Family Support

As an infant, my daughter, Deanna, cried in agony after every feeding. Her pediatrician stated that the reason for the crying fits was due to acid reflux. At age 2, Deanna was diagnosed with “failure to thrive”. She was severely undersized and underweight. She developed a fear of eating because of the pain felt after every meal. She was given an NG-tube and then a G-tube to supplement her meals and help her gain weight.

It was difficult for my wife and I to see so many specialists when trying to determine her ailment. We were fortunate that Deanna was able to join the Feeding, Swallowing and Nutrition Program at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. We live in the suburbs of Chicago so the drive to Milwaukee was tough. Ultimately, it was worth the drive because we were given a consistent plan from all the specialists on the feeding team.

While determining a diagnosis for her condition, Deanna had several surgeries and psychological feeding sessions. All these procedures required us to visit the hospital for weeks at a time. We were blessed to have the Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin across the street from the hospital. With the burden of long drives, high medical costs and an un-diagnosed condition, we were extremely grateful to have a place to stay at no cost.

Deanna was ultimately diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE). The eosinophils in her stomach and esophagus became overactive during meals. The overactive eosinophils would swell her stomach and esophagus to a point that would create acid reflux. The acid made her feel pain and the sensation of choking. She became accustomed to vomiting during meals to relieve her pain. She was born with this condition, so choking and vomiting during meals was normal for her. At age 8, she was given a medication to lower her eosinophils. She has been thriving since.

Please donate to the RMHC. The charity is a welcome relief for families during a difficult time in their lives. We can never plan for a tragic medical condition that turns a family’s life upside down. Your donation provides support for these family during this trying time.

Won't you help me support this awesome charity?  You can help in 2 ways:

1. Donations:   You can provide a monetary donation to help us reach our goal of $1,000 by November 10, 2019. Please click on "Donate Now" if you'd like to participate this way.
2. Day of Service:   Our team will be cooking brunch from 8:30 AM - 12 PM on Sunday, November 10, 2019 for the RMHC families staying at Lurie Children's Hospital. Please click here to volunteer for our Day of Service.

So, help me raise funds #forRMHC and support families by donating today!