Family-Centered Care in Action: The Mead Family Story

A Tiny Fighter, A Strong Family

In the fall of 2021, Brooke and Tim Mead faced the unimaginable. Their daughter, Audrey, was born prematurely, weighing just 11 ounces. The Meads found themselves in a whirlwind of medical challenges and emotional turmoil, uncertain of what the future held for their fragile newborn. These are the moments when family-centered care is essential – and it is why the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Michiana (RMHC® Michiana) exists.

During this critical time, RMHC Michiana became a sanctuary for the Mead family. Located just steps away from Beacon Children’s Hospital, our House provided them with a comforting place to rest, access to hot meals, and the support of a compassionate community—all at no cost. This proximity allowed Brooke and Tim to remain close to Audrey, offering her the love and presence she needed during her fight for survival. Audrey remains the smallest baby to ever survive at the Beacon Children’s Hospital NICU. The RMHC Michiana team was honored to celebrate Brooke, Tim, and Audrey as the featured family at McDazzle Featuring Kilts for Kids in 2024.

The Meads’ story is a powerful reminder of the vital role RMHC Michiana plays in the lives of families with critically ill children. Since opening in 2002, we have provided a home-away-from-home for thousands of families, ensuring they can stay together during their most challenging times. Our 15,000-square-foot facility features 20 bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, children’s play area, and laundry facilities—all designed to offer comfort and support to our guests. All the services provided by RMHC Michiana come at no cost to the families.

As we approach the end of the year, we reflect on the countless families like the Meads who have relied on our services. Our mission is sustained by the generosity of individuals and organizations within our community. Your year-end gift ensures that we can continue to provide these essential services to families in need. It is our goal to make family-centered care the standard so that families with hospitalized children can lead their child’s healthcare team when it matters most.

How Your Donation Makes a Difference:

• Provides Comfort: Your support offers families a comfortable place to stay, reducing the financial burden during a medical crisis. At RMHC Michiana, we make it our mission to remove barriers for families so that they can focus on what matters most – the medical care for their child.

• Family-Centered Care: Ensuring that the family can be near their hospitalized child can significantly improve the child’s recovery process. It also allows the family to be directly involved in their child’s medical decisions instead of constantly traveling back and forth.

• Offers Essential Services: From daily meals to laundry facilities, your donation ensures families have access to necessary amenities. We provide 24/7 overnight rooms for families who need to stay with us overnight. We also offer day services so that any family with a child in the hospital can come over to our facility for a bite to eat, a load of laundry, a shower, or a quick respite. All the services we provide are free-of-charge to families.

Join Us in Our Mission

This holiday season, consider making a year-end gift to RMHC Michiana. Your contribution directly impacts families like the Meads, providing them with the support and resources they need during their most challenging times. Together, we can continue to make family-centered care the standard when it matters most.