How about attending an ultrasound where you found out you were not carrying one baby – but four?
On December 13, 2022, the Schroeders, a remarkable family from Miller City, Ohio received the surprising news that they were expecting quads. Dad, Matthew, was starting a new job that required him to travel, so Leanne attended the appointment alone, only to discover the unexpected. Twins were not unfamiliar to them, as they already had Jack and James, but now they were blessed with Riley, Rhett, Rose, and Reese.
The goal was to reach 32 weeks, but the quads were born prematurely at 29 weeks. Leanne Schroeder, a courageous mother, gave birth to quads at Ebeid Children’s Hospital—according to officials, an event that hadn’t happened in Toledo in over a decade.
When Matthew and Leanne shared their story during RMHC’s $40k in a Day Radiothon, Matthew was asked “How many children did you think you wanted?” Matthew jokingly responded, “Well, I asked for four but I meant in total, not at once.”
During their 74-night stay at the Ronald McDonald House, the Schroeder family found comfort in various services. The close proximity to the hospital allowed them to walk there daily, enjoying the summer weather and giving them a much-needed breath of fresh air. Volunteers generously cooked meals, relieving them of the burden of hospital food expenses. Their three boys enjoyed the playground and playroom and Matthew took advantage of the House’s salon, his first haircut by someone other than his wife in over 12 years!
As time passed, Leanne began to refer to the Ronald McDonald House as “home”. Leanne continued to say, “Staying at the Ronald McDonald House was such a blessing. It saved us money and precious time with our newborns and other children.”
So, what does Ronald McDonald House Charities mean to the Schroeder family? Matthew expressed it eloquently: “It’s a home-away-from-home. I was at home because of work and caring for our other children, but I knew that someone was always there to look after Leanne, and it was a major stress relief. It solved a lot of problems that we didn’t have.”