Meet Farrah, Syed, Sumayyah, & Zunayrah

My name is Farrah Harris. My family and I are from Kitchener, Ontario and we stayed at RMH®SCO during one of the hardest times of our lives.

Hometown Kitchener

Service Used Hamilton House, Hamilton Family Room

Days 128

Our Story

When I first arrived at McMaster Children’s hospital, I was only 21 weeks pregnant and the conversation was about loss and burial. Miraculously, the maternal fetal medicine team were able to support a few options that saved my pregnancy until my emergency c section that took place at 24 weeks.

My husband and I, along with our families, were very stressed about so many factors, but primarily being close to the hospital to be by our baby girl’s side in the NICU daily. I had multiple infections impacting my body pre and post delivery which meant I was not able to drive and going back to Kitchener would have made it impossible to be at the NICU all day, everyday.

We were so relieved and thankful to hear about the Ronald McDonald House being so close to the hospital. I had heard about the Ronald McDonald House downtown by SickKids but never knew the details about staying at the House. Staying at the House was one of our biggest blessings during one of the most vulnerable times in our lives.

The proximity to the hospital made our daily visits incredibly accessible and easy. The staff and volunteers are exceptionally kind and compassionate not only at the House but in the Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms in the hospital.

Having snacks with coffee and tea accessible at the hospital had been so helpful. So many people willing to help serve us in any capacity. The House itself is intentionally designed to be a home away from home with communal dining, shared kitchen, gym, game room, offices, wellness space, personal rooms. We always felt so comfortable at all times despite carrying so much stress of what we were going through.

The staff and volunteers work so hard to run the house and organize various initiatives that really make a wonderful impact for the families staying at the house with events, initiatives at the house and donated toys for siblings.

We loved the sense of community at the house. Staff, volunteers and fellow families were very kind and easy to get along with. We also loved that we could host family and friends who travelled all across the GTA to spend some time with us. The staff was so kind to “hire” my 5 year old daughter Sumayyah to sit at the front desk with them. So when she came to stay with us from Kitchener she was most excited about being with the staff for her “first job”. She misses the house and staff regularly. Thank you for making our stay memorable!

For Eid ul Fitr, we decorated the House; made lollipop favours kept at the front desk; and also sponsored a dinner at the house to mark the celebrations. All staff and volunteers have been exceptionally warm!