When Willmeshia and her husband, Colton, were expecting their third child, they had no idea how quickly their plans would change. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, the family was in the process of moving to Michigan when baby Colton decided to arrive at just 33 weeks and 4 days. Weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces, he was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for specialized care.
“It all happened so fast,” Willmeshia remembers. “One moment I thought I’d be walking to my hospital room, and the next I was in an emergency C-section. I didn’t even have my baby with me after he was born. It was overwhelming.”
While Colton received care in the NICU, Willmeshia’s other children — 10-year-old Makia and her younger brother Jeremiah — stayed with their dad in Monroe, Michigan, nearly 30 minutes away. The distance made it hard for Willmeshia to be close to her baby while also spending time with her family.
That’s when a NICU nurse suggested the Ronald McDonald House.
The Ronald McDonald House was just steps away from the hospital, allowing Willmeshia to be near Colton while also having her husband and children close by. “It came at the perfect time,” she says. “Having my family there with me while my baby was in the NICU was amazing. The staff and volunteers felt like therapy for me — they kept me grounded and reminded me I wasn’t alone.”
Her children quickly warmed up to the House, especially to a staff member named Pearl, who became a highlight of their stay. “They loved Miss Pearl,” Willmeshia says with a smile. “They made her pictures and crafts, and she always made time for them.”
Over 16 nights in May and June, the Tharp family found ways to make the most of a difficult situation. The House provided meals, a comfortable room, and small touches that made a big difference — from access to a breast pump to a playground for the kids.
“They gave us a YMCA voucher so the kids could swim and play, and it meant the world to them,” Willmeshia says. “Even though I couldn’t join them because of my C-section, I loved seeing them happy.”
Most importantly, the House allowed her to be steps away from the NICU. “I could spend time with my kids during the day, then be with Colton at night. It gave us a routine that kept life from feeling so chaotic.”
After going through her own NICU journey, Willmeshia now sees NICU Awareness Month in a new light. “It’s about letting families know they aren’t alone,” she says. “Things might happen fast and feel scary, but there are people and places, like the Ronald McDonald House, that will hold you up when you need it.”
Today, baby Colton — affectionately nicknamed her “mocha latte” and “burst of energy” — is thriving. The family is enjoying every moment together, whether it’s playing outside or simply being home. “The Ronald McDonald House was like a second family to us,” Willmeshia says. “They had our back when we were far from ours.”
Because of donors and volunteers, families like the Tharps can stay close to their children when they need it most.
