The guests of the Houses come from far away, sometimes from overseas, with many different thoughts and hopes.
These Family Stories teach us the importance of families spending time together and doing what we can to support them.
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Family Stories
Yukiko Ozawa and Kenbi
Yukiko Ozawa
Kenbi
On my son’s second birthday, we found out that he had a type of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma. Although he underwent chemotherapy for three months at a local hospital (in Hamamatsu), we were told that he would not survive without a liver transplant, so we had him transferred to the National Center for Child Health and Development (in Tokyo).
My husband and daughter stayed in Hamamatsu while my son and I started to live in Tokyo. Being separated, we missed each other, but my husband and daughter came to visit us from Hamamatsu once a month on weekends and we were able to spend time as a family.
Ayaka Uesugi
Reo
Ayaka Uesugi
Reo
My son and I had to leave our home in Yamanashi for a hospital in Tokyo, as he needed to undergo treatment. We had trouble finding a place to stay but found out about the Ronald McDonald House one day.
While attending to my son in the hospital, the House helped me get my life organized -- sleeping and eating included -- and made me feel positive enough to say to myself, "Right, I know I can do my best again tomorrow!"
I am also grateful that my son was able to spend his days in the hospital without feeling anxious.
Hiroyuki Imamura
Karen
Hiroyuki Imamura
Karen
By exchanging lots of information with families that had children with the same disease, I was able to rid myself of anxiety. The House staff were extremely kind and the House really saved us, both financially and emotionally.
I’d be grateful if Ronald McDonald Houses could become more widespread to offer emotional support to the many families with children suffering from chronic diseases.
