Why Ronald McDonald House Charities?

Our Story

This past fall, my wife and I were excited to announce that we were expecting our first child to be born in Spring 2024.  Unfortunately, our plans didn't happen as we thought, and in January, we had to be transferred 1,300km away to Toronto for an unexpected severely premature delivery.

Exactly 3 months before his due date, our son William was born, weighing only 2.5 pounds!  While he was incredibly tiny, he was resilient and a fighter.  He spent the next 2.5 months in the NICU in Toronto where he received ongoing intensive care.  He spent over two months on a CPAP while his lungs continued to grow and develop.  Fortunately, he continued to grow and develop and was able to go home a week before his due date.  Today, William is a healthy boy, and doing extremely well.

While William is healthy and strong, we have several follow-up appointments in Toronto with the hospital that was responsible for his intensive care.  Part of the proceeds of this raffle that are not donated will be used towards his travel & medical expenses.

While William was in the hospital, my wife and I had to uproot our lives and move to Toronto with no notice.  My wife was unable to work, while fortunately I could continue to work and design GSPro courses remotely.  I lived in a hotel for a week until shortly after William was born, when we were able to move in to the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto.   

The Ronald McDonald House was a lifesaver for us.  They provided comfortable accommodations, facilities and resources so we could focus our time and energy on being with our son.  Located a short 5 minute walk from the hospital, we were able to easily come and go as needed.  They helped to alleviate much of the stress of uprooting our lives and moving to a new city.

I wanted to be able to give back, as I saw first hand the impact this organization has on families.  While there, we saw families with children going through all types of situations, from other premature births, to heart surgeries, cancer treatment, and other health conditions I couldn't imagine.  

Our stay there was more than just a place to rest our heads.  The House provided hot meals periodically throughout the week for a quick bite before heading back to the hospital.  There is also a large communal kitchen stocked with everything we'd need to prepare our own meals.  There is even a school for families with young children so they don't fall behind.  They truly try and do all they can to help families through some of their most stressful times.