Margarita and Curtis Johnson have been staying at Ronald McDonald House of Detroit for five weeks as their son, Langston, is treated at DMC Children’s Hospital.
“He was born with a heart defect,” Margarita said.
The family thought they’d be home in Chicago by now, but complications with Langston have extended their stay. Which means, Langston’s two brothers, Ethan and Noah, have spent a significant time here as well.
“My one son learned to walk right here,” Margarita said inside a playroom.
But the Ronald McDonald House is a place to bring the comforts of home to families dealing with sick children.
“We love our new facility,” Jennifer Litomiski, executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Detroit, said. “It’s 10,000 square feet bigger than our old house.”
Expansion of the DMC Children’s Hospital meant Ronald needed a new home.
“Here we are in our Kresge campus,” Ron Henry, head of Corporate Facilities for DMC, said. “We found 32,000 square feet in what used to be old Hutzel Hospital.”
Five million dollars was donated by the DMC for the renovation of the space. It was completed in April of 2015 and can house 28 families.
“It’s like a hotel room,” Margarita Johnson said. “We have our own bedroom with a private bathroom. Everything else is common area. The Kitchen is beautiful.”
A few days removed from Christmas, there are Christmas trees and decorations everywhere. Presents were even donated to the families and the children, but the real gift, is piece of mind.
“ It really takes away all the stress we are dealing with over there,” Curtis Johnson said.
To volunteer or donate to the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit, call 313-745-5909 or visit www.rmhc-detroit.org.
