September 10, 2018 marks the 35th Birthday of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston (RMHC Charleston), a “Home-away-from-home’ for families of critically ill children being treated at MUSC’s Children’s hospital. RMHC Charleston began as a 12 bedroom House located just a few steps from the Children’s Hospital, and has gone through three expansions. Today, The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston is able to serve 32 families 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day.
In 2004, RMHC Charleston opened the Ronald McDonald Family Room at MUSC. This room provides a safe haven for families of pediatric patients within the hospital. Local families are able to take a break from the hospital routine to shower, have a cup of coffee and rest without leaving the hospital grounds.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston eliminates the financial burden of costly hotel, meal and travel expenses and provides a home-like atmosphere where families can lead lives as normal as possible during their time of need. Although the majority of our families come from South Carolina, RMHC Charleston has served families from all 50 states and 14 foreign countries.
As KP Papadimitriou, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston’s CEO said, “We have so much to celebrate here at RMH Charleston. Most of all, we want to celebrate the Charleston community for its generosity and support over the past 35 years. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
Since opening in 1983, over 60,000 moms, dads and their children have found a place to share their worries and tears, laughter and joy.
The Turner family spent 82 nights at RMHC Charleston while their daughter, McKenzie, was born 14 weeks prematurely, weighing just 17 ounces. While McKenzie was in the NICU at MUSC Children’s Hospital, her mother and grandparents were able to stay close until she was able to go home, 3 months later. Elizabeth Turner said, "During our darkest time, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston and its staff provided so much more than housing for us....they were more like an extended family, comforting us and attending to our every need, making our extended stay as comfortable and bearable as possible.”
To learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston please visit www.RMHCharleston.org
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