On May 16, officials from Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst came together to celebrate the grand opening of the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Elmhurst Hospital. This event marked an important milestone in RMH-NY's ongoing expansion efforts to provide support to more families facing pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses in hospitals across the five boroughs.
Helen Arteaga Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, expressed deep gratitude for the unique partnership with Ronald McDonald House New York. She emphasized the significance of this collaboration in offering temporary and much-needed respite to caregivers of the most vulnerable population, including those in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Inpatient Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit. Recognizing the immense emotional stress faced by parents and caregivers when their infants or children are hospitalized, Landaverde emphasized the importance of having a space where they can take a moment to breathe and find solace, knowing that they are not alone. She conveyed heartfelt appreciation to Ronald McDonald House New York for providing patient families with the opportunity to utilize this serene and beautiful space, as well as for being invaluable partners in the healing journey.