Annual Appeal Story

“Your son has cancer.”  Those are the words that no parent is ever prepared to hear.  When my son William was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor in his leg, hundreds of questions clouded my mind.  We were, of course, worried about William, but we also began to worry about our younger son Alex and how we would get through this together as a family.  Just when we felt completely overwhelmed, we learned we could stay at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House. We stayed there once before when William had his tonsils removed, but we never thought we would be back.  When we told William we were going back to the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House he was so excited! 

After months of treatment, we told William that the doctors wanted to amputate his leg. We gave him all the information and let him make the choice.  William was worried that kids would make fun of him, but ultimately he decided it was what he had to do.  I firmly believe that seeing other children at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House in wheelchairs, with missing limbs and without hair gave him the strength to make that life-changing decision.  The House has given our whole family the strength to make it through all the ups and downs of the past year.  I don’t know what we would have done without the support we found here. 

Angela

William’s mom

Interlachen, FL

Families like William’s need the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House for short visits of one or two days, and sometimes for one or two months. They come from as close as Interlachen, Florida and as far away as Sweden. Though we encourage donations from families who stay, no one is turned away if they cannot make a financial contribution.  The House program and all of our programs are funded primarily from your generous individual and company donations. Your gifts make it possible for us to provide provide comfort and care, happy memories and the strength to endure even the most difficult family crisis, that of a critically ill child.

Please make a generous gift today.  

Click below to donate now. Audited financial information and program statistics can be found in the attached annual reports. A copy of tthe IRS 990 can be viewed or requested at the RMHC Jacksonville office, 824 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207, or at  www.guidestar.org.