The Great Thanksgiving Listen Interview
During Thanksgiving week 2024, Hannah, the House’s social work manager and a member of Family Support, collaborated with Tim, Digital Communications Specialist for RMH-NY, on a project she coined The Great Thanksgiving Listen. Inspired by the renowned storytelling nonprofit StoryCorps (Google it—just make sure to grab tissues first), Hannah modeled this initiative to capture meaningful conversations that might not ever have been told otherwise.
The project paired individuals connected to Ronald McDonald House New York in any way—caregivers, staff, volunteers, and leadership—to interview each other. Each pair had 30 minutes to ask questions, share stories, and learn more about one another. What emerged from these conversations was priceless: stories that highlighted the resilience, hope, and humanity of the RMH-NY community. Quite frankly, it taught us that our families and the caregivers among them truly are some of the most incredible individuals in the entire world. In the midst of true adversity, RMH-NY families shine.
Among these remarkable pairings were caregivers Tamika and Melissa, whose friendship was born at the House. Their interview offered a unique window into their bond, built through shared experiences and unwavering support.
The Most Likely/Unlikely Pairing
Melissa, an island mother with a relaxed charm, and Tamika, a spirited dynamo from Rochester, might have seemed like an unlikely pair at first. But their shared journey of caregiving for their children brought them together in a way that transcended backgrounds and personalities. Both women had left behind the comforts of home to focus on their children’s medical care.
Their first conversations started in the communal kitchen or during quiet moments in the lounge. These small interactions grew into a friendship rooted in shared understanding. Through laughter, tears, and candid storytelling, Melissa and Tamika became each other’s lifelines. As they shared in their interview, the House wasn’t just a place to stay—it was a safe haven where fears, hopes, and dreams could be expressed without judgment.
A Mother’s Determination: Melissa’s Story
Melissa, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, recalls her journey to RMH-NY with clarity and emotion. “My son, he has acute myeloid leukemia He did his bone marrow transplant, and he’s doing good. He’s doing good now from when we came up here, scared, and frightened, and now he’s on the road to recovery.”
She spoke about how difficult the transition was at first but emphasized the importance of the community she found at RMH-NY. “...The journey of us with sick children, it makes us stronger as parents. I feel like we could break, we could leave, we could turn our back, but we don’t because we’re here in this Ronald McDonald House (New York) lifting each other up.”
Melissa's two sons steal a nap together in Dimitris' hospital bed.
Melissa found inspiration in seeing other children far into their recovery. “The ones that had a heart transplant, they give me hope. You know, they give me super-duper hope. And it’s like, your baby had a heart transplant, and this is what he’s doing. He’s running around like this. Okay, my son’s gonna be okay.”
Tamika’s Quiet Strength
Tamika, who traveled from Rochester, New York, faced her own set of challenges at RMH-NY. She shared her grief over losing her mother to stage-four cancer shortly before arriving. “I’m five hours away from here... It’s hard because I lost my mom last year from stage-four cancer. They told her she was gonna live for six months. She died two weeks later, so it’s... very hard.”
Despite the heartache, Tamika remained focused on supporting her daughter, Rohona, who is awaiting a heart transplant. Her first night at the House was overwhelming. “My first night here was a roller coaster because I was here by myself. I had no family... and I had just been through so much in the past year.”
Tamika's daughter, Rohona, in treatment, but all smiles.
But the kindness of the staff and other families helped her adjust. “The people treated me good... the staff here, they treat me very good.” Her friendship with Melissa began with a simple yet powerful gesture. “I saw her. She looked sad. I comforted her: ‘Hey, let me get you a hug.’ You know what I’m saying? And, since that hug, we’ve just been ‘Chicas.’”
The Power of Shared Stories
Click on the video below to learn more about Melissa and her family's story.
Both women found healing through the stories shared within the House. Tamika spoke about the cultural diversity and unity at RMH-NY. “That’s the thing I like about it. How everyone seems really different, like. You see someone one day and you think this person needs a hug, and then all of a sudden, you see yourself in them. You’ve been there before.”
Melissa echoed these sentiments, adding that seeing children interact with one another brought hope and joy. “It gives you hope for the kids. It gives you hope for your child, right, to see that. And the children too, not only the parents coming together. But you see the children playing with each other and coming together even more than the parents.”
The friendships forged at RMH-NY often extend beyond the House. Melissa shared her hope of maintaining these connections. “Because of this journey that we all are on, we end up making friends that we never expected. Yeah, you know, because this (friendship) is not going to just end when we leave Ronald McDonald House (New York).”
A Community of Care
For both women, RMH-NY became a second home. Tamika highlighted the importance of having a support system during such a difficult time. “Everybody knows, everybody’s going through something... We realize we are not alone, and we are not that different from each other.”
Melissa agreed, emphasizing the safe and inclusive environment created at the House. “That’s why I love the Ronald McDonald House (New York), because it shows you that everybody could be different in color but going through the same thing in life.”
A smiling Rohona
Providing the Space to Share
While RMH-NY’s children’s enrichment programs are exceptional, the House also focuses on caregiver services. These programs help caregivers to put themselves first sometimes and take care of themselves while naturally forming support systems with other families. The Wellness Center and Family Support staff host events weekly to provide resources and encouragement during each caregiver’s journey.
Tamika and Melissa referenced the unique bond among caregivers—one that arises from shared milestones no one else can truly understand unless they’ve lived through it. By fostering an environment where caregivers can share their stories, RMH-NY helps them discover that they are never alone. Within the House walls, they find a network of friends who walk a similar path.
Looking Ahead
As Melissa and Tamika continue their journeys alongside their children, they hold on to the lessons and friendships forged at RMH-NY. Melissa reflected on the resilience she’s found through this experience. “Every lesson is out of a blessing. That’s many blessings... putting all of us together here for a reason.”
Melissa and her family take questions from several news outlets during our Miracle on 73rd street holiday celebration in December of 2024.
Their stories remind us that RMH-NY is more than just a House —it’s a community where families, children, and caregivers find strength, hope, and connection in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to Melissa and Tamika for participating in The Great Thanksgiving Listen and for sharing their heartfelt stories. Their reflections honor their personal journeys and highlight the profound resilience of families everywhere.
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Left: Rohona, Right: Dimitris with his big brother laughing and playing
Read more about Melissa and her son, Dimitris and their family's journey through Ronald McDonald House New York titled Fighting Cancer with Family: An RMH-NY Tradition.
A Friendship Forged in Resilience and Connection at RMH-NY
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