The Wielinga Family

Our Story

It happened fast.

An emergency delivery of our twins at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.

We didn’t have time to fully process it – we were over an hour away from our home in Welland. How would we stay close to our babies?

Thankfully, that’s when we found Ronald McDonald House, just steps away from the hospital.

When we first walked in, we were taken on a tour of the House. When we got to our room, I broke down in tears – I felt sheer relief knowing we were so close to our babies and had much less to worry about.

While we’d heard of RMH before, we were blown away by what it provided us. Homecooked meals, a warm place to sleep, a true home away from home.  Nothing could’ve prepared us for the safe haven that was Ronald McDonald House.

Staying at the House made what could have been a very hectic situation, easier. Not having to do groceries, cook, and worry about travel ensured our full focus could remain on Caleb and Ezra. Between the House and the Family Rooms, Ronald McDonald House made it possible for my husband and I to be at the hospital as much as possible with our boys.

It was hard to leave our babies in the NICU, but we were reminded to care for ourselves so we could be fully present for them every day. Thankfully, Ronald McDonald House gave us the opportunity to do just that. My husband and I booked the movie theatre a few times during our stay – this was so much fun and gave us a feeling of normalcy.

My husband even spent his first Father’s Day at the House – even though Caleb and Ezra were in the hospital, the staff made the day memorable for him. We received a little gift bag outside our front door the morning of Father’s Day. This generous gift made the day easier for him to process.

While the amenities at the House were incredible, the community we got to lean on made the world of a difference. The staff and volunteers were so lovely. We even got to know other families staying at the House going through similar experiences,

We met another couple who also had twins in the NICU – nearly the exact same age as our twins. It was amazing to get to share stories with them and we’ve stayed in contact ever since!

We are forever grateful to Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario – they helped our family stay strong. After 100 long days, we got to bring our little guys home.