Your Child is Injured and on Their Way to the Hospital

“Picture in your mind: your day started off normal, everything was fine and then you get a call from the hospital that your child is being rushed to the ER. In a panic, the worse thoughts cross your mind as you rush down to ER. When you are there, you don’t receive much of any information, and you are scared with your heart in your stomach. Then, a doctor comes out and says they are transporting your child to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, even though you live hours away or in a city not near the vicinity of Loma Linda. All you can do is get in the car and chase the medevac helicopter or ambulance to Loma Linda to be with your child. The stressful and frightening day goes on, and on with an empty stomach and the same clothes from the morning because you didn’t think to bring extra. Your child is finally asleep and now you wonder what you are going to do. A social worker comes up to you and says not to worry because there is a place at the Ronald McDonald House across the street from the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House is a place where toiletries are provided, meals are given and a private room is available with a warm bed. All families of an ill child want is a warm dinner, a place to rest or pray, a sunny corner to play with their healthy children, and a hug and kind word from someone who is also going through a difficult time. The Ronald McDonald House ensures families have a warm, caring and safe place to stay. Parents and siblings can rest, replenish, recover from the day and prepare for the next,” said Jay Brand, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. On Sunday, Dec. 11, hundreds of people from the community came to support the grand re-opening of the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda, along with elected officials, dignitaries, and families who have been positively impacted by the efforts of the house. The ceremony at the event included speakers and heart-wrenching stories about the families who have stayed at the house. Several tours of the expanded house were given and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to help celebrate the new room additions to the house. Scott Ward from K-FROG radio was the vibrant host and emcee who recognized Mike Kovack, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, and so many others who helped make the expansion of the house possible. Angela Li, Chaplain of Loma Linda University, gave the invocation at the start of the ceremony and prayed for continued blessings over the Ronald McDonald house. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Bird Singers sang a few beautiful tribal songs to bless the house with music. After the Bird Singers finished, everyone in attendance stood as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Color Guard presented the colors to the people in attendance. Attendees continued to stand as the National Anthem was sung by Lana Sophia, and then Congressman Pete Aguilar thanked the Ronald McDonald House for all of its service for those families in need at a terrible time in their lives. “For the past two years, I’ve had the honor of representing the Ronald McDonald House as your representative in Congress, and just as a small token of my appreciation, I brought a flag that has flown over the Capitol that will fly over this house which offers so much hope and so much opportunity for everyone that comes through those doors,” Aguilar said. The crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pasadena Blair High School JROTC helped raise the flag gifted from Aguilar over the Ronald McDonald House. Ward introduced Jay Brand, Chairman of the Ronald McDonald House, who said the Loma Linda organization has provided a home away from home for more than 50,000 people since the time the house has been open for the last 20 years. Brand said, “We have been talking about this project for the past 10 years and with the expansion of the rooms, many lives will be touched because of the efforts and contributions that were made by so many people and organizations, as well as the ongoing contributions that will continue to be made.” Many people who helped make the house happen 20 years ago were also in attendance and recognized. Brand spoke of the founding Board of Trustee members, Tom and Candace Spiel, and dubbed them “mother and father of the house” since they were the ones who spearheaded the efforts to build the Ronald McDonald House in 1995. The current board members of the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda also stood to be recognized and were honored for their efforts in making the expansion a possibility. Brand thanked the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and said they are the most generous tribe in the United States. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated more than $5.6 million to help see the expansion is fulfilled. Brand continued by saying that many people see McDonalds as a big corporation but that thanks should go to the Southern California McDonald’s Owner-Operators that it is not a faceless corporation. Approximately $1.25 million pledge was given from McDonalds Operators and Owners to the House to help meet the challenge that San Manuel made to the operators to raise the first $3 million for the campaign to expand. “Next time you buy that Big Mac, no guilt,” Brand joked. Many of the McDonalds owner- operators played a large role in making the house what it is today and they include: Tom and Candace Spiel, Anna Marie Mestas, Alex Mestas, Sharon Macdonald, Randy Baremor and Ramin Ghaffarri, Mary Vega Nichols and Kyle Webb. Ontario Reign and LA Kings Hockey teams donated $1 million recently and they had previously donated $1 million at Camp Ronald McDonald, making it their second gift. Many elected officials were present including Assemblyman Marc Steinorth and Mayor Rhodes Rigsby. “I don’t think any Ronald McDonald House has had the pleasure of having such a supportive community as Loma Linda has been to us. Their support has been phenomenal, it’s constant, it’s never wavering and we are just grateful,” Brand said. Mayor Rhodes Rigsby spoke during the event and declared it to be Ronald McDonald House Day, Week and Month. Kerry Heinrich, JD, Chief Executive Officer and administrator of LLUMC spoke of the impact the house has made for the families and patients of the hospital. John Owens, President of the Board of Directors, and Vince Bryson, CEO of RMHC of Southern California, thanked the donors who helped make the expansion possible and spoke of the importance the house has on the community and the area it serves. The ceremony came to a close as donors spoke of their appreciation and support for the house including Ken Ramirez, Tribal Secretary of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Candace Spiel, board member of the McDonalds’s Owners Operators Association of Southern California, and Darren Abbott, president of Ontario Reign Hockey.