Paige and Brian Runyon live an hour from Erlanger Hospital. Since their twins, Wallace and Whitleigh, were born, Ronald McDonald House® Greater Chattanooga has given them a place to stay across the street through many surgeries and checkups.
Both babies needed the NICU at birth. Wallace went home after a week. Whitleigh was born with VACTERL association, which affects several of her body’s systems, and had 14 surgeries by age five. Doctors once told her parents she might never walk or speak.
Today, Whitleigh walks, talks, does cartwheels (one-handed ones too), sings every chance she gets, and loves Cheetos. Staying at the House spares Paige and Brian the hour-long drive, so they can rest nearby and stay with her through each procedure.
This is what Ronald McDonald House Greater Chattanooga is about: keeping families together and close to their child when it matters most.
