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A Winning Team

At RMHC we believe that Ronald McDonald Houses offer children an all-star team that helps them beat the odds.

The team is made up of staff and volunteers, doctors and nurses, family and friends, donors and advocates, even RMHC Facebook fans and Twitter followers. Each person lends their support, well wishes and compassion in their own way, enabling children to find strength to beat the competition – that illness or injury that they are battling.  

Sometimes though, some health problems require really big teams to ensure that children beat the odds. Luckily, six-year old Anastacio has one – his family. And RMHC helps keep them close by so they can keep cheering him on as he receives treatments for leukemia.

RMHC also helps make that team a little bigger – a little more powerful. And as Alison, Anastacio’s mother told us - sometimes, you find support in the most unexpected team members.

“What I loved about the House were all the people there – the staff, volunteers and other families who were always eager to learn about your day, even if it was a bad one. I relied on sharing my experiences with them. Because there were some days that I just couldn’t talk about the same things with my husband anymore. I needed a fresh perspective, an open ear and an open mind to help me sort through the stress and the pain.”

Anastacio also found an unexpected teammate at the House. One day, Ronald McDonald paid him a visit. Anastacio was going through intense rounds of Chemotherapy at the time and was in a lot of pain and sad. But an afternoon spent with Ronald – chasing him around the House, laughing with him, and getting an autographed photograph with him, brought Anastacio’s big smile and voice back.

Today, three years after Anastacio was first diagnosed with leukemia, he is nearing the end of his treatments and he’s gearing up to get over the last couple hurdles toward recovery. And as he fights, he gains strength from his team – his brothers and sisters, his mom, dad and grandpa, his friends, including Ronald McDonald, and all the other supporters of RMHC out there that make our team so strong.

Comments (1)|(Hide)

  • Andrew Bujanda

    06/07/2011 5:47pm

    I am writing an essay for English class on fast food chains and shining light on McDonalds efforts to improve the health and well being of children. I am happy to see the efforts being paid off with this story and will continue eating at McDonalds as long as you support children like Anastacio.

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