Home for the Holidays
Nineteen years ago, Donna and Marty Lowe spent Christmas at Ronald McDonald House® Greater Chattanooga. Their son, Mason, was born eight weeks early with fluid in his lungs and needed time in the NICU to heal and learn to breathe on his own. When the couple couldn’t find an available hotel room, a nurse who overheard them suggested the House. “The nurse helped Marty coordinate with the staff, and by the time I was released from the hospital, RMHC had arranged everything for us. We had a place to stay across the street from our son, which was priceless,” Donna says. “Staying at the Ronald McDonald House saved us both financially and emotionally. Knowing we were just steps away from Mason allowed us to be close when we couldn’t physically be with him. When your child is in the NICU, you can’t stay all day; there are scheduled times for visits. Being nearby was invaluable and kept us grounded during those long days and nights.”
Through meals prepared with care, welcoming accommodations, and many support services provided by dedicated volunteers and staff, Ronald McDonald House Greater Chattanooga seeks to offer a semblance of relief and normalcy during extraordinarily challenging times. “The Ronald McDonald House felt familiar from the moment we arrived,” Donna says, “At first, there was an awkwardness because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t want to impose or overstay your welcome. But those feelings quickly faded because of the warmth and love that filled the house. It was Christmas time, yet the staff and volunteers were there, making sure everything was taken care of, just as they would any other day. What surprised us most was the seamless way they provided every necessity—a room, shower, kitchen, and the comfort of a home.”
The holidays are meant to be spent with loved ones, and Ronald McDonald House Greater Chattanooga understands this power. “Spending the holiday season away from home, with your child in the NICU, is heartbreaking. Christmas should be joyful, but with Mason's uncertain health, it was hard to find that joy. The hospital felt somber and quiet. When we moved to the Ronald McDonald House, everything changed,” Donna says, recalling a memory of making ornaments with other families facing similar circumstances. “The holiday spirit was alive there- it was warm, celebratory, and filled with care. The staff brought the comfort and joy of the season into our lives, creating an atmosphere of love and compassion.”
Families staying at the House often find solace in one another, as they are experiencing similar hardships. “We shared the Ronald McDonald House with many other families, each of us bound by similar, heartbreaking experiences. Among them was a couple who had a baby girl admitted to the NICU on the same day as Mason. Although we didn’t see them often, every encounter with them at the RMHC was a moment to exchange updates and lean on each other. Tragically, their daughter didn’t make it, but those conversations left an indelible mark on us,” Donna remembers. “In the face of such uncertainty, the Ronald McDonald House brought us together, creating bonds that are impossible to forget. As a mother, my mind would often wander to worst-case scenarios, making it hard to sleep. One comforting memory was waking up in the middle of the night and heading to the kitchen. Once, I found some homemade cookies left for the families. I can’t recall what kind they were, but another parent and I ended up talking for what seemed like hours—long enough to finish the remaining cookies. Those quiet moments, often shared with other parents, became therapeutic. We exchanged stories, shared our worries, and found a silent understanding that helped us feel less alone.”
The House is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so fresh meals, laundry, and comfortable beds are there for families on holidays too. Beyond the House, the Ronald McDonald House® Family Room, Mindful Room, and Ronald McDonald House: House to Home programs support families throughout their child’s care and after discharge.
Stories like Donna, Marty, and Mason’s are why Ronald McDonald House Greater Chattanooga exists: to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
