The Ronald McDonald House

It was a week of waking up extremely early so that my mother could get ready and then to get me ready as well (since I had no strength at this time), before we found a solution. A nurse mentioned to my mother to try staying in the Ronald McDonald house when I was in the hospital. 

The Ronald McDonald houses, are the houses that they ask for donations in front of the cashiers at McDonald's. I never really put much thought into the connection between McDonald's and the houses but these houses are a godsend. They are full of the nicest people that always there and open to helping you out and making your need to go to the hospital all the time a pleasant one. 

My mother and I stayed at Ronald McDonald house for about two months. They give you a room that has its own bathroom and TV. Sometimes we would just stay in the room all day watching TV. It was very useful in helping me recover. I was able to walk around the room, the floor we were on, lay in the living room that they had for the floor and even just chill on the porch in some wooden rocking chairs. I really loved my stay there and I'm very grateful that we got to stay there during my time with radiation. 

The Ronald McDonald house is only a 2 min walk to the hospital. This made it very affordable and easy for my mother to just push my wheelchair to the cancer institute instead of spending so much gas to get to my appointments. Especially since I had radiation Monday through Friday, every day of the week. To me, the best thing was being able to go straight to sleep on a comfortable bed right after my sessions instead of dozing in a uncomfortable car for a while before getting home. 

One of the best things, that my mother and I found, was that at 6PM every evening (besides weekends) there was always a volunteer group or organization that would donate dinner to the guests. Free food! Mind you, it was typically always spaghetti and meatballs, but it was free no less. Sometimes if you were lucky (and awake) you could even score some breakfast. We bought snacks for the times that they didn't provide food, but all the guests would share whatever they made with the whole house. 

It was really nice. You could forget that you were there because of something at the hospital. Majority of the folks staying at the Ronald McDonald house were from out of town, who had a baby staying at Florida Hospital because of a special condition or because it was born maximum 6 months prematurely. We met a mother who had been staying at the house for 4 months before we got there. Her baby was born 4 months prematurely and had to remain in the hospital until she was fit to leave. She left two days before we did. 

The staff also love to help you better your time there by offering free stuff. I went to Seaworld with my mother, nephews, sister, and my sister's mother-in-law for free. I also got to go to an Orlando Magic basketball game, twice. The first time with just my mother and the second with my father. My father is a big Magic, (even though they suck) and he really enjoyed watching the game. They lost both times I went, but the fact that I was at the game for free made my night. 

The supremely best thing about the Ronald McDonald house is that its essentially free to stay! Yes, they would prefer if you could make at least a $15 donation per every day that you stay, which is paid when you leave, but they understand that most families can't afford it and they take any donation that you can offer. Most of the time this being nothing. But its all good! They totally understand and they don't treat you any differently. 

The Ronald McDonald house was the first place that I started walking without my wheelchair. It was also the first place that I shaved my head. I had already cut my hair short because the place where one of the surgeries was perform was cut close to my head, so I tried making it even. This time it was because my hair was starting to fall out. At first I would wake up with hair all over my pillow which bothered my nose. So I cut it really short. It was similar to Halle Berry. Then one day I went to wash my hair and when I pulled my hand back to wash off the shampoo, it was filled with hair. At this I just told my mom to shave it all off. It was just easier to have no hair. I get easily disgusted by hair in the bath and it bothers me when hair is on my face. To not deal with this anymore I decided to just get rid of it completely. 

It didn't bother me to not have hair anymore. Some people can't handle it. I think they're pathetic. Hair is not that important. I would laugh at all the girls that cried during makeover on America's Next Top Model. I personally have dyed and cut my hair millions of time. Hair is what you make of it. I liked my hair, but I hated feeling it on my face when I woke up more. I think it affected my mother more than it affected me. I just kept thinking that I was the next Amber Rose. 

People asked me if I wanted a wig, and honestly I never thought of one. I used to cosplay, so I know all about wigs, and they can get really annoying. Besides, I kinda don't want hair. I think I look fine the way I am. Don't get me wrong, there are times that I think my outfit would look better if I had some type of hair-do but majority of the time I'm OK with not having hair. I'm told I have a nicely shaped head. 

Our time at Ronald McDonald was about to end. We had received some money from my aunt and we donated it to the house. The staff were so happy, but thought that we had given too much. Honestly, $200 is not enough for what they provided. We even got the two main office girls gift cards to Chili's. They were so sweet and helped us a lot when we were staying there. 

Now, I had always prayed that we would leave the Ronald McDonald house into our new home, but that wasn't the case. We still had some days before finding our new home. 

And find it we did. 

(The next time you go to McDonald's please, please, please, put any spare change in the donation boxes for the Ronald McDonald house! They really help! Also for all you runners out there, they have a 5k event called Color Me Rad. My sister's friend did it for me and all the entrance fees go towards the Ronald McDonald house foundation! Its really cool so check it out!)