Home for sick kids opens

Having family nearby for children undergoing medical care can be vital to their recovery, and is the aim of the new Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer that opened to the public for the first time on Feb. 4.

Although the house will not officially open until later this month, visitors were able to explore its many suites and other rooms that will host out-of-town families of sick children being treated in Red Deer beginning Feb. 27.

Conveniently located near the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, the house is situated on a sloping lot on 39th street in Red Deer, and offers stunning views of the valley below. Its colorful exterior makes it hard to miss for passersby.

“This site is ideal,” said Larry Mathieson, executive director of Ronald McDonald Houses in central and southern Alberta. “There’s not a lot of people in Red Deer that can’t find us, and the same goes for families that have to come from all over the province.”

“It’s actually kind of challenging to figure out how to get to the hospital, but you will see this house no matter where you’re coming from.”

Lisa Moore is a member of the house’s spokesfamily, and knows first-hand the importance of having such a house in Red Deer.

Moore and her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary nearly four years ago following the premature birth of her twin sons, Westin and Boyd.

Both boys are now doing “extremely well,” according to Moore, who is delighted to know accommodation is now available in Red Deer for out-of-town families while their children receive care.

“It has been a dream and a goal of our family’s to see a desperately needed Ronald McDonald House built in central Alberta,” she said. “Having (the house) right here in Red Deer brings to our family an overwhelming feeling of joy and excitement and peace to our hearts knowing that out-of-town families that have little ones in special care have a place to stay.

“You just never know when someone in your family may need this facility — we sure did, and in our time of crisis it was our saving grace.”

The 27,000-sq.-ft. house is expected to welcome more than 400 families annually, who will be able to stay in one of its 11 family suites. While a nightly fee of just $12 will be charged, those unable to pay will not be turned away.

The construction of the house was made possible by a number of charities and donors from the community. According to Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta, “approximately 10 percent of the house’s annual operating costs will come from Ronald McDonald House Charities, donations from McDonald’s Happy Meal Program and coin boxes and the nominal fee families pay to stay at the house,” while “the remaining 90 percent is raised through fundraising activities and through the contribution of generous donations.”

Information on how to make a donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities can be obtained by visiting www.rmhcentralalberta.org.