The Ronald McDonald Family Room offered a home away from home for Raimond, Kate, and eventually, their son Apolloh. Photo: GGoodwin Media.
Raimond and Kate were thrilled when they found out they were going to be parents and overjoyed when they met their little boy. But the moment proved bittersweet.
Baby Apolloh was born four months early and immediately placed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) incubator for breathing and temperature support.
Raimond and Kate spent the next seven months visiting Apolloh in hospital. The couple lived within driving distance, but commuting day in, day out got old (and expensive) quickly.
Everything changed one evening as Raimond sat by Apolloh’s side in the NICU.
A nurse suggested the parents have dinner at Ronald McDonald House Canberra (RMHC) Family Room, where free home-cooked meals were being served.
“I’ll forever be grateful to that nurse because before then, we had no idea the family room existed,” Raimond says.
“I couldn’t remember the last time we had a home-cooked meal. It was like heaven.
“But more than the food, it was the company, and being in a welcoming space where we felt like we could breathe again.”
Equipped with a TV, lounge, and full bathroom and laundry facilities, the RMHC Family Room is a home-like haven for carers of kids receiving treatment at Canberra Hospital.
Away from the clinical environment but still within the hospital, the family room is completely free to access.
Raimond and Kate became regulars and quickly got to know the army of volunteers running the service.
“Apolloh was too unwell to be held for quite a while. Just sitting and staring at the same white walls, listening to machines beeping day after day… it was exhausting,” Raimond says.
“We were genuinely excited whenever we went up there. The volunteers and other families became our community.
“It was really important we were able to eat something healthy, take a shower, relax on the couch, and play some board games or chat with other parents.”
Raimond is also thankful for the money they were able to save on fuel and food.
Keeping families close, connected and resilient during some of the most challenging times in their lives is RMHC’s number one priority.
“We know family wellbeing plays a vital role in both the immediate and long-term outcomes for children receiving hospital care,” RMHC’s executive officer in the ACT, Lee Maiden says.
“That’s why we offer a range of programs tailored to meet the diverse needs of families across Canberra hospitals.”
Every family’s journey is unique, so wellbeing can look like a home-cooked meal in the family room, which allows families to skip the grocery run and relax together in a warm, welcoming space.
It can also include free, essential items or toys from the hospitality cart, which bring joy and provide relief in what can be a financially critical time for many carers.
Or, wellbeing at Ronald McDonald House Canberra can simply mean being together under one roof close to the hospital.
“Above all, it’s about letting families know they’re not alone,” Lee says.
“We are here 24 hours a day, every day of the year, but we can’t do it without you. Make a difference today, because no family should face their child’s health battle alone.”
A little more than 14 months since he entered the world, Apolloh Rai-Lee Johnson is bright, happy and oh-so cheeky. He’s ready to take on the world – and Raimond and Kate are right there with him.
“Caring for your child when they’re really unwell is one of the hardest things a parent can do. You need a community around you to get through it,” Raimond says.
“Don’t be afraid to access the [RMHC] family room if you need a place to rest, or just someone to talk to.
“It made all the difference for us and now we can look forward to a bright future for Apolloh.”
The Ronald McDonald Family Room is located on level 1 in Canberra’s Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.
To support the RMHC, family room, hospitality cart, Batemans Bay Family Retreat and more, visit Ronald McDonald House Charities: ACT & South East NSW to make a tax-deductible donation this EOFY.
