Help Keep Chatham-Kent Families Close like The VanDerMolen Family

During pregnancy, Oakley was diagnosed with Spina Bifida. In the weeks leading up to her birth, we really had no idea what to expect when it came to the level of severity of her condition. When she was born, it was discovered that there were also other medical conditions in addition to spina bifida, and within hours of birth, Oakley would require both brain and spine surgeries to manage her condition. We will never forget the first time we walked through the doors of the RMHC-SWO. It felt like we could finally take a deep breath and relax. It was late in the night; we were exhausted and could not wait to sleep. When we arrived, we weren’t sure what to expect, but as we were shown around, we were blown away at how much the house had to offer. The list just kept on going and we couldn’t believe how many of the small details of life the Ronald McDonald House would take care of for us. “It became very apparent that we would be able to focus all our attention and energy on Oakley and the house would provide the rest. We will never forget when we walked into our room, said “goodnight” to the staff, and the door closed. We were overwhelmed with thankfulness and broke down with emotion.“ Today, Oakley is a healthy and happy 5-year-old. She loves being outside and playing with other kids. She is an avid wheelchair user but has recently started taking steps and walking with the assistance of a full-body brace and walker. She is so excited to show her friends at school how she can walk, and she loves being the leader in gym class. “Oakley still has a long journey ahead of her with possible surgeries over the next couple of years. However, currently, she is medically stable, and growing well, and she brings such joy to her surroundings!”