Montpelier, OH — Katie and Scott Freese, along with their daughter Elaine, faced an unexpected and daunting journey when their son William was born prematurely at 36 weeks. Shortly after his birth, they discovered that William couldn’t swallow and needed to be transferred to Toledo for immediate care. Diagnosed with Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula (EA/TEF), William’s condition required the Freese family to stay in Toledo for an extended period.
“We were terrified,” Katie recalls. “We have a three-year-old daughter as well, and it was scary not knowing what was going to happen. Where we were going to stay was the last thing on our minds.”
Fortunately, a room was available at the Ronald McDonald House in Toledo, providing the Freese family with a much-needed sanctuary during this challenging time. “Once we got to Toledo and William was settled, the nursing staff encouraged us,” Katie said. “Elaine came on Christmas Eve, along with all of the Christmas presents.”
The Ronald McDonald House became more than just a place to stay; it became a home away from home. Katie and Scott utilized various areas of the House, finding solace in the dining area and a sense of normalcy at the dinner table. Elaine loved spending time in the toy room every weekend while staying with her grandparents during the week.
“The House was amazing,” Katie shared. “Every time Elaine came up, Carol (Family Services Manager at RMHC) let her go to the Christmas tree to pick up a new gift. We even celebrated Elaine’s third birthday at the House. Someone provided gifts to her the morning of her birthday. The staff took the time to learn about our family and do things that meant a lot to us.”
Additionally, the family benefited from a donated YMCA membership, which provided much-needed physical and emotional support. “Elaine could go swimming, and I attended a 5:30 AM fitness class to destress,” Katie explained. “The people we met there were so sweet and amazing. We even received a year-long membership thanks to an anonymous donor.”
The support from Ronald McDonald House Charities extended beyond accommodations. It encompassed emotional support and a sense of community that helped the Freese family navigate this difficult period. “We could not have done it without the support of both sets of our parents and my brother-in-law,” Katie emphasized. “My mom would stay on the weekends so Scott and I could go see William. We don’t know what we would have done without the Ronald McDonald House. We can’t imagine being an hour away from our son in the NICU or having to pay for a hotel.”
Being close to William meant the world to the Freese family. “We were able to be there for William every single day,” Scott said. “We could come to our home to sleep at night and be minutes away, ready to sprint over if needed. It made us feel more comfortable and put our minds at ease.”
As the family reflects on their time at the Ronald McDonald House, they express immense gratitude. “They ended up being our family,” Katie said. “We got to know the people working there, and by the time we left, they were our family. We are so thankful for RMHC. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
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