Guest Experiences
Connecticut Family Finds Solace at the House
The normal excitement surrounding the birth of twins turned to anxious waiting for the Caldareri family when they received a prenatal diagnosis that one of their babies faced serious heart problems. The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut provided them a place to stay when they faced a difficult commute from home to hospital.
Renée and Antonio Caldareri were eagerly awaiting the birth of twins when they went to their local medical facility for a routine ultrasound exam. They quickly suspected that something was wrong when they were referred to Yale-New Haven Hospital for an echo cardiogram. The procedure revealed that one of the twins, their daughter, had serious heart problems that would require careful monitoring followed by surgery. Hospital staff suggested they could stay at the Ronald McDonald House in New Haven to ease the burden of caring for one twin at home in Torrington and one in the hospital.
The family expected to return home shortly after the birth, where their daughter, Gabriella, would wait a few months for surgery. Nine days after birth, however, complications requiring immediate surgery developed. Renée and Antonio, along with baby Antonio, Jr., settled into a guest room at the House for the next two weeks. Staying at the House with her husband, son, and parents to help her was “a life-saver” for Renée. She had been driving 75 miles back and forth from Torrington to New Haven, heart-broken and sobbing, torn between the needs of two babies. “The House made me better,” said Renée. “Staying there was one of the greatest experiences. Being in a place where others had problems and having people to talk to made a difference.”
Grandparents often play a vital role in helping when one of their grandchildren is hospitalized. The Caldareris were fortunate to have help from both Caren and Leonard Bourdeau of Woodbury, CT and Anna and Frank Caldareri from Montreal, Canada. Baby Antonio was rarely left alone, always cradled in the arms of one loving family member or another. The Bourdeaus reached out to other guests as well, bringing in a turkey dinner for all the House guests and offering to provide handyman services. “They just kept thinking of ways to help the House,” said Janet Hanscom, Director of House Operations, “not just while they were here, but for the future.”
The twins and their parents are now home together. Grandparents are there as well, helping care for both babies throughout the day and night. In April, Gabriella is scheduled to return for open-heart surgery. If the return as guests.
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