When a child has medical needs it is stressful enough for parents, anything that can help is going to be warmly embraced. The Ronald McDonald House has been in Saskatoon for thirty years, giving families a place to stay when they travel to the city for appointments and procedures. They are launching their first Red Shoe Walk across the province on September 13, to raise money to continue to grow and meet the needs of Saskatchewan families.
Kim Sandager, who is organizing the Red Shoe Walk in Yorkton, knows what a place like Ronald McDonald house can mean to a family who needs to travel for their childrens’ medical needs. Her son has various and complex needs, she explains, and her daughter was born with a cleft lip, so they have had to use it for a number of different needs.
“We will use it for any type of doctor’s appointment that he has, whether he has therapy appointments or specialist appointments... The first year when Ian was a baby we had to go in 27 times, so it’s not just once in a while.”
She admits that they were initially reluctant to use Ronald McDonald House, reasoning that they could stay with friends, but after the recommendation of a nurse they decided to try it, and says it made it a lot easier to be with their son.
“We used it after one of his surgeries when he was in the hospital for a week, and we thought it was the best thing ever... It has been a life saver, because my husband and I both try to be there, so we can switch off easier... We don’t like to leave Ian in the hospital without one of us there.”
For her family, the biggest difference is accessibility. With a child in a wheelchair, she says that the accessible rooms make getting ready for appointments much easier for her family.
“He’s in a wheelchair, he’s over 60 lbs now... We need to stay somewhere that’s accessible so we can minimize the lifts. Most people don’t have accessible houses, so it’s a life saver in that way too.”
It also lessens the financial burden, as the family only has to pay $10 a night in order to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
Sandager believes support is necessary because the demand for the services will continue to grow, especially as the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital is built and more medical procedures will be possible within the province. In a rural area, travelling to get serious medical procedures done is the norm, and she notes that surgeries are often early in the morning so families will always have to travel the day before.
“It’s something that benefits families no matter what. There are lots of services out there, but lots of those are for specific syndromes, specific diagnoses or income-based. Ronald McDonald House is if you need it, it’s here. We like to give back because we can.”
She emphasizes that it doesn’t matter if a kid has to go often or just for one procedure, as long as their needs fits the parameters they can stay. Whether a child has complex needs like her son or is going in for one appointment, she notes that both are welcome at the house, since it’s about supporting families going through these medical procedures.
The run itself will take place on September 13. To get involved visit www.skredshoewalk.com or volunteer for the event by contacting Karen Linsley at [email protected] or call 306-244-5700 ext. 115.
