The Brooks Family, Wanganui
Dear Beth,
I never really got the privilege of meeting you during our 10-11 weeks we were at Ronald McDonald House but I’d like the opportunity to thank you for providing such a wonderful, amazing service to my family. We were truly humbled. You have such wonderful capable, caring and loving staff on board. I thank you for that. Our time at the house was full of tears, laughter, joy and sadness. We got to meet so many different people from all walks of life. We got to share our story and got to hear of other’s stories. It was a truly amazing experience.
Sadly we lost our son Izaya at 3 1/2 months of heart failure, but we’ve gained so much insight into love and life. I am wanting to help families cope with whatever path may come before them.
I’m quite passionate about it. I’ve been in the situation as well as many others gone and to come and want to contribute my time to helping. I have some ideas and some which I have discussed with other parents and staff at the house which will require more discussion but for now a HUGE thank you! You truly have a unique role in people’s lives. We will talk again.
All our love,
Dayle & Delyse Brooks
(Rooms 817, 821, 822)
The Brooks felt there was a real need for some de-stress activities for the parents and caregivers of sick children, while they are staying at Ronald McDonald House Auckland. They proposed an onsite gym, in memory of Izaya, as a beneficial and positive way for parents to unwind after spending long inactive days in hospital with their children.
“You never know — any of us could find our lives and circumstances change in an instant. I believe that the less stressed the parents are, the less stress sick children will feel” says Deylse.
Delyse and Dayle have taken it upon themselves to raise enough funds to fit out a gym for families to use while staying at the House. It is an ambitious undertaking but one we all feel will be a great asset, putting something ‘normal’ and healthy back into the upside-down lives of our parents.
The RMH Auckland Trust funds and governs Ronald McDonald House Auckland (48 rooms), the Ronald McDonald House Family Room (13 short stay critical care rooms) in Starship Hospital and RMHA St Martins (16 offsite apartments). It is a registered community charitable trust comprised of the following partners: Auckland District Health Board, Child Cancer Foundation, Heart Children, The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland, Ronald McDonald House Charities and 2 community representatives. The House, Family Room and St Martins provide a ‘home away from home’ for over 3,000 families of children with life-threatening illnesses each year. The Trust through its staff and partnerships actively fundraises throughout New Zealand to achieve the $3,000,000 p.a. it needs to run the facilities and support its families. Charity Registration number: CC23591