AKRON

Spring 2013

Ronald McDonald House of Akron’s Newsletter to Friends

www.rmhakron.org

www.rmhakron.org

MALIK’S STORYIn November of 2012, Malik Norton was taken to Robinson Memorial Hospital with a temperature of 107.4, the highest temperature the staff in the emergency room had ever seen. The ER called the Akron Children’s Hospital Critical Care Unit ambulance, and, as Malik’s mother, Jeannie, says, “They saved his life.”

The Norton’s had adopted Malik at age 5. He was neurologically impaired and had cerebral palsy, but was otherwise healthy.

After being admitted to Akron Children’s in November, Malik’s medical issues have mushroomed: he has had abscesses, fevers, surgery for an ileostomy, a central line placement, dehydration and intestinal blockage. This has meant that he and his family have spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter in the hospital. As of this writing, Malik has been in the hospital for almost five months, his only break being for four days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Jeannie and Jerome Norton, Malik’s parents, will not leave Malik’s side while he is in the hospital. They live an hour away, and so they make sure one of them is always in the room with Malik.

During this long stay, the Norton’s have had stretches of time where they have been unable to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House. When this happens, they are left to sleep on a cot in Malik’s room.

Jeannie says, “Sometimes you feel like you’re trapped in there [the room]. It becomes claustrophobic. And you can end up getting

yourself sick”.

This is where the Ronald McDonald House comes

in. Since the Norton’s will not leave Malik, the House is a place where Jeannie and Jerome can take turns having

a hot meal, taking a shower, sleeping

in a real bed, always knowing that if there is an

emergency, they can get right

back to their son. And, because the House allows four people per room, Jeannie’s 81-year-old mother can visit her grandson as well.

OLIVER’S STORYShelly, Matthew and Oliver Small live in Mansfield, Ohio, about an hour and 15 minutes from Akron.

Six years ago, when Oliver was born, he was sent to Akron Children’s Hospital with pneumonia. Since that time, his admissions have been too numerous for his mom to count, all for pneumonia and respiratory problems. At times, there was a question as to whether Oliver would survive. Because of the critical nature of his illness, there is no question of his mom, Shelly, and his dad, Matthew, making the 75 minute trip to go home when Oliver is in the hospital.

When they are not able to get into the Ronald McDonald House, Shelly and Matthew take turns between sleeping on the couch in Oliver’s room or on the floor.

It is quite a contrast to the TLC they have received when staying at the Akron House. They have a room with beds to sleep in, away from the beeping monitors, the nurses’s interruptions and the general noise of the PICU. They have a hot meal and a place to shower. But they also remember getting a haircut at the House, having a massage, Shelly having her makeup done, all by volunteers from the Akron community.

During one particularly difficult hospitalization for Oliver, night supervisor Mary Merendino recommended a book, My Son, My Gentle Son, to Matthew about another father’s struggle with his son’s illness. After reading the book, Matthew was talking to Mary about how much the book meant to him when he discovered that Mary knew the author, Robert Greenwald. The two had gone to grade school together and Robert now lived in Munroe Falls, Ohio. Before Matthew knew it, Mary had arranged for him to speak with Robert on the phone, and the next day, Robert drove the 30 minutes to the Ronald McDonald House to meet with Matthew and offer his support.

The Ronald McDonald House gives its residents the tangibles: a bed, a shower, dinner each evening. It is those intangible things that the staff and volunteers and the larger community offer that makes a real difference for these families.

The Small family

When you read the stories of the families in this issue of Care Cables, you will understand that The Ronald McDonald house provides a much needed service to these families when they are at their most vulnerable. Our problem is this: saying “no” to parents when our House is full. The House opened in January of 1985 with twenty bedrooms. Akron Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric health care provider in northeast Ohio, operating two children’s hospitals and offering services at 78 locations. They now have a cardiology program that provides heart caths, heart surgery and heart transplants. They are a regional center for genetics. They have become a center for the treatment of

childhood cancers and blood disorders. They have an active neurology and neurosurgery program. Akron Children’s cares for half a million children and adults each year.Akron Children’s currently has 23 PICU beds and

59 NICU beds. The Ronald McDonald House has the same twenty bedrooms it had in 1985.The families interviewed all tried to get a room at the House during each of their children’s admissions to the hospital. The result was being put on a waiting list. Some were able to make their way to the top of the list and get a room. Some were discharged before that was possible.Each parent said the same thing. Their concern was focused on their child and on being close by - going home was as not an option. The mission of the Ronald McDonald House is to provide a home away from home for these parents so they can keep that focus on their child.We invite you to come to the House in Akron. Talk to our staff, volunteers and residents. Find out what we do and how we do it. See the result of what happened when the community came together 28 years ago to build the House. The need for us to expand is clear.So if you want to make a difference, if you want to make the world a little bit of a better place for families in crisis, now is the time. Read more to see how you can help, or call Executive Director Anne Collins at 330-253-5400.

Continued inside

Meeting the NeedsAS THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES ARE GROWING, WE MUST GROW TOO.

The Ronald McDonald House of Akron was founded by families for the purpose of providing a temporary house for those who have loved ones at Akron Children’s Hospital.

How Our House Makes A Difference… Our Families Share Their Personal Stories

“It’s hard to tell a parent the house is full.”

A Message From Our Executive Director, Anne Collins

As you read this edition of Care Cables I hope it will give you a better understanding of the real reason we need to expand the Ronald McDonald House of Akron. The stories of these families and their day to day struggles are truly inspirational. The grace and dignity these families display is amazing; many times

they end up comforting us. I am sure you can see why it is so difficult not to be able to reach out to all the families who call upon us in their time of need and crisis. As we plan to expand our House to 60 guest rooms with a larger kitchen and common areas we cannot help but be excited and, I might add, a little impatient. The need is so great and the families who call upon us continue to grow. All of us here invite you to share our journey and help us to fulfill our mission that has guided us for over 28 years.

Please take an hour or two to visit our House over the next few months and really get a feel of what we are all about. Wishing you all a fun and relaxing summer!

Care Cables is published by RMH of Akron Inc. (Ronald McDonald House of Akron Inc.), an association founded by Akron area families to provide and operate a Ronald McDonald House for those who have family members at Akron Children’s Hospital.

♥ Gift Cards (Acme, Giant Eagle, ALDI, Sam’s Club, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe’s, Home Depot)

♥ Juice Boxes/Bags ♥ Healthy Snacks

(granola bars, Nutri-Grain bars, breakfast bars, fruit cups, applesauce cups, etc.)

♥ Individual Boxes of Raisins

♥ Individual bags of chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.

♥ JIF To Go Individual Peanut Butter Packs

♥ Individual Size Cereal Boxes

♥ Salad Dressing (other than Ranch or Italian)

♥ Chicken Gravy (cans or jars)

♥ Miracle Whip, Mayonnaise

♥ Swanson Canned Chicken

♥ Onion Soup Mix ♥ Ramen Noodle

Instant Lunch Cups ♥ Swiffer Sweeper

Wet Cloth Refills

♥ Pledge Furniture Polish

♥ Laundry Detergent ♥ Dryer Sheets ♥ Dishwashing

Detergent ♥ Purell (travel size),

Chap Stick ♥ If it works with

the timing of your delivery plans: Fresh Fruits (apples, bananas, pears, oranges)

♥ Yogurt Cups ♥ Stouffer’s/Lean

Cuisine Ind’l Serving Entrees

DonationWish List:Can you see it? It seems like yesterday that we were eating breakfast at the Wally Waffles, but now, this is the future home to Akron Children’s Critical Care Tower. With every step the hospital takes toward the future, we get closer to an expanded Ronald McDonald House. What an exciting transformation!

The Ronald McDonald House of Akron was founded by families for the purpose of providing a temporary house for those who have loved ones at Akron Children’s Hospital.

In an immediate effort to help with the increasing need at the Ronald McDonald House of Akron, as well as to prepare for our much-needed addition, the staff and board of trustees have developed a room sponsorship program. This program allows individuals, groups or companies to sponsor a room in the current House for $5,000 per year. The money allows us to upgrade and maintain our existing rooms in preparation for the coming expansion.Aside from the satisfaction of knowing you have made countless families’ stays more comfortable, the House will provide a Don Drumm plaque with your name outside your sponsored guest room, as well as a replica for your own display.

SEBASTIAN’S STORYAt the ripe old age of four, Sebastian Price has already had 15 surgeries.

He was born three-and-a-half months early, and had a brain hemorrhage. Since then, he has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, diabetic insipetus, vision impairment, mild hearing loss and he has had a shunt put in. Most recently, he had hip surgery.

He and his parents, Pearl and Jon Price, and his sister, six-year-old Jasmine, live in Youngstown, about an hour away from Akron Children’s Hospital.

They have experienced the issue of securing a room at the Ronald McDonald House from both sides: there are times when they have been lucky enough to stay at the House, and there are times when they have been on the waiting list.

When they are wait-listed for the House, things can get pretty stressful. Pearl, who stays at home to care for her daughter and disabled son full-time, has a limited support system. Her family is in Africa, so she and her husband rely on his parents for help.

During Sebastian’s last stay at Akron Children’s, he was in a cast from his chest to his ankles. When she was unable to get a room at the House, Pearl was faced with sleeping on the pull-out couch in her son’s room. That is, if you can call it “sleep.” A few minutes here and there while mostly tending to Sebastian’s needs, sitting with him, turning him, lifting him by herself. This last visit, between the uncomfortable couch and the lifting, she hurt her back.

She also ends up spending precious family resources on food, drinks, parking and gas, so the stress is financial as well.

When Pearl is able to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House, her stay is more bearable. She still has a sick son at the hospital, but she has a place close by where she can relax, can get a nap for an hour or so, and have a home-cooked meal. Beside the ability to take a hot shower and get some rest, the House provides her with meals so she can eat properly without spending money out-of-pocket.

This is especially important to Pearl when Jasmine is with her.

Aside from the support already mentioned in this article, Pearl appreciates the emotional support she gets from the staff and volunteers at the House. “The people at the House make you feel better. They will give you support, and they check in with you to make sure things are going well.”

WILLIAM’S STORYWithin days of William Poplett’s birth, doctor’s found out that he had a condition called congenital central hyperventilation syndrome. This means that his brain stem does not tell him to breath when he is sleeping.

He was admitted to Akron Children’s Hospital’s NICU when he was six days old, and remained there for the next 3 1/2 months. During that time, William was dependent on a ventilator while sleeping, he was intubated until he was 3 1/2 weeks old, he had problems with respiratory distress and asthma, and eventually, he had a surgical tracheotomy.

During this time in the NICU, William’s mother, Cora Kelly, and his grandmother, Tabitha Poplett, were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

But this is not where the story ends for 14-month-old William and his family. Over the past eleven months, he has been admitted to Akron Children’s six times, many of those admissions for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus.) Twice in March, they were unable to stay at the Ronald McDonald House due to the lengthy waiting list for a room.

His family spent nights during those stays on uncomfortable couches in a nearby family room. The bigger problem, however, was the out-of-pocket expenses for this family with limited resources. Grandmother Tabitha kept track of those expenses - $5,000 for food, gas and personal items. In many cases, the price for our families is more than just emotional.

Meeting the Needs personal stories continued

You will also have the thanks of the entire Ronald McDonald House family: staff, board members, volunteers, and, most importantly, our families.For more information, call Anne Collins at 330-253-5400.

The satisfaction of helping families stay together during their time of need.

A unique Don Drumm plaque mounted with your name outside one of our guest rooms.

A replica Don Drumm piece for your display use.

Publication in Care Cables newsletter, facebook and website

An invitation to our Annual Donor Open House.

Thank you letters directly from our families.

Annual Room Sponsorship Benefits $5,000 /year

You Can Start Helping Now — Sponsor a Room Today!

www.rmhakron.org

Well… at long last… Old Man Winter finally loosened his grip on Northeast Ohio (at least I hope so!) Spring arrived (a little late for some) and now the long, warm and hazy days of summer are upon us. As always the onset of spring and summer bring with it a sense of re-birth and excitement. We here at the Ronald McDonald House of Akron are excited and energized as our plans for the physical expansion of the House are coming to fruition. We feel blessed that in the weeks and months ahead our efforts to grow the House to not only serve more families but to serve them better will be realized. The future looks very bright for the Ronald McDonald House of Akron.

Our staff and volunteers continue to demonstrate their dedication to our mission. Their commitment to the House is exemplified by their consistent effort to help create an environment that is welcoming and supportive for our families, giving them a much needed respite from their long and stressful days and nights at the Hospital with their children.

Our Garden Club has worked tirelessly in creating a beautiful, comforting and peaceful environment, filling both the inside and outside with flowers and plants to help bring a bit of sunshine into our family’s lives. I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate the hard work, commitment and dedication of all our volunteers – from grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, to preparing evening meals , and helping keep the House immaculate, as well as assisting our staff in doing much needed House and office chores. A big THANK YOU to our meal donors who, together with our volunteers, make sure there is a healthy and hearty meal every day for all our families. And of course let’s not forget our many silent partners who routinely stop and donate wish list items or support our pop tab program, and the many community groups, schools, and businesses who offer their time and talent on a daily basis.

As we climb ever closer to our goal of expanding our House, we will need all our supporters and many others to chip-in wherever and whenever possible to speed the process of our being able to address the growing demand for our services and for additional space to accommodate our families.

The Ronald McDonald House of Akron has and will continue to be a haven and a supportive environment for families in need. Our work would not be possible without our staff, volunteers and community supporters. Thank you for all that you do!

Enjoy the summer.

Heather

Since January of 1985, the Ronald McDonald House of Akron has provided an evening meal for its residents every night - weekends, holidays, snow days, every day, without fail. This has occasionally involved some creative thinking, but it is always made possible by the ongoing generosity of the greater Akron community. Please visit our website, www.rmhakron.org, to see a list of the individuals and companies who make this happen because of their donations. If you would like to donate a meal for forty grateful people (our wonderful families!), please contact Beth Plazak at 330-253-5400.

MEAL DONORS

A Message From Our President, Heather Jalbert

Staff:Anne Collins Executive DirectorMeri Skiera Volunteer/ Media CoordinatorBeth Plazak Family Service ManagerStephanie Zelasko Executive/Development AssistantMary Merendino Night/Weekend ManagerLauri Esposito Weekend Supervisor

Care Cables:TRIAD / Next Level DesignerStar Printing Casey Hughes EditorHonorary Trustees:William ConsidineRobert Klein, M.D.

Board of Trustees:Heather Jalbert PresidentDonna Early Vice PresidentSteve Shriber Vice PresidentCasey Hughes SecretaryNic Reynolds Treasurer

Board Members:Sarah BakerJohn BlickleDarryl FieldmanSarah FlanneryDonna GrigasJeffrey Hord, M.D.Luisa IturriagaDon McCardleKim McFarlaneConnie NolteMichael O’Malley

Rosie PerezMary RedleNicholas ReynoldsJohn ShafferJohn SloanKristen SusickPamela J. WebbJanis WorleyDawn ZelichJohn Zoilo

© Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

The Ronald McDonald House of Akron has a new employee, Stephanie Zelasko. People who have been around the House for the past few years, however, may find she is a familiar face.Stephanie began as a volunteer at the House in July of 2010, covering the evening shift every other Tuesday.She began volunteering when she was a student at the University of Akron, majoring in Business Administration. Says Stephanie, “After debating about my major and considering everything from teaching to healthcare, I ultimately decided on Business Administration because it really had no limits. It is a degree that covered so much and applied to many different areas and at a variety of different organizations. I felt like with that degree, I could go anywhere!”After a few years as a student at the University of Akron, Stephanie wanted to become more involved in the community. While looking online at volunteer opportunities, she came across the RMH of Akron website and contacted Meri Skiera (Volunteer Coordinator) and without any previous experience with our House or the Ronald McDonald House concept, she began on the Tuesday evening shift. About her volunteering at the House, Stephanie has said, “I loved the work that was going on here and I felt like I could fit in. Being a previous volunteer has helped me see the House from many angles, which I’m grateful for. I experienced first-hand all the things volunteers do to help keep the House running so wonderfully. I think that was the best training for me!”Last July, Stephanie began working as a part-time office substitute at the House, and on April 29, 2013, she became our first full-time

A Familiar Face Joins RMH

Friends of the House

JOIN US…

Red Shoe SocietyLook at all these proudly-worn red shoes! Thanks to the hard work of board member Kristin Susick, the Ronald McDonald House of Akron now has a core group of area young professionals (age 25 to 39) called the Red Shoe Society. Lead by President Rich Lubinski, their goal is to find new ways to promote and fundraise for the House.

Executive/Development Assistant. Her job description runs the gamut— from answering phones, giving tours and checking in families, to assisting with public relations, fund development activities and assisting with the development of media programs.

“I knew I enjoyed working in the non-profit sector when I first worked as the Marketing Intern for another local non-profit organization. It was there that I was first introduced to a variety of things I will be working on including development, fund-raising, event planning and grant writing. I enjoyed the rewarding feeling of doing something that truly made a different in the lives of others. I knew RMH was the place I wanted to be because of the experience I had as a volunteer.”Stephanie’s education has prepared her well for her new position at the Ronald McDonald House, including classes in marketing, operations, accounting and finance. But her best asset for the job is her enthusiasm and passion for the House and its mission.In conclusion, Stephanie says, “My time here so far has been nothing short of amazing, both as a volunteer and an employee. I feel great about the work to be done, excited about what is to come and grateful for all the House has done for me, both personally and professionally. Every time I am here, I walk out with a sense of direction and appreciation. There is so much excitement to come and I am so grateful for all that I have learned so far.” As Stephanie said at the beginning of this article, with her education and talent, she could go anywhere. We are lucky she has chosen to be here.

We are very excited to announce a new partnership for our House! The World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational® held locally at Firestone Country Club has chosen the Ronald McDonald Houses of Akron and Cleveland as their anchor charities for the 2013 event. The good news is that each House will receive a $50,000 grant. Additionally, each House has the opportunity to earn funds through the sale of event hospitality packages. Would your business or organization be interested in purchasing a hospitality package? If so give Anne or Meri a call at the House for more information: 330-253-5400. The event will be held July 31st-August 4th.

New Partnerships!

What could be better than a night out at a beautiful winery that also benefits a great cause? The Friends of the Ronald McDonald House have planned an inaugural event at Gervasi Vineyard on Thursday, September 5, featuring a silent auction to benefit the House.There are so many ways to get involved and provide support for our House: buying individual tickets, buying a table at the event, underwriting the event or providing a silent auction item. If you would like more information, or if you would like to become a member of the Friends of the Ronald McDonald House, call Dawn Zelich (234-380-2871) or Nancy Walker-Gerbetz (330-472-8469).

Congratulations to ACH’s Reinberger Family Center on its five-year anniversary

Who To Call: For volunteer opportunities, either on a regular basis or for special needs, call our Volunteer Coordinator, Meri Skiera at 330.253.5400. For information on organizing a fundraising event, call Anne Collins at 330.253.5400. If your group or organization needs a speaker to discuss our mission, call Meri Skiera at 330.253.5400.

note worthy…

Ronald McDonald House® of Akron, Inc.245 Locust Street, Akron, OH 44302

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDAkron, Ohio

Permit No. 534

www.rmhakron.org

Return service requested

AKRON

Spring 2013

Ronald McDonald House of Akron’s Newsletter to Friends

www.rmhakron.org

Check if appropriate: My name is misspelled My address is incorrect I received more than one copy I no longer wish to receive Care Cables

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Meeting the Needs AS THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES ARE GROWING, WE MUST GROW TOO.

CADEN’S STORYEight-month-old Caden Jones has epilepsy. In those eight months, he has been admitted to Akron Children’s Hospital five times. Sometimes his admissions are for adjustment of his medications, sometimes it is for testing. At some point, he will need surgery.During his last stay at the hospital, in March of 2013, he stayed in the epilepsy monitoring unit for seven days.Diana Jones, Caden’s mom, and her husband have tried to stay at the Ronald McDonald House during three of their son’s admissions, the first in

August of 2012, for five days. They have never been lucky enough to get a room. Diana sleeps on the fold-out couch in Caden’s room while her husband tries to find a chair to pull in the room to sleep on. This last March they brought a mat for Caden’s dad to sleep on.The Jones family lives about 30 minutes away in Canton, Ohio, but in Diana’s words, “With a baby in the hospital, I won’t go home,” though she adds, “It would be nice to sleep in a bed!”Read more family stories inside.

Packed and ready to go!This stroller was sitting in the House’s living room early one morning, and it was stocked for a long day at the hospital. So many of our families leave first thing in the morning and we don’t see them again until evening, after an entire day at the hospital. Thank you for helping to make it possible for these families to be where they want to be – next to their child!

1. Girl Scout Troop 899 with a pop tab delivery. 2. House volunteers Lou and Bonnie with friend Jan (center). As well as volunteering with us, they also volunteer for the Giving Doll program, and Jan donates dolls to the House for our children. For more information on the Giving Doll, go to www.thegivingdoll.com. 3. A sibling enjoying the comforts of our House during her family’s stay. 4. The JWCC golf outing will be held on August 25 at the Firestone Country Club South Course. For more information, call Anne Collins at 330-253-5300. 5. The LeBron James Family Foundation at the House for their quarterly volunteer project. Visit www.lebronjamesfamilyfoundation.org for more information. 6. A large donation from TemperPedic allowed for all the mattresses at the Akron House to be replaced. Pictured is this generous gift being delivered.

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