The Mills Family, Auckland

Bonnie Mackay, Toby Mills and baby Ryan Mills
“It’s great just to have somewhere to go and think about what’s happening, [the Family Room is] a great facility” — Toby, Ryan’s dad.

When Ryan was just four weeks old he seemed like a normal baby with a simple cold. But when parents Bonnie and Toby, from Torbay in Auckland, saw the doctor their worst fears were realised when their visit revealed Ryan had a heart murmur. One week later Ryan had to undergo five hours of surgery to fix a hole in his pulmonary artery and a rare complication with his right artery.

During the ordeal, the couple stayed at the Ronald McDonald House Family Room so they could be close to Ryan during his operation and recovery. Having access to the facilities at the Family Room helped the couple through the traumatic days of their son’s ordeal. For Toby, being able to stay near Ryan and not have to travel back and forth to Torbay was invaluable. The day lounge also meant that they could both take a break from the hospital atmosphere while remaining just moments away from Ryan’s bedside. “It’s great just to have somewhere to go and think about what’s happening, it’s a great facility,” says Toby.

The Family Room is a place to gather strength and regroup when times are stressful — a place to make quick phone calls to organise life for the rest of the family, a place to read a magazine and put your worries to one side, even if only for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Mum Bonnie found the support from staff and other parents whose children were going through a similar ordeal was vital. “Everyone’s really supportive and it’s a real family atmosphere in the Family Room.”

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