The Jaquiery family, Otago
January 30, 2007
Dear Ronald McDonald House,
My wife, Jane, and I would like to convey our most sincere appreciation at all you have done for us during our month long stay at Ronald McDonald House in Auckland. We were both in a state of shock when we stepped off the plane in Auckland very late one November night. We were still reeling from the news that our new daughter was very sick and urgently needed a life-saving operation. What a relief it was to be greeted at a most welcoming and welcome facility.
As you know, Phoebe required a liver operation — what you may not know is that she is very precious to us because she is my wife’s first child born alive, after losing 6 previous babies. It was just marvellous for the first week as she had daily tests at the hospital in preparation for her operation and we were able to retreat to ‘The House’, in the hospital grounds, as a family each night.
To tell the truth I had no idea what to expect when I was told there would be accommodation available in Auckland, I even wondered if it might be dormitory-style living with a room full of smelly, snoring blokes in a shared bunk-room. The reality could not have been further from the truth. It is hard to believe you have achieved and manage to run such a tremendous facility with charity alone. Apart from your proximity to the hospital, the knowledgeable and caring staff and other families in a similar predicament to share health reports, made a situation you would not wish on anybody, far more manageable. Our only complaint during our time in Auckland was the unbelievably bland hospital food — Starship could learn something from Dunedin hospital on that count!
Fortunately following Phoebe’s operation, with the two of them in hospital I actually enjoyed cooking scrumptious meals at the house and presenting them to my appreciative wife, something I constantly told her not to get used to. I kept thinking that if Ronald McDonald House was not there, what a much more difficult time we would have all had.
Unfortunately this operation is not like setting a broken arm, which once it is fixed remains fixed, the best we can hope instead is that this operation will delay a liver transplant for a few years, however it is a great comfort knowing Starship has super surgeons and Ronald McDonald House will also be there. At the moment Phoebe is looking great and the hospital staff here are very pleased with her progress, we are enjoying every day, thank-you again. I have attached a photograph of Phoebe’s first smile after the operation.
Sincerely
Stephen and Jane Jaquiery
