It always seems to happen this way.  One day, life is normal.  You’re raising a family with all the usual activities; school, soccer games, music lessons, family outings.  Then the next day your child gets sick.  You assume it’s nothing serious, but then your pediatrician gives you the diagnosis: cancer.  The next thing you know, you’re on your way to Memphis, Tennessee, to that place you’ve only heard about:  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Under these circumstances, your primary concern is getting your child the care and treatment that you hope and pray will save his or her life.  Wondering where you’re going to stay while that is happening may be a secondary thought, although once you find out that your child will need to be close to St. Jude for several weeks, it becomes essential. The majority of St. Jude patients do not actually stay in a hospital room at the hospital.  Most patients simply come there for outpatient treatment. What a relief it must be to find out that St. Jude and Ronald McDonald House (RMH) have anticipated your needs. You and your family can stay at Ronald McDonald House – just a mile away from St. Jude – for the duration of your child’s treatment. And, it’s free of charge.  During a tour of RMH you learn that others have thought of all the small and large things that will make your stay as enjoyable as possible. It’s a wonderful place that is set up to be a comfy home away from home. The 11.1-acre secured property holds a 66,000-square-foot facility with 51 hotel-style rooms. There are TV rooms, a game room, toy rooms, play areas, workout room, meditation room, two large kitchens and eating areas, pantries stocked with food, outdoor playgrounds and barbeque areas. Plus, a welcoming staff including a “house mother” named Sherry will be there to assist you with whatever you need. During the past 22 years, RMH has hosted more than 500 families and 6400 children from 45 countries around the globe. This is made possible primarily with annual, local donations of more than $1.3 million. Much of this comes through fundraising events, the biggest being an annual radiothon every fall that raises about $300,000.  In addition, local McDonalds franchise owners donate more than $430, 000 a year.  Local corporations also provide key donations that keep RMH going. “Local” is the key word for sustaining RMH because donations from Memphis citizens and businesses are literally what make it possible. If you think about what it really means, this is Memphis’ gift to the world.  We are home to St. Jude, which accepts patients from anywhere regardless of their ability to pay. The global impact on children with cancer cannot truly be measured.  To top it off, Memphians, through donations and local volunteering host families of sick children from all over the world at our local RMH.  We should all be proud of this accomplishment and do what we can to continue this vital support. How Can YOU Help?DonateThese are just some examples of how different dollar amounts can help a family in need:

$50 buys new pillows for one room or pantry supplies for one family during   their stay. $108 pays for one family to stay one night at RMH. $300 an annual gift or $25 a month is a sustaining gift that will earn you the title of “Home Hero.” $2,500 pays for one family’s average stay, somewhere between seven to 90 days. $5000 makes you a sponsor of a family bedroom for one year. A plaque with your name or dedication is placed outside the door.

Collect and donate pull tabsThis is a small thing you can do, but pop those soft drink tops and collect them. Also tabs from pet food, soup and beer cans. These add an extra $30,000 in annual revenue for RMH. Got extra tickets?If you have extra tickets to a sporting event or concert, donate them to a RMH family to use during their stay. VolunteerThere are so many ways to volunteer.  You can work the front desk, cook a meal, help with arts and crafts, or host a movie night.  Imagine how fragile the immune systems of these patients are, so sanitizing toys at RMH is a key priority.  This is a service provided by caring volunteers. Or have your medical practice bring in a special meal! This is a wonderful gift to families staying at RMH.  To volunteer, you can fill out an application online at http://rmhc-memphis.org/becomeavolunteer or call Dee Henderson at 901-312-7478. What RMH Can Do For YouRMH has a beautiful “community room” that you can use free of charge. It seats about 24 people and has state of the art audio/visual equipment.  They invite Memphis medical practices to use the room for off-site meetings and events. For more information call 901-529-4055. If you know a worthy Memphis non-profit or charity that I haven’t covered in this column, please send me a nomination, and I will consider spotlighting them in 2014.  I look forward to hearing from you at pamela@memphismedicalnews.com.