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Denver Heart Beats                         Spring 2012
News from the Ronald McDonald House - Denver and Aurora  
 AvsBetterHalves

The Avs Better Halves

April 5th was a great night at the Pepsi Center.  The Avs Better Halves, the wives or girlfriends of the Colorado Avalanche players and coaches, raised $30,000 during the season via in-arena events.  The funds were awarded to five Colorado community organizations.

 

Thanks to the Avs Better Halves for their hospitality and more than generous gift of $7,500 to the Ronald McDonald House! 

 

Aurora Family Photo

Providing Hope 

Rayos was 19 years old when she gave birth to Christy in December 2005, in Phoenix, AZ.  Shortly after birth, Christy was diagnosed with Dilated Cardio Myopathy and her parents were told that she would need a heart transplant.  They were sent to Loma Linda, CA.  The doctors there said that Christy's case was very serious, and recommended that she be disconnected from life support.  The next day, on 1/12/06, a heart arrived for Christy and she received her first transplant.  For 5 months, the family stayed at an apartment for long-term stays at the Ronald McDonald House.

 

Christy thrived and had no major problems until age 2 when she experienced a rejection and spent one week in the hospital.  By then, the family moved to Taos, NM.  The nearest Transplant Specialist Team for that region is located here at Children's Hospital Colorado. 

 

In November 2011, Christy began to experience chronic stomach aches, and her doctor in NM thought she had a virus.  Her mother was concerned that she was being misdiagnosed so she took her to the ER.  After ordering blood tests coordinated with CHC, they found out that she was rejecting her transplant.  Christy was flown to Denver and began treatment with numerous drugs to help boost her white blood cell count. Rayos, Christy and her little brother, Julian, would be staying at the Ronald McDonald House for quite some time.

 

By early February, Christy was improving and planning to return to NM, when suddenly she began to suffer from dizziness, blurred vision and breathing problems, causing her to collapse.  After spending several days in the hospital she was diagnosed with Severe Coronary Artery Disease.  Christy was back on the transplant list. 

 

One month later, she was still waiting for a new heart, and Rayos was getting quite worried.  But on March 9th, at 6:00am, Rayos received a phone call that a heart was on its way!  At 3:00pm the heart was evaluated and determined to be a good match for Christy.  She received the transplant later that evening.  She spent one week at CHC recovering, then back to the Ronald McDonald House in Aurora. 

 

Christy will need to stay with us until sometime in June. Her mother, Rayos, has a very positive attitude, and is patiently waiting for Christy to regain her strength.  They truly appreciate the Ronald McDonald House of Aurora, and are very grateful that there is not a maximum time limit for their stay here.  The friends they have made with the other families is invaluable, as they can support each other through the ups and downs of their illnesses.  Rayos mentioned that it is wonderful to see Christy play with other "sick" kids and to know that her friends are going through tough times just like her.  The meals and food donations have been helpful as well.

 

Rayos is expecting her 3rd child in August.

 

 

Kids Fore

Fore! Charity that is...

The 5th annual Kids Fore Charity Golf Tournament is coming up fast so save the date. It is a fun-filled day in which kids get to learn to play golf and learn about the value of giving back to their community.

 

The event, which includes a kid-friendly golf clinic and tournament on the par-3, will be held on June 22 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

 

Space is limited, so be sure to register early! Visit our website at www.ronaldhouse.org for more information. 

 

Canister Logo 

Join Us For 1

On June 1st visit your local McDonald's Restaurant and drop your extra change in the donation box.

 

A dime here. A quarter there, or even just a penny. It might not seem like much. But when millions give, the amount those coins help children and families worldwide is truly amazing.

The RMHC Donation Boxes are one of our biggest ongoing fundraisers. It's from people like you filling the Donation Boxes with nickels, dimes and quarters. Last year alone, nearly $25 million was collected.

 

Just how powerful is the small change dropped into the Donation Box?

  1. If every McDonald's customer in the U.S. donated a penny every time they visited a McDoanld's, we could collect more than $62 million to support RMHC children and families throughout the country.
  2. A full Donation Box could help a family stay together at a Ronald McDonald House for at least 1 night while their child receives care at a nearby hospital.
  3. A full Donation Box could provide a child with a dental screening in a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
  4. Change in the Donation Boxes can give families a place to rest in a Ronald McDonald Family Room, just steps from their child's hospital bed.

When you see a Donation Box at a McDonald's, show your support by dropping in your spare change. Spread the word and suggest to your friends and family that they do the same.

  

Little by little, we can do a lot!

 

 
 

Contact Information

Pam Whitaker, Executive Director
Ronald McDonald House - Denver
(303) 861-1754
Upcoming Events
Please visit the News and Events page at www.ronaldhouse.org 
or call Jonna Busack at
303-832-6641 to learn more
about our events

Upcoming Events Hosted by Friends of the Houses

June 1
"Join Us For 1"
Visit your local McDonald's Restaurant and help the House by dropping your change in the canister

June 23
Geotech Golf Tournament
Call 303-832-6641 to inquire
  
July 9
The 20th Annual Golf Classic
hosted by the
Taddonio Family Foundation
To register visit
August 5
Support Sky High Hope Camp by participating in Step Up For Cancer

August 25
Participate in the Great Urban Race

September
Support Sky High Hope Camp by
joining us at Virgilio's Pizzeria & Wine Bar for their Annual Festival
  

Mom

Make Your Mom Proud

Last year over 2,600 moms stayed with us while their child was in the hospital. This Mother's Day, won't you please honor your mom by making a donation in her name to the Ronald McDonald House.

 

Not only will you be helping families when they need it most but your mom will receive a beautiful card to let her know what a great thing you did in honor of her.

family room

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers for the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/ St. Luke's Hospital in Denver!

 

Shifts:

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

 

Volunteer must be able

to commit to one shift a week

for at least 6 months.

 

Help maintain a private room

used for families with children

in NICU, PICU or PEDS who are

in need of a relaxing sanctuary.

 

Duties include: Greeting

guests, answering family

questions, keeping the room

clean and organized, some

laundry for guests and light lifting.

 

For more information please contact: Pam Whitaker

303-861-1754

 

 

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

A crowd of 450 guests jumped through the rabbit hole into Wonderland, on February 11 for the 2012 Storybook Ball. The Cheshire Cat's smile and the Mad Hatter's teacups were among the vibrant d�cor that made this Alice in Wonderland themed Storybook Ball at the Sheraton Denver Downtown an enchanted evening.

 

The night started out with a silent auction, followed by dinner and a live auction. To end the night, local band Funkiphino supplied the music for some after-dinner dancing.

 

It was with great pleasure that we recognized 9News Anchor, Cheryl Preheim as the night's Guest of Honor. Cheryl became actively involved with the Ronald McDonald House in 1991 and continues to be a tireless champion for our cause.

 

With the participation and support of our guests nearly $170,000 was raised for families of the Ronald McDonald House at the 2012 Storybook Ball.

 

A Special thank you to our presenting sponsor ProLogis and to our top sponsors, Newmont Mining and Children's Hospital Colorado. Thank you also to our other sponsors, Thomas and Tamara Jorden, Location3Media, Mile Hi Foods, Morning Fresh Farms and The Sandoval Family for their generous support.

 

Stay tuned to our website for announcements about next year's event! 

Planned Giving Picture

Join With Other Supporters to Increase Your Impact

Over the years, supporters like you have selflessly and passionately given their time, talent and assets to help us serve families of children receiving medical treatment.

  

If you feel strongly about our charitable work and would like to join together with other supporters that share your values and ambitions, we hope you'll consider becoming a member of the Keepers of the House.

 

Please contact Vicki Walker at 720-382-7205 to learn more about the planned gifts we can accept or to let us know that you've included RMHC

in your estate plans. 

 

 


hands

A Helping Hand When it's Needed Most

 

Childhood illness or injury can have a devastating effect on families. On top of the fears and uncertainties come the practicalities of managing the family when the child is hospitalized, often times for extended periods of time.

 

Sometimes specialty care is a long way from home and families are unable to afford the cost of food and hotels while their child is hospitalized.  At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver we offer help and support through a wide range of programs and services. We have been committed to helping families for more than 34 years, from a shoulder to cry on or a home cooked meal to a place to do laundry, watch a movie or sleep.

 

The Houses give families of seriously ill or injured children an oasis close to the hospital where they can stay while their child heals.

 

Your donations during 2011 helped us welcome and serve 2,600 families -4,949 adults and 2,294 siblings as guests of the Denver and Aurora Houses. Some families stayed only a night or two while others stayed for months. Our occupancy for the two Houses was 91%; the average length of stay was 9 days.

 

And there is more that we can do...

 

That's why we give our support to other non-profits, helping to improve the lives of children and offer scholarships to students from communities who face limited access to educational and college opportunities.

 

Thank you for lending a helping hand when it's needed most! It is only with the continued support of our corporate donors, community leaders, individual donors, and dedicated staff and volunteers that we can provide love, hope, care and comfort for families when they need it most.

 

Pam Whitaker, Executive Director

 

To receive a copy or our Annual Report Calendar please email [email protected] with your name and address.

Denver House: 1300 East 21st Ave.     Aurora House: 932 Potomac Circle
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