Ronald McDonald House - NUH

Made a decision this year that I will do my part as long as a children's charity comes my way.  It will be my selected cause. 

*Media Invite

A few of the bloggers were selected to attend a event on McDonald's Singapore fundraising events in support of the Ronald MacDonald House Charities (RHMC) Singapore. This is a global movement by the MacDonald's resturants around the world to celebrate the charity's 40 years of helping children.

During this sharing, I kept hearing about the Ronald McDonald House in NUH and how it has helped many families since it's set up in 2013. It got me curious about this and I made a trip to NUH to check it out. I made a call to Judy who is the Executive Direcctor who invited us if any of the bloggers were interested to see the house. She was on leave but got me to contact Leonard. She sent me the number and a note "Thanks for telling our stories" - it got me really curious on what was to come but this was not what I expected. I got more than a tour because I felt IT - the difference it makes and the warmth it offers.  Ronald Mcdonald House really did tell stories and this is my story.

Credit RMHC

Ronald MacDonald House

Just before you reach NUH  Ward 46, you will walk pass this interesting looking room. Do not be decieve by it nicely concealed front for you will be surprised what is stored inside.  As parents we know the pain of a sick child and the sleepless nights, waking up countless times to check on the fever, the vomitus we have to deal with and of course the incessant crying.  We get grouchy at work because we cannot function due to the lack of sleep. Take that extra MC and get marked by the bosses, grumbled about the high cost of medicine especially after a visit to the paediatrician.  The lists goes on with Childcare centre woes, helpers frustrations, the lack of help.

But for the families of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit,  our rantings on how we had to carry our sick child on our chest because the cannot breathe  well sounds like music because they can never carry their own with tubes and machine attached. Their bills rockets at $1k a day and some can stay for months in PICU. They bunk outside of the ward just to be there for their ailing child, so that the child gets to see a familiar face if they are awake or the warmth of a touch when they are asleep or even being lull by a beautiful voice. Life day after day makes no sense to them,  just hanging on to the hope that their child will be healthy once again. Or for a selected few, just some sort of normality before the ongoing countless operations. Then there are US, the parents who proclaim in FB that "OMG my child is finally asleep!" " Thank you God for sleeping children at 8pm, now is time for my wine".

Makes u wonder huh.

These families live in the hospital daily, making cleaners their talking companion, nurses their counsellors and Doctors their gurus.  Day by day their souls get weary and hope wears thin. Their faces are matte from the drying tears, their eyes tired from the sleepless nights, they are perpetually in their home clothes for NUH has now become their home. Then with a gleam of hope, they get called to stay in the Ronald McDonald House just along the corridor. The kind nurses and doctors go through their checklist and recommends them to rest in the house. The waitlist to stay here is long and requests gets send in on daily basis. But let me show you what this place offers.

Credit RMHC

Credit RMHC

Credit RMHC

The photos are from Ronald McDonald House Charity Singapore but here are mine. Let me tell you things that got me touched.

Playroom

The 1st thing that caught my eye was this library playroom. A small space where the siblings of the sick child can play. This is especially thoughtful because most siblings cannot understand what is going on and this is a good outlet for them to be in safe haven while the parents comfort the other.

A cuppie of goodies

The volunteers even painstakingly wrapped presents (gifted by the public) for siblings who are feeling down. These are the cheer me ups! He shared that most siblings doesn't understand what is going on :( sobx *If you wish to donate, do note that they take new items for siblings gifts

They run this Family Meal Program and today happened to be one of thsoe days. Each meal costs $150 (Lunch and Dinner) and the volunteers calls for caterer which  serves Halal Certified. The meals are NOT donated by the caterers but paid but the charity money. Although is nice to know that Mr Bean has kindly donated and brings them TeaBreak every thursday. *Any caterers willing to donate to this cause?

Where the food are kept for the families to help themselves

The food catered are abundant coz the minimum orders are 15 pax and there are only 4 families staying (2 parents or 1 parent 1 child)

Looks appetising

Dining Table

One can wonder how many times you can eat at the foodcourt if the child stays for months. Or how appetising can it be eating from the thermos flask?  But to be able to eat 2 meals in the comfort of this must be a luxury.

Tea snacks

The volunteers even baked cookies!

Leonard showed me around the kitchenette and highlighted the separate cutleries.

A separate microwave for different diet  requirements

That thoughtful right? Rice cooker all

Imagine fresh half boiled eggs for breakfast

It was so detailed that mircowaves are separated. The families get to cook as the kitchenette is equipped with an induction stove. Nestle sponsors the beverages and instant noodles which they can cook on the stove.

This, I was told to be the most desirable place of the house. Clean clothes anyone?

Truly be told, about half way I was still thinking of this place like a homestay with great hostess. I mean it seriously seemed like it right? …… until 1 family retured from their visit to the PICU. 2 extremely exhausted faces with dreary footsteps, 1 looked like he was in extreme pain. They looked up at me, smiled and walked into their room for that well needed rest. I was told later that the father had donated part of his liver to the child, chose not to recuperate at home but wanted to be near his dear child. I sort of choked and controlled that tear *sobx , thereafter seriously saw this house in a total different light. It was truly a "home-away-from-home" for families to stay close to their hospitalised child. At that point, I appreciated the idea of what this charity is trying to do and at what angle it was towards.

RMHC is an independently adminstered charity incepted in 1989 on a simple mission- directly improve the health and well-being of children in Singapore. They have helped more than 900 needy children in SG with their medical, surgical and rehabilitative treatments costs amounting to over $5million.

A special thanks to Leonard for taking his time to share with me all these inside information. I do like his honesty when he share his  beginnings of a part time staff because of extra buck but eventually turned career because he believes in this cause. Volunteer Yvonne who comes in 1-5pm to assist at the house and sharing me her reason of doing this. This is her 'Pay it forward' because she stayed in a Ronald McDonald House in Canada when her grandchild was hospitalised.  The House will love volunteers who can part their time looking after their house guests, making them rested, watching over their child when they rest. Time Slots are 9-1pm, 1-5pm, 5-9pm, they have an awesome security guard who doubles up as a volunteer for them at night.

If this is your cause,  do join McDonald's Singapore as they join a global movement to celebrate RMHC's 40th Anniversary.

1. Make a Donation and Show your Stripes.

From 15 Oct to 28 Oct, you can make a donation to the charity by purchasing a pair of red and white striped socks via Groupon. You can chose to purchase this at $10, $20 or $50

2. Share your stripes and raise awareness through #forRMHC and #RMHCSG

Help spread the word by dressimg in red and white stripes, donning socks or creating your own red and white themed images. Share them in Instagram  with #forRMHC #RMHCSG

3. Join them on 16th Nov for McHappy Day 2014

Besides the fact is MY birhday hahha! RMHC's 40th anniversary celebrations will culminate on McDonald's annual McHappy Day on 16th November 2014. You will see some 600 volunteers participating in the McHappy Walk and Sales across Singapore, selling the signature red and white striped socks. Families with young children are also welcomed to join the fun at the #forRMHC party at Tampiness Mall from 1-5pm. Members of the public can join in on the fun and participate at various booths that offer balloon sculpting, face painting for children, games and more. Ronald will also make an appearance for photo taking with the children.

Disclosure: I was invited and selected by OMY SG for the event and they have kindly donated $10 in my name to this cause. I received the cute red and white socks at the event and a nice Mcdees meal. No monetary compensation for given for this post.