By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
Volunteers and families who stayed at the Joplin Ronald McDonald House gathered Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the house with cake, pony rides, face painting and a visit from Ronald himself.
Since construction of the house that provides a safe haven for families who have hospitalized children, nearly 1,600 families have benefited from the house, said Annette Thurston, director.
Some families have had to stay multiple times while their children were being treated, she said.
“We’ve had families from 30 different states and one country — Belize,” Thurston said.
The privately funded, 14,000 square-foot house, which can serve nine families at a time, is supported by 131 volunteers and only two paid staff members.
Financial help also is provided by the sale of named bricks for $100, and proceeds from a new book written by Brad Belk about the house’s 10-year history will also benefit the house.
“We primarily serve premature babies,” Thurston said. “We always say, we’re a home away from home.”
That saying came true for Jared and Katie Ellis, of Iola, Kan.
Their daughter, Brooklyn, now 13 months, was born five weeks early with a collapsed lung and pneumonia, Katie said.
The family spent 25 days at the Ronald McDonald House while Brooklyn was in the hospital, she said.
“I really don’t know how to say it,” Jared Ellis said. “It was just miraculous that an organization and group were ready to reach out to us.”
On Saturday, Katie sat in her stroller with her toenails brightly painted and smiled. Her sister, Ally, 4, also attended the event.
“It’s (the Ronald McDonald House) become something we support,” Jared Ellis said. “You don’t have a clue they exist or how important they are until you need one.”
Ellis also has recorded a song about the house that will be included in Belk’s book.
Jose Ramirez traveled from his Reeds home with his son, Isaac, 7, to attend the event.
While he was living in Joplin almost eight years ago, his son was born prematurely weighing only 1.7 pounds.
“He’s the survivor of triplets,” Ramirez said.
The house served as a haven for the family who had just moved to the area, he said.
His five-year-old daughter, named Annette, was named after Thurston, her godmother, he said.
On Saturday, Isaac, with his nose painted red, sat and ate an ice-cream sandwich.
“It meant everything,” Ramirez said about the house.
Cathy Patrick, of Sarcoxie, attended Saturday’s event with her husband, Randy, and daughter, Katie, 20.
Each wore a red Ronald McDonald House shirt from Rochester, Minn., where the family stayed while Katie was receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic.
They also have stayed in the Joplin house, Cathy said.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “It’s like being with your family; they’re very caring.”
Ronald entertained the children from a stage outside the house.
“When you give away a smile,” he said. “Something magical happens because you get one back.”
