Our 9 year old son Sam was admitted to PICU, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, on New Years Eve last year, 2021. We were one day into a family holiday in Cornwall when Sam became very unwell and was admitted to Intensive Care in Truro, barely able to hold his own weight or walk. After receiving first class care in Truro we were quickly transferred to the PICU unit in Cardiff where Sam’s care and thankful recovery continued. 

As I followed a specialist ICU ambulance, transporting my seriously unwell son along with  my wife, from Truro to Cardiff,  it crossed my mind where we, as parents, would stay for the coming nights. New Years Eve meant local hotels were booked and it was 10pm as we were travelling, still with a few hours to go. I had resigned myself to sleeping in the car for that first night at least. Seriously.

Upon arrival at the PICU Unit in Cardiff, the medics and our priority was, of course, stabilising and settling Sam.

The next day dawned and it was clear we were going to be in Cardiff for an extended period. Immediately, we were given access to the Ronald McDonald facility which was literally across the road from the hospital. Within seconds, we could be at Sam’s bedside (not that we ever left it) and the hospital phone system was connected to our room.

Sam was diagnosed with PIMS, a rare but dangerous post covid condition, from which he has almost fully recovered, 9 months on. Google it and be aware of it, make your families aware of it.  It’s nasty.

At the Ronald McDonald House, sleeping, cooking, washing and general well being facilities were all on hand. A dedicated fridge / freezer space, spotlessly clean kitchen facilities and rooms that were cleaner and better than most hotels I stay in for work travel were at our disposal.

We simply couldn’t believe this facility existed, it was truly a godsend to have access to in our time of need.

Thankfully, Sam recovered to the point of being allowed home after a week having been in the intensive care unit for 4 days followed by some time on the children’s ward. There are, however, families in desperate situations with very seriously unwell children who would not know what to do without this amazing charity. It sounds easy, doesn’t it, with a hospital admission…….order a pizza, get a takeaway etc. Not when you are living with a child in hospital for months and you are juggling work commitments, other children who still need looking after, your own house that you may not have seen for weeks. There are sets of parents in these hospitals who are ships in the night to say the least.  You need to survive, eat properly, sleep, shower, be close, stay on top of things. Ronald McDonald provides the ability to do these things, they are truly an amazing charity. One that you don’t know exists until you suddenly need them, like we did.

Our heartfelt thanks go this organisation, The Ronald McDonald statement is below:

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospital. Our Houses offer much more than just a place to stay; they provide family activities, peer support, respite, and many other services. This means that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life with reduced emotional and financial strain.We help over 6,000 families each year and now, more than ever, we need your support. Thank you.