Lily (second from left) with her family at the podium during our June 2025 Golf Fundraiser, where her mom shared how RMHC became their lifeline.
Hi. My name is Dayna and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle for 8 months last year. I want to share with you how we got there and what the House has meant to me and my family.
Last April, I got the kind of phone call every parent dreads.
Our teenager had been limping for months. Physical therapy hadn’t helped, so the doctor ordered x-rays. When she called with the results, I remember her saying: “bone mass” and “might be cancer.” Time stopped. I collapsed into my husband’s arms, sobbing.
A week later, Seattle Children’s confirmed it: our child had a rare bone cancer, osteosarcoma. The treatment plan was intense. 30 weeks of chemo, major surgery, and we needed to stay nearby in case of complications. We were overwhelmed.
That’s when we were introduced to the Ronald McDonald House.
We moved in right after the first round of chemo. I was stunned, not just that we could stay free of charge, but that everything we needed was already there: warm meals, a stocked pantry, even a peaceful garden tended by volunteers.
On top of the essentials that made every day easier, what floored me most was the love. Staff and volunteers made sure we felt welcome. They fed us. They stocked snacks. They kept things spotless. They cared for us like family.
And we weren’t alone. We lived among and built connections with families from all walks of life. Together, we became a diverse, supportive community united by our children’s fight to heal.
Even though 105 families live at the House each night, they understood who we are as a family and helped us in unique ways.
My child wanted to keep playing cello through chemo. The House made sure she had a quiet space to practice, even made a sign for the door so she could play without interruption.
I could hardly believe that my kid got to choose a quilt from the quilt cupboard, handmade by volunteers, which added a joyous splash of color to our room.
These small gestures meant everything.
In the darkest time of our lives, RMHC was a lifeline. We weren’t just housed; we were held.
After experiencing the power of The House, the Pattersons decided to become lifelong donors. Join them and make a gift today, to help ensure the House is here when families need comfort, community and hope.
