"What I remember the most from my children’s time at the RMH school is that imprint of education with CARE!"

Happy Marvelous Monday! Today, we're writing about a mom of two former RMH students. Our school serves both patients and their siblings. It's an amazing education model providing lots of emotional support, flexibility and compassion for students. Our school provides a sense of normalcy that's so important for children in crisis. In the 15 years our school has been serving families, there have been many times when patients and their sibling/s attend together. Students come to us with varying needs, but above all is their need to be with family.

Tesa, writes….

"My son, Dawson, attended school at the RMH during one of the toughest times of his life. Dawson has been treated for cancer and has endured two kidney transplants. He attended school at the RMH while going through dialysis – waiting for his "perfect kidney.” The wait started in July of 2005 and that amazing day came April 10, 2006. During the months of waiting, there were days when he was unable to even lift his head or he would just simply fall asleep right on his desk. However, Mrs. Britain just kept going with him…at his pace. It was difficult to know at times if Dawson had a learning disability or was just sick. Mrs. Britain was positive in her assessment that Dawson was learning what he needed to learn at that time. One of my favorite memories of Dawson’s time at school was during music class. Dawson loved music and one day, the students did a music parade through the Ronald McDonald House, stopping to serenade the staff and families. The music class was on his day off of dialysis which meant he was full of waste and wasn't feeling well. However, when it was music time, he was at the front of the line, pounding on those drums like it was his very own band. He was elated for those 15 minutes. Parents stood and cheered and I got to watch him just be a little boy. The school provided us an opportunity for Dawson to be that normal kid – even when he wasn't feeling his best. We can't thank you enough for that. School was hard, but you made it easy…you made it real."

"My daughter, Dana, also attended the RMH school. Dana's needs were different from my son’s needs. She was a freshman in high school during Dawson's treatment. As a parent, to hear the word "cancer" changes your life in an instant and your normal life seems very distant. As much as you want to make things better, you can't. Dana was having a tough time coming and going from our home to our home-away-from-home at the RMH. Being away from Dawson was difficult and then of course, being powerless to what her brother was going through. We saw things changing for her that January and knew the best place for her was with us at the RMH. Mrs. Britain helped us make it happen. Dana was able to follow her curriculum from home which is just amazing. My favorite memories of Dana in school were seeing her work with other siblings of patients. She instantly became an honorary older sister to her classmates. She would complete her work and was able to focus. The school staff knew when Dana needed to be with us at the hospital and were so flexible in making that time happen. Dana grew up a lot that year and Mrs. Britain and others from the school were there to help her grow and cope with all that was happening in our family. Dana is now in college and I think she remembers her life at RMH as the most positive experience in her life. God brings people and places into our lives and they leave the largest imprints on our hearts."

"What I remember most from my children’s time at the RMH school is that imprint of education with CARE! I experienced having a child who was ill attending school as well as his sibling. If asked if the school is the biggest asset of the house? Of course I'd say YES! What it provided for my family and our life during that difficult time was wonderful, but perhaps more importantly, it provided us a lifetime of memories and gratitude."

Dawson and his big sister, Dana, were able to attend school together at the RMH.



 

"If it wasn’t for the time I spent with the kids of the RMH, I’m not sure I would have known what it meant to be brave. I think that makes me one of the lucky ones."

This week’s Marvelous Monday post features another exceptional volunteer, Jeff.  A common role for volunteers is “House warming.” House warmers help out in various ways, including preparing and serving lunch for students in our school, followed by then supervising during lunch and recess. Jeff began volunteering as a House warmer, helped with many special events and even became an ambassador in the community to tell others about our mission. Jeff was willing to help wherever and however he could. However, the job he enjoyed most was being with the kids at lunch and recess. After Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota, he moved to New York City. As it turns out, we were never far from his thoughts.

Jeff writes:
"My Strange and Fortunate Life as the Jellyman...

2002; my first year as a student [living in Frontier Hall at the University of Minnesota] was an exciting time. Like most freshman, I was exploring a life far from home, meeting new friends and figuring out what I wanted to study. While this felt like the beginning of something great, I couldn’t help but be humbled each day as I walked the sidewalks around my dormitory and encountered the brave and adorable RMH children – many bald and most wearing medical masks on their way to and from the hospital. I soon learned these kids were living with their families at the Ronald McDonald House and undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses such as leukemia. Many were far from home and in the Twin Cities for a life-saving transplant or other complicated medical procedure. It was admittedly a dose of reality to see them on a routine walk to class.

Spring semester came and I decided to get involved. I couldn’t just walk past every day without feeling as if there was more to life than pursuing self-focused goals. It struck me how lucky I was that I was healthy and had enjoyed a full and happy childhood. It could easily have been me or someone I loved in their shoes. So, I started volunteering at the RMH between classes. Twice a week, I would do whatever I could to help out the staff: stocking food pantries, cleaning rooms or planning activities. It was rewarding, but I wondered what it would be like to work with the children. Then, I got my chance when I was asked if I would like to help with the school lunch hour.

I couldn’t have predicted how amazing it would be to interact with the siblings and often the patients themselves. Their energy, their optimism and their passion for life was inspiring. I would enter each volunteer shift worried about an exam or my ambiguous future and exit completely appreciative of the simplest things. One could say the perspective I gained working at the RMH truly set the foundation for me to be a better man…or at least a guy the kids would come to call “Jellyman.”

The story goes, one routine day, the students learned an important lesson from their talented teacher [Mrs. Britain] on alliteration – which is the literary term for repeating consonant sounds. Rowan – a young Egyptian girl was pointing at her classmates and providing them nicknames by applying the lesson. When she came to me, she declared proudly, “JELLY JEFF! JELLY JEFF!” Of course, there was a chorus of laughter among the group (which only finally faded when I brought out their lunch).

Shortly after, as I worked on cleaning the dishes, I heard a high-pitched endearing request echo toward me:

“Hey, Jellyman! Can you help me open my milk?” The boy responsible, seven-year-old Elijah, didn’t flinch in calling me Jellyman. In fact, he actually thought that was my name. And it stuck. From that day forward I was the Jellyman. (The moniker became such folklore that many RMH staff members to this day only know me by it). Years would pass and I would graduate and move to New York City to begin a new chapter…sadly parting ways with the RMH, but taking the Jellyman name with me.

Fast forward a few years into my life in Manhattan when I found myself confronting one strange symptom after another, which led me to the emergency room. Having experienced 27 years of a healthy life, I never could have predicted what would come of that trip to the hospital. To this day, the doctor’s words seem surreal. “Jeff, you have leukemia.”

I bet you didn’t see that coming. I know I didn’t. Life is rarely predictable and disease knows no bounds.

On my first day of radiation, I was parked in a wheelchair waiting for my turn in the treatment chamber. As I nervously anticipated being microwaved, a young boy (age 9) was parked next to me with his father. He had several days under his belt and was on-deck for another round. Yet somehow, he was still smiling ear to ear. His toothy grin immediately took me back to the kids of the RMH in Minneapolis. My mind drifted to the four years I spent volunteering. I realized in that moment, I had a built-in source of motivation for survival to tap into. I looked at the young boy and smiled back as they wheeled me in for my turn.

When I came out, despite feeling sick and struggling physically, I worked up a big smile for when he saw me. As he went passed I gave him a high five and declared, “You’re up buddy- you’ll do great." As I said the words, I knew I didn’t have to tell him. He was the tough one…just like each of the kids I had encountered at the RMH. Elijah, Rowan and so many others who had shown me what it meant to be brave. If they and their siblings could endure it, so could I.

In November, 2011 I underwent a successful stem cell transplant with my own hero. My older brother, Matt, was my donor. Today, at 29, I am proud to say I am a cancer survivor. If it wasn’t for the time I spent with the kids of the RMH, I’m not sure I would have known what it meant to be brave. I think that makes me one of the lucky ones." 



Volunteers are truly the heart of the House.



I remember thinking during my first day, “Wow, this is what school should be!”

This week’s Marvelous Monday features another one of our AMAZING volunteers. (April is volunteer appreciation month!) We are fortunate in that some of our volunteers are retired teachers. Their teaching expertise adds so much to the classroom. Ann taught kindergarten for many years and upon her retirement, offered to help us out during a particularly busy time in the classroom...seven years ago! 



Ann starts each week in the RMH school. 

Ann writes…….

 

     As a newly retired teacher, a classroom was the last place I expected to be spending my free time. I was invited to help out for a “short time” while the classroom was at capacity in the fall of 2005. Well, here I am 7 ½ years later. It’s been a pleasure to start my week each Monday with the Ronald McDonald House students, listening to their “Positrations” and being part of a warm, supportive community.

      I remember thinking during my first day, “Wow, this is what school should be!” This is the classroom model that professors promoted when I was in grad school: small student numbers, 1 to 1 support, each student learning at his or her own pace with time and opportunity to explore individual interests. It’s all there in the Ronald McDonald House School. I love watching the students of different ages and cultures interacting as they learn. Not only do these students (who have been yanked from home and school) keep up with their studies, they blossom and move ahead or conquer a skill that has challenged or frustrated them.

     All the Marvelous Monday posts highlight the classroom’s positive and supportive climate. Mrs. Britain and Mrs. Hoops set that tone at the beginning of each day with “Positrations." It helps us all – adults and children, look for and appreciate bright spots in our days. Mrs. Britain and Mrs. Hoops also use “Positrations” to help the students cope with incredibly difficult circumstances. For example, a student might share that a sibling had trouble breathing overnight and is back in the hospital. You can see the teachers process the information and then say something like: “Can I write down “The doctors are helping Sam breathe?" The student will nod and you can see his or her entire body relax.

     Volunteering in the classroom is fun! I was an elementary school teacher so interacting with teenagers has been a blast. They continue to educate me in academics and pop culture. Meeting children from all over the country and the world, I’ve learned about Argentina, Peru, Ireland, Senegal, India, Hawaii, ranching, surfing, hockey, hunting . . . And I love watching newbies experience Minnesota winters. Winter becomes a lot more tolerable when you get to watch kids play in their first snow.

     I’ve volunteered in many organizations and had a variety of experiences. I’d like to thank the staff of the Ronald McDonald House School and the entire organization for making my time in the classroom and around the House such a positive experience. I’ve felt welcomed, respected and appreciated.

Thank you, Ann. We are so grateful for your dedication to our RMH students and teachers. What an incredible impact you've had on our community. You know the saying" Teachers don't ever retire?" We're honored that in your case, it was true.

 

Classroom volunteers give our students the one-on-one attention necessary to help them thrive through a difficult time.

"For me, the school was more than a classroom. It was a life-changing experience."

This week’s Marvelous Monday post recognizes a former student, Mimi. In 2005, Mimi and her family came to Minnesota from Amman, Jordan for treatment for Mimi’s youngest brother, Ahmad. Ahmad battled an aggressive form of leukemia. Mimi participated in the summer activities program with her family, and then in September, she enrolled in school as an 11^th grader.

Mimi came to the RMH in 2005 for her brother's medical care. 

Mimi reflects on her time at RMH…

 

“The minute we entered the RMH we found the support, help, and love that we wouldn't have had anywhere else. When we discovered there was a school at the House, we were really surprised. For me, the school was more than a classroom. It was a life-changing experience. Since I come from the Middle East, my education was mainly in Arabic except for English language classes."

“At the RMH school, I was off to a good start on language skills, and in no time I was able to handle the normal curriculum for students my age. Without the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Cindy and the volunteers, it would not have been possible. The classroom environment helped me cope and kept my mind off what my family was going through. Even just a short break every day made a difference."

 “For a couple of hours each day, I was able to talk with people, learn new things and enjoy my time like other girls my age. At that time I was 16 years old. In the classroom, I found support on hard days. On good days, I found people to share my happiness and reason to celebrate. Mrs. Cindy always started our day on a positive note – sometimes asking a question, which helped me see the good things going on in my life. I would intentionally do things or go somewhere to have something good to say the following day in the classroom when Mrs. Cindy asked her question of the day. I had such a unique experience at the RMH school."

 “I’ll forever treasure the memories of the special people I met, the education and the memories. I recollect all and whenever the occasion rises, I tell people here in Jordan how kind, supportive and generous you were to us and everyone who entered the House. Despite the gravity of the situation, you made it so much easier for the families. The school was right down the stairs! You guys are amazing! I always think of volunteering and being able to give back part of the care, love and affection that you guys have given me and my family.”

Mimi has remained in contact, as many students do, with Mrs. Britain. After returning home to Jordan, Mimi completed secondary school and has now graduated from college and is working as an architect. Sadly, Mimi’s bother lost his battle with leukemia and while we mourn Ahmad’s passing, we celebrate her accomplishments and are so grateful that she and her family are forever part of our RMHC family.



Ahmad may have lost his battle, but he remains forever in our hearts.

Celebrating a Marvelous Monday recognizing Breanna's Gift

Six years ago, we partnered with Breanna's Gift – a fellow non-profit organization whose mission it is to bring smiles to the faces of children with cancer and other serious illnesses through the magic of the arts. The organization is named after Breanna – a little girl who loved to dance. In her honor, Breanna’s Gift brings the healing power of art to children battling critical illnesses. On Friday afternoons, teachers from this wonderful organization come to the House to offer dance and art classes. They provide the materials for the classes as well as tap shoes for each child to keep. The classes are open to all the children at the House – including patients and their siblings. At dance class, the students learn tap steps, practice movement exercises, and even learn exciting styles like Flamenco dancing. It’s something to see! The kids learn the steps as well as how to put it all together to create dance. After several weeks, the families and staff are treated to a dance recital.. It’s a boost for siblings to shine and recognized, and for patients to regain strength and feel the success of normal activities…the work of childhood. All of this is gained from the gift of a dance class.


Breanna's Gift brings dance and art to the House! 

Onto the art. Breanna’s Gift provides projects that vary from learning to create animals in pastel crayons, saori weaving, origami rockets and animals, or creating mini-books. Like dance, art classes are a special time for students to feel success, the delight of one-on-one attention, the pride of learning a new skill, and the joy of creating. In addition to the weekly classes, Breanna's Gift provides workshops, which are 3-5 days long, both during the school year and over the summer months. The workshops provide a unique opportunity for kids. It’s an intensive time to create and work together.

 

Founder and Executive Director, Masha Ovitz, shares her thoughts about all the gifts this program brings to the students – particularly the workshops. “Since 2007, we have been privileged to bring our dance, art classes and workshops to the Ronald McDonald House kids and their families. From the beginning, each opportunity to work with kids has been special. Some of our most memorable projects have been when everyone has come together for our special workshops. The first of these Breanna's Gift projects was a mosaic workshop led by artist, Lori Greene. The children and their families worked to create a Tree of Life piece in honor of the Ronald McDonald House's 30th anniversary in the Twin Cities community. Because it is on permanent display, everyone can stop, look, enjoy and remember. Drama camps with our guest artist, Annie McNaughton, have the children making their own costumes and scenery and performing portions of plays such as The Sound of Music and Annie. We tried getting Jerry to join us, but he was not interested in the applause or the encores! Margo McCreary's annual puppet workshops where the puppets are created and come to life in their own puppet theater are so much fun. The story lines the children develop are always a surprise. No one knows where they will take us, but it's about the journey, right? Thank you, Ronald McDonald House! The energy, the joy and the smiles are the gifts that we take with us. It's such an honor to work with the children, their families and the staff.”

How amazing is that?! Dance and art offer so much to RMH kids. Thank you for your partnership, Breanna's gift! Thank you for this priceless gift. To learn more about Breanna's Gift, visit www.breannasgift.org.