Our Story
By Lourdes Benavides
My experience with the Ronald McDonald House was amazing. Everyone at Ronald McDonald was so caring and helpful to my husband and I when we were in a very heart breaking situation. My daughter was born when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, in Clovis, New Mexico and within 30 minutes of being born I knew something was wrong, and I was right. The Doctor told us that our baby would have to be sent by helicopter to UMC in Lubbock, Texas because her lungs were not yet fully developed. They told us UMC had the best Pediatrics care for babies in the area.
The next morning, when I was released from the Clovis hospital, we traveled to Lubbock to see my daughter. It was a horrible trip to make the day after having a baby! When we arrived at UMC and saw our baby, they had her connected to so many wires it was hard to see her. After I knew she was okay, I asked the nurse if we could have a nice couch so I could lay down because I was feeling really dizzy and tired. The nurse had us sit down in the waiting room while she went to see what she could do. After awhile she came and told us that we qualified to stay at the Ronald McDonald House and we could stay there as long as our baby was in the hospital.
We were so blessed and happy to hear that because we had no place to go and no money at the time. So, we went to the Ronald McDonald House and checked in and they immediately made us feel like it was our home away from home.
The lady that checked us in took us to our room and noticed I was tired. The room was unique and it also had a bathroom which was a plus for me. She explained to us that the kitchen was full of food and to eat anything we wanted from the pantry or the refrigerator. She told us that some guests will cook and we were more than welcome to come down to join them at the table to eat; we are all family here at the Ronald McDonald House. We were both so emotional and felt so loved. We felt so special. Everyone was so nice. Who knew strangers could be so kind.
The lady then proceeded to say that there was also a charter bus that could take us to UMC Hospital so we could see our baby at anytime we wanted. Ronald McDonald House treated us so well and made us feel welcomed in every way possible. If it wasn’t for Ronald McDonald House I don’t know what we would have done. We stayed for almost 2 1/2 months! My daughter was very well taken care of at UMC and I was treated like a queen at Ronald McDonald House. Thank you Ronald McDonald House, we appreciate you so very much!
Marisol and Lourdes Benavides
