(DIR) Home Home Away from Home: Niagara Health laboratory team's tribute to Ronald McDonald Family Room (HTM) Source ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **Kristin and Siena Provenzano** My daughter Siena was born 14 weeks prematurely and weighed under two pounds. Little did I know the battle that lay before us; 71 days of multiple blood transfusions, ventilation, lung steroids, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line for a lengthy antibiotic treatment, more needle pokes than can ever be counted, several head ultrasounds, temperature fluctuations, endless prayers, and more tears than conceivable. Navigating all of this during a global health pandemic was just the icing on the cake. Even the good days were harder than you can imagine. Thankfully, my little girl went from a tiny and sick micro-preemie, to an incredibly hilarious, kind, adorable, and loving three-year-old! Once I was discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in the early days after Siena was born, my husband convinced me to tour through the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Hamilton and consider staying there, instead of commuting back and forth. My eyes filled with tears as I toured the house, wondering how this was happening to us but also thinking how impressive this place seemed and how kind and welcoming the staff were. We quickly learned that this would become our second home. Not only were we given the comfort of being close to Siena, RMH provided us with home-cooked meals, a clean and safe place to stay and allowed us to focus primarily on our daughter's well-being. My family is forever grateful for the comfort, flexibility and hospitality that the RMH gave us. ______________________________________________________________________ Served by Flask-Gopher/2.2.1