Ronald McDonald House Gives Strength in Tough Times 

Liberty Hill family stays at House while son gets treatment

AUSTIN, Texas – (March 1, 2012) – Juana Lezama-McIntosh’s world turned upside-down when her 4-year-old son, Nicholas was diagnosed with Leukemia last November.  When they received the news at a hospital in Austin, TX they were more than an hour’s hectic drive away from their home in Liberty Hill.  Nicholas required immediate treatment, and will need to return to the hospital weekly for treatments for the next 3 years.

During Nicholas’ first week in the hospital, Juana didn’t leave once.  She recalls, “It was exhausting, but the thought of driving back to Liberty Hill through the traffic seemed impossible.  I couldn’t leave Nicholas, and I didn’t have the energy to make that drive every day.”

The staff at the clinic told Juana about the Ronald McDonald House in Austin, where she and Nicholas have been staying on and off ever since.  The Ronald McDonald House provides families like Juana’s a place to stay when their child is critically ill or injured.  Juana shared that “without the House, I wouldn’t have the strength and support of other parents who understand what my family is going through.”

Nicholas’ leukemia went into remission one month after starting treatments, but he still has a long journey ahead.  He is not alone – many other children experience medical crises and stay with their families at the Ronald McDonald House.  In the last year, 55 families from Williamson County were served by the Ronald McDonald House in Austin.   

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas (RMHC Austin) provides lodging and support services in a nurturing home-like environment to families of critically ill or injured children receiving treatment in Austin-area medical centers. The House provides families with private bedrooms, home-cooked meals, transportation, laundry facilities and activities for patients and their siblings. For more information, visit www.rmhc-austin.org.  Here you can learn how to volunteer, donate online or find a wish list of household items for RMHC Austin.