Family Stories

When Za’Kelby Langham, 17, woke up the morning of Nov. 1, 2019 he probably thought it would just be a normal Friday. However, by the time he got off the school bus in the afternoon, he felt terrible and his lips were turning a frightening color. His mother, Lillie, has CPR training through her 17…

Ayden’s family didn’t know what they were going to do when they found out that he needed treatment in Birmingham. Living an hour away, they knew that constant commuting to and from treatment could get overwhelming. The Ronald McDonald House has served them as a space where they can be close to their loved ones…

Before 6-week-old Braxton was even born, his mom knew that he had a serious heart condition. Thankfully, Braxton was born full-term, just before Christmas and his mother Jennifer and grandmother Jerri were able to be at the Ronald McDonald House during his first days of life. The family went home to Mobile just after Christmas…

Ava is just a normal 5th grader who loves to ride horses and do anything outdoors. When her leg was sore one day, the thinking was that it could just be from playing too hard or riding horseback. When her leg started to get worse, they knew it was time to see a doctor. The doctor…

Emma Kate made her entrance into this world in August of 2012, three months before her due date and weighing 15 ounces. Her family says she is a miracle because she’s now 7-years-old and has made amazing strides! When she was born, doctors were most concerned about the development of her lungs and heart. Emma…

The Ronald McDonald House made our Christmas special during one of the hardest seasons of our lives. I never imagined that our first Christmas as a family of five would be spent hours away from home. I also never imagined that two weeks after bringing Annalise home, our newly adopted baby girl would be fighting…

Esha’s little boy, Deon, was born early. In fact, he was born 23 weeks early, weighing 1 pound and 5 ounces at birth. Esha is mom to Deon and his big brother, Quinlavan Jr. “I was scared because Quinlavan wasn’t a preemie,” says Esha. “I prayed, Lord, is he alright? I had to stay calm…

The Ronald McDonald House is more than four walls and a roof. It’s a common phrase at the House that the families know so well. An important part of RMHCA’s mission is to make sure families have the support network they need on their child’s medical journey. So it’s wonderful to see parents like Trish…

Baby Gracie was born at 26 weeks weighing 2 pounds and 4 ounces. “She always has her eyes open,” proud mom Ambrosha shares. “She has fire.” Ambrosha’s family is no stranger to preemie babies. “[My mom] went through the same thing with me, as a 26 weeker,” Ambrosha says. Gracie was born on August 24…

Many families arrive in Birmingham in medical crisis with only the clothes on their backs, unsure of where to go or even turn for help. The Ronald McDonald House and now our Ronald McDonald Family Room at UAB Women & Infants Center can provide reassurance and a home away from home, no matter what time…

To date in 2019, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama has provided comfort and care for 64 families who are battling childhood cancer. This serious diagnosis is consistently one of the top 5 reasons a family needs our Ronald McDonald House. Children like Christian need, and deserve, to have their parents and loved ones nearby…

Ronald McDonald House families travel the furthest for care and spend the longest time in the hospital. Every three weeks for more than a year, the Grayson family has made the five-hour trip from Mobile to Birmingham for Jarvas Jr.’s care. Jarvas, 16, lives with sickle cell disease, diabetes and a vascular disorder called Moyamoya…

The following story was written by Stephanie Pickens about her family’s recent stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. When we received the news that our son Asher would be transported to the UAB NICU, four hours away from home, we were overwhelmed and scared. We kept thinking, where would we stay for such…

For our 40th anniversary month, we wanted to share a special story that represents the decades-long impact RMHCA has made on families. We’re proud to bring you Jana’s Journey, written by her mom Lisa VanZandt. Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a former guest, volunteer and a current employee at the Ronald McDonald…

Each year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama helps hundreds of families stay together when they need it most. One of those families, the Chapmans, shared their story of hope, struggle, and how they decided to give back. Bryon and Hannah Chapman of Remlap, Alabama are both teachers and coaches at Southeastern School. On August…