mattered most: being together as a family during Duncan’s critical care.

Stories like theirs are a powerful reminder of the difference your support can make. With your help, RMHCCI can continue offering comfort, care, and peace of mind to families facing their most challenging moments.

Help families like Jamie, Duncan, and Delilah stay close and supported. Make a donation today.