55) McHappy Day is tomorrow (May 2nd, 2018)

Tomorrow (May 2nd, 2018) is McHappy Day.

If you've never heard of McHappy Day, it's

"... an annual day of community giving in support of Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children’s charities. On Wednesday May 2nd for every Big Mac®, Happy Meal® or hot McCafé® beverage purchased, $1 will be donated to RMHC® and children’s charities across Canada."

 You can read more about it at the following link: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/promotions/mchappyday.html

My family has been lucky that we didn't need to use Ronald McDonald House during E's leukemia treatment. E was diagnosed with standard risk ALL rather than high risk ALL, meaning we were able to bring him home after the initial 10 days in hospital. Children deemed high risk are kept in hospital for the entire 5 stages of frontline treatment until maintenance begins, which can be from 6 to 9 months in length. Families in this situation can speak to a hospital social worker who would set them up with Ronald McDonald House application. Ronald McDonald House allows families that live more than 55 km from the hospital to live together, while being close to the care they need.

Over the course of E's frontline treatment, we did have several multi-day hospital stays for fever, and illness. The hospital where we did 2 of our 3 separate stays did have a Ronald McDonald Family Room. This room was always staffed by a smiling, friendly volunteer. The room had sleep, and shower facilities available for parents. It also had a TV, books, internet access, coffee, tea, water, ice, food, snacks, a kettle, a microwave, a fridge, a toaster, and probably a couple other items I'm not remembering at this time. All of these things provided free of charge to parents of children staying in pediatrics, and they're generously provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities, and its donors.

The Ronald McDonald Family Room is classified as a respite area, so it allows parents a chance to recharge, only a short walk down the hallway from their sick child. I used this room numerous times a day over the course of our 2 multi-day stays at Scarborough Centenary. Sometimes, I just needed a mental break and I would spend a bit of time in the room sitting. More often, it was to make use of the fridge, kettle, or microwave. Several mornings, I made toast for breakfast, and during the day I'd pop in and out to get water as a relief against the parching dry hospital air. It really is a wonderful service provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities, and I can't thank them enough for providing such a clean, inviting facility. The Ronald McDonald Family Room supplies a few comforts from home that you otherwise take for granted. When you're in a hospital with your sick child, a normally simple task such as making tea, or reheating food can become much more difficult. Luckily, the Ronald McDonald Family Room was there to make things a bit easier.

So tomorrow, May 2nd, 2018, please consider patronizing McDonald's Canada to buy a Big Mac®, a Happy Meal®, or a hot McCafé® beverage so that Ronald McDonald House Charities can continue to help families in need, such as my own.

If, for whatever reason, you have reservations about supporting McDonald's Canada the corporation, donations can always be made directly to the Ronald McDonald House Charities at the following links:

Ronald McDonald House Canada - https://www.rmhccanada.ca/donation
Ronald McDonald House Toronto - https://2060.thankyou4caring.org/donate

Thank you!