Moments that Matter
Your generous gift makes a vital difference in helping families find stability and peace of mind during their child's medical crisis with lodging, meals, and more.
Gigi at San Diego's Ronald McDonald House
Getting a Good Start for Gigi
At 20 weeks of pregnancy, Eliani Lawrence learned that the left side of her baby’s heart wasn’t developing. Doctors recommended she deliver in San Diego, where specialists would be available to give her the best chance for a healthy life.
While Gigi got the care she needed at the hospital—including a heart transplant— San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House helped her mom stay at Gigi’s side for her surgeries and recovery, far from her Hawaii home.
At the Ronald McDonald House, Eliani connected with other families as she navigated the ups and downs of Gigi’s medical needs while also attending to her older children. “It’s not just a place, it’s a community,” says Eliani. This community helped keep Eliani strong for 711 nights surrounding Gigi’s birth and treatment.
By giving me a “home away from home” to access the advanced medical care my baby needed, Ronald McDonald House supporters like you made it possible for Gigi to be alive and here today. – Eliani Lawrence