Guest Experiences
Family Comes Full Circle at the House
The extended family of baby Aidan James Schwalbe has come full circle at the Ronald McDonald House, from guests to weekend volunteers. Like many other volunteers who have made the Ronald McDonald House their
home away from home while their children or grandchildren have been hospitalized, the Schwalbes want to give back by volunteering.
When Samantha Schwalbe was just five months pregnant, she and her husband, Eric, learned that their son would be born with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome, a life-threatening cardiac problem requiring surgery shortly after birth and additional operations during childhood. With the help of Dr. Bevin P. Weeks, pediatric cardiologist at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, Samantha and Eric prepared themselves for the birth and operations to follow.
Aidan James was born January 10, 2008, and three days later underwent surgery performed by pediatric cardiovascular surgeons Dr. Richard Kim and Dr. Toshiharu Shinoka. Samantha was in the hospital for a few days but later came to the House.“It was amazing! Everyone was so helpful. I love that House,” said the young mother.
Grandparents Diane and Richard Bennardo and great grandmother Doris (Oma) Kohn stayed at a hotel in New Haven for several days until they learned from a social worker that they could stay at the Ronald McDonald House in New Haven.
The 55-mile trip from North Stonington, CT to New Haven made daily commuting impossible. “It was such a relief,” says Diane, “after staying at a hotel and running up bills. We could leave the car and take a shuttle to the hospital.” More important, the family received support from staff, volunteers, and other guest families. “The House is beautiful, warm, and cozy. Everybody was so friendly and supportive,” added Diane.
Like many families, the Schwalbes never dreamed that one day they would be staying at a Ronald McDonald House. They first learned about the House through canisters at McDonald’s restaurants and later, through fundraisers run by the pediatric dental office where Diane works. (See page 7.) This year, the office posted a photo of little Aidan and a short story about his family’s stay at the House in New Haven. Patients coming into the office responded very generously, more than doubling the amount raised last year. A father from Old Lyme came to the office and his eyes filled with tears when he saw Aidan’s picture. He, too, had “been blessed to stay at the Ronald McDonald House” and made a generous donation.
Aidan returned to the hospital for a catheterization and second operation performed in April. Because Aidan will require regular follow up at the hospital, the Schwalbes expect to be frequent guests at the House. Diane and Richard have already spoken to Director of House Operations Janet Hanscom about volunteering as soon as their schedules permit.
You can help