WE’RE SO MCHAPPY FOR CHARITY’S HELP
JULIA Creek mum Ingrid Matthews can’t imagine how her family would have coped without the Ronald Mcdonald House.
Life changed forever for the family when they welcomed their fourth child Olivia in October 2018.
Oliva was born with a malrotated gut, a condition where her intestines did not form correctly, leading to twisting and obstruction.
At eight days old, Oliva was rushed into her first operation. She has been in and out of hospital for the past two years.
During her hospital visits, the Ronald Mcdonald House Charity has helped support the family, offering accommodation, food and support.
Mrs Matthews said the family never expected to need the charity’s help.
“On your fourth child, you think you understand it all,” she said. “And then very suddenly you’re in the hospital and away from the family.”
The Matthews family live about seven hours away from Townsville in Julia Creek.
While Olivia has been in hospital, the rest of the family has been separated, with Mrs Matthews only able to see her other children a handful of times. She said the charity’s support was a “godsend”.
“It is quite hard when you’re here by yourself, I didn’t have anyone in Townsville to help,” she said.
“Our family came to once and stayed there. just a godsend really.
“All we have to do is turn up and everything is taken care of. If we arrive late, there is no worrying about something to eat. Then you don’t have to worry about how much it is costing.”
Mrs Matthews and Olivia will spend Mchappy Day today in the charity’s Brisbane facility.
She said she “could not put into words” the impact the charity had on the lives of the families they helped.
“You would be totally lost without it,” she said,
“Coming from a rural town the city is a huge adjustment. We are not used to the big cities and (here) there are people to help when you need it.”
Mchappy Day is the largest annual fundraising event for Ronald Mcdonald House Charities’ and helps support families across the country who have seriously ill children and funds important RMHC healthcare and education programs. visit It is