The Wilcox Family

Our Story

Our story starts 32 weeks into my pregnancy. I thought I was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions so I went to work thinking nothing of it. A couple hours went by and the pain only got worse – I called the on-call midwife and they advised that I meet them at St. Catharine’s General Hospital to get checked out. I met the midwife a few hours later and found out that I was already 3 cm dilated and in labour.

Medications and tests started immediately and I was admitted to the hospital. Because Liam was now two months early, we were transferred to McMaster Hospital to deliver. Liam was born at 9:43am on May 4th, at 32 weeks 4 days gestation. He stayed at McMaster Children’s Hospital and while being treated in the NICU.  

We were very happy that we were able to get treatment and care for Liam, however we spent the first day at McMaster stressing about how we were going to see him being so far from our home in Welland. The social worker came to visit us after Liam was born to check how I was doing – when we voiced our concern about being so far from Liam, she recommended Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario (RMHC SCO) and walked us through the steps to get accommodations.

I was discharged from the hospital the following day and checked-in to the Ronald McDonald House with my husband. Eventually, Liam was transferred to Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington once he graduated from the Level C NICU at McMaster (even further from our home), so we were grateful to be able to keep our accommodations at the House.

If we weren't able to stay at Ronald McDonald House, we would’ve either had to find other accommodations or travel back and forth from Welland to McMaster, which is almost 1.5 hours of driving each way.  It relieved stress and prevented financial burden to be so close to Liam during his NICU stay. The food program at RMHC SCO eased much of the stress of meal prep as they prepared breakfast and dinners each day. They also stored left overs in the fridge that we could eat for lunch as well as offered other snacks and drinks throughout the day. Staying at the House truly helped relieve the burden of traveling to be close to Liam in the hospital, and the financial stress of accommodations or driving to-and-from home.

The volunteers and staff at RMHC SCO were so generous. When we were transferred to Joseph Brant Hospital, they knew that we would be driving to see Liam each day versus walking across the street to McMaster. One day when we got back to our room, we found a card with a gas gift card inside to help with the commute.

I stayed at the House on my first Mother’s Day and once again, the staff and volunteers made the day special. They had left flowers and a gift bag at each room for the moms – it felt very special.

Services like RMHC are so important for families and help in SO many ways. Now that we are home, we fundraise annually as part of the Pay it Forward for Families fundraiser to help other families who require RMHC SCO’s services and relieve some of the stress of whatever their situation may be.