Monthly Newsletter June 2024

Image with text Celebrating Our Moms and a floral wreath

Abdiel is a lively two-year-old who transforms everyday moments into joyful play, showing emotional highs and lows similar to a thrilling roller coaster. Despite facing challenges including medical interventions, Abdiel perceives these moments as opportunities for play, a testament to his resilience and spirited nature. His ability to turn any task into an adventure reflects a deep-seated optimism and creativity that brings laughter and astonishment to those around him.

Staying at Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) since February 2023, Abdiel’s family—Yoysi and Miguel—has found solace and support in this community. Originally from the Dominican Republic, they sought specialized care for Abdiel’s health issues, including a critical liver transplant he needed as an infant. RMH-NY has provided a comforting and nurturing environment, turning their mornings into peaceful routines filled with warmth, which contrasts sharply with the stress of hospital stays. Here, the family has found not just a place to stay, but a network of compassion and understanding

Celebrating Abdiel's second birthday at RMH-NY marked a significant shift from his first birthday spent in hospital waiting rooms. This joyous occasion symbolized the positive change in their lives, highlighting the House’s role in creating cherished memories amid adversity. The supportive community at RMH-NY, with its holistic approach to healing, has been a vital lifeline for Abdiel’s family, reinforcing their strength and optimism. Through play, Abdiel’s journey exemplifies the enduring spirit and joy that can emerge even in the face of life's toughest challenges.

Thank you to the students at P.S. 254 - The Rosa Parks School, for their incredible feat of collecting 1,000,000 pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House New York. The pop tabs were raised in honor of their personal heroes, four students who have had long term hospital stays.

A pop tab collection is a terrific program for schools and other youth groups to get involved and make a genuine contribution to their community. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to participate! They are a common item seen virtually everyday, easy to store and collect making this a kid friendly community service project as well.

Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) is expanding its reach to support families with children undergoing medical treatment across NYC hospitals. Through Family Rooms, hospitality carts, and programs-to-go/bedside programs, RMH-NY provides comfort and resources to families during challenging times, ensuring health equity for those from underserved areas. Recent stories highlight the impact of these initiatives, such as Muhammad's stay in the Elmhurst NICU. His parents, Abdullah and Kanij, found the Family Room to be a lifesaver, providing a quiet space to relax and escape the medical setting. Abdullah expressed his gratitude by bringing chocolates and praising the kindness of volunteers Jen and Manishi, who made the space feel safe and comforting.

RMH-NY's expansion includes opening new Family Rooms at additional hospitals, offering a sanctuary for caregivers to relax and recharge. The Family Rooms are more than just physical spaces; they are refuges that help families cope with the stress of medical situations, as seen with Abdullah and Kanij. Hospitality carts deliver snacks and comfort items directly to hospital rooms, and programs-to-go engage children in meaningful activities even when they can't leave their beds. RMH-NY aims to reach 30% more families annually, with support from the community through donations, volunteering, and spreading awareness about their mission, ensuring that more families benefit from the comfort and support provided by RMH-NY's services.

We’re proud to share that Ronald McDonald House New York's Director of Volunteers and Communications, Caitlin Conklin, has been recognized in City & State New York's 2024 Above and Beyond: Pride list, honoring leaders who have made significant contributions in their fields and are committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity.

RMH-NY provides critical resources and support to vulnerable families who are battling pediatric cancer and other complex illness. As we celebrate our 45th anniversary, our commitment remains to build on this work and ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion is a part of everything that we do. We seek to create a community for our team which focuses on continuous professional development and learning, with compassion at our core.

We are proud to join health care leaders from across the country as a new member of the Common Health Coalition. As a member of the Coalition, we are making bold commitments to action that will improve the way health care and public health work together.

We're committed to doing our part to ensure that our health system is prepared today to confront the challenges of tomorrow, and we look forward to working with our Coalition partners.

Learn more about the actions we’re taking to strengthen the partnership between health care and public health, and how to join this effort: