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The Okay Box

Drew and Kaitlin Graham have two children, Oliver and Jax. At the time Oliver was diagnosed with cancer, he was only 18 months old, and Jax was almost three. 

During Oliver’s two-year fight with Cancer, Drew realized that before Oliver was diagnosed, he was missing out on both of his boys' lives. Drew credits the Ronald McDonald House Atlantic in Halifax for enabling his family to stay together and nurture their family unit at a difficult time. Not only were they able to take care of Oliver in the hospital each day, they were able to make sure Jax wasn’t left behind.

“When a child is going through chemotherapy, you treat him like glass, terrified of every illness or injury,” says Drew. “Every day at the hospital, all of our attention had to be on Oliver. Jax would spend each day playing, but only what Oliver was able to play and only with the utmost care, which is hard for a three-year old.”

However, in the evening, when the Grahams returned to the Ronald McDonald House, all of that changed. Drew describes the House as “truly a home” - a place where Jax could play with the other kids and volunteers, and a place for him and his wife to relax and ease their worries. Drew could just talk with Jax and watch movies – the House gave Drew time to be with both children - to make things okay for Oliver and for Jax.

When Oliver passed away, the Grahams felt that while they could never repay the Ronald McDonald House, they could pay it forward. They started a Treat Box at the IWK Hospital for kids on the Oncology floor after they’d been through an unpleasant procedure. The nurses called it the “Okay Box” because Oliver said ‘Okay’ every time he had to go through one of those same procedures. The Grahams love the name too, because the support and strength they gained at the Ronald McDonald House to be the best parents they could to both Oliver and Jax, helped them say ‘Okay’ too.

“The Ronald McDonald House is a home - a home that recognizes the needs of sick children and their families.” – Drew Graham

Comments (3)|(Hide)

  • Maggie Knutsson

    20/10/2011 7:35am

    What a beautiful thing came from such saddest. I am forever
    amazed by the strength and kindness of people. I have been
    wanting to volunteer at Ronald McDonald house in St. Pete.
    Fl.. And after reading this story, I can't wait to.do so.

  • Stephanie Dunklee

    19/10/2011 3:24pm

    We will be having a Fall Festival on the 21st of October at the daycare center that I work for. Every year we support a good cause with the money that is raised. This year all the money will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

    It's nice to work for a company that cares.

  • Tammy Solis

    18/10/2011 2:04pm

    Hi, I have a nephew who had an intestinal transplant in Nebraska and we live in Texas, my sister stayed at the Ronald Mcdonald house there. If it weren't for them we don't know what the outcome would have been for her or my nephew. We always said we would like to do something to repay a little and now it's been on my mind for a while now and I'd like to do something for the people who are staying at the Ronald McDonald house in San Antonio, Tx. I was thinking of something for Halloween and if all goes well maybe even thanksgiving and Christmas. I'd appreciate it if someone could get back to me about this. :)

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