Ronald McDonald

McDonalds may not be your favourite restaurant...especially after Jamie Oliver's recent reports. I love McD's...although I hardly eat their food as I am perpetually dieting. I do have many fond memories of doing drive through's with Willie.

It was definitely on Zoe's taboo list of places to eat. I did risk her wrath on a few occasions...especially after Willie lost his sight. Trying to fill his day with different experiences..a simple 'drive through' could be a big adventure. Describing people in their cars waiting in the queue (obviously with a licence to exaggerate fully - the bald man with big ears really was picking his nose..)  talking to the server, ordering the 'naughty chips' and then holding them in his hands - provoked many giggles. I recall that he only ever ate one or two fries...I'm not sure he even liked them ....but our 'naughty antics' were enough to amuse Willie for at least half an hour - from anticipation to handing back the bag of cold fries as he got out of the car. Worth every penny. Willie was an honest little man so I knew I had better confess to his mum before I left...as he would have mentioned it within minutes and I would have been in even bigger trouble lol.

But this is not the reason I love Macca D's ...it's their charity box for Ronald McDonald charities I spot on my visits ...these bring back fond memories of the Ronald McDonald accommodation at the John Radcliffe hospital. It's good to see their charity in action. For those who have experienced young people in hospital, you would know how important it is to be able to stay close by your child throughout their treatment. Often a camp bed is provided next to the ward bed for the patient. But can you imagine moving into a sparse ward with little room for hospital essentials - let alone a big suitcase of your clothes for the long weeks ahead.

Ronald McDonald Housing provided a modern small one bedroom studio flat with a communal kitchen. A safe haven away from the hub bub and busyness of the ward. A place to be still, pray, catch up on sleep...cry. I imagine families discussed in private their worries and concerns, talking to their other children about normal every day activities, catching up on their homework and just 'being' with them.

 Rheanna didn't opt to stay that often. There were others that could keep her life ticking over at home. But  this space would be used for quiet moments with her mum. Zoe enjoyed having a kitchen she could cook food she loved and so they would eat together up on the top floor, enjoying the vast Views over the surrounding villages and Oxford countryside.

Willie often joined them for a healthy lunch and special time together. His excitement always enhanced by watching the huge cranes in close proximity doing what cranes do best...still to this day I feel sick at the thought of sitting in that little box at the very top several hundred feet up...manoeuvring a huge concrete block weighing a few tonnes. How did it not fall over. How did the man go to the toilet? We enjoyed discussing the possibilities.

Rheanna would often read or draw...as not so interested in building sites. But she would be excited for Willie (for a couple of minutes) as he pointed out several on the landscape.

It's only when journeying with young people that are seriously ill that you are enlightened to the many facilities around to help out families in their time of distress. There were a few charitable concerns that helped Zoe out in different capacities at different times.

Clic Sargeant is a charity that amongst other things provides houses local to the hospitals for stays of a few days to a few weeks. This is a facility that is home from home. It is serviced with cleaners and lovely ladies to help you out if you need support. Sadly supply outweighs demand as it is a costly business but more sad is that the need is high. The house Zoe could stay in for a few weeks whilst Willie underwent radiotherapy was adjacent to the John Radcliffe hospital in a leafy suburb estate.

With four bedrooms and large living accommodation it was perfect for relaxation and easy access to the daily trip to the radiotherapy hospital a couple of miles down the road. Willie soon settled in to his new home, and enjoyed exploring the toy box and videos on offer. His favourites also travelled with him in the bag, so Rosie and Jim rollerblading and Bob the Builder were the usual choices, rather than watching anything new.

Staying in this lovely accomodation saved an early morning dash from Newbury (which is over half an hours drive away) for a 9 o'clock start, 5 days a week for 6 long weeks. These charitable concerns work tirelessly to raise money and the money is well spent. Also years of experience of other families suffering - maybe living a couple of hundred miles away from a specialist hospital - had prompted these charities to set up.

The Helen House children's hospice in Oxford was started by Sister Frances Dominica after her experience with the family of a young girl called Helen. Helen needed 24 hour care and Sister Francis realised the family's plight and so began work on opening a hospice to meet that need. Praise God that something positive came about through Helen and so many hundreds of families have benefited over the years since November 1982 when the first children's hospice in the world opened. In 2004 Douglas House was added to the facility for 16-25 year olds.

One of the weeks, Zoe stayed at Helen house.I had the privilege of visiting this awesome place. It has eight children's bedrooms to keep a homely feel - each child has 24 hour care - personalised and tailored to their individual needs. The emphasis is about making the most of life whatever the circumstances. Many other children's hospices have been founded since - including Naomi House near Winchester - another amazing place. My heart breaks though knowing how much they are in demand. We have no idea the huge scale of families managing with little respite. A week in Helen  House was like gold dust.

When we went to look round - meticulous care was given to find out Willies exact requirements regarding diet and physical needs - most importantly his favourite pastimes. They showed us around the comfortable house with a huge kitchen, arts and crafts room in which Rheanna nearly pee'd her pants with excitement - it was stocked lavishly with incredible bits and pieces of art accessories, felt, sparkly bits...everything a good arts and craft girl ever dreamed of. We were allowed to make a few pictures whilst we were there..just to try it out!.

They have an incredible music room filled with numerous instruments, some I had never seen before. A sensory room..a must for these places to stimulate those severely disabled. Willie enjoyed some of the clever apparatus and lights...all sorts of clever inventions..in a room full of padding to enjoy safely. The gardens were stunning and safe for Willie to walk around. Swings for 'wheelchairs' and larger 'baby swings' that Willie loved most. A huge sandpit and small trikes to ride. The garden was a firm favourite for sure. Watching Willie exploring this beautiful space I realised it was going to be a real Blessing to them as they went through the tough treatment ahead. Getting him out of the sandpit before dark was going to be a different issue altogether.

The staff were friendly and welcoming. They invited us to stay for lunch which we enjoyed, and found out more about the history of this awesome place. It costs hundreds of thousands a year, money raised tirelessly by the charities but worth every penny for those able to have respite when needed.

Naomi House was also an intricate part of Willies journey, but more about that in a later blog.

These places that are provided free of charge are invaluable to those heartbroken and anxiously waiting and watching their young children undergo major surgery and difficult treatment. It enables families to be kept together during the most traumatic times in their lives. I praise God for each and everyone of these provisions. Thankfully in abundance now throughout the world.

So next time you spot the Ronald McDonald charity box ...give generously knowing it is making a difference to so many. Visit the charity shops with pride - knowing every little helps. I hope you have not had to visit  or will never have to see the inside of any one of these incredible buildings, but I hope I have given you a glimpse of how incredibly precious they are. Praise God indeed.