A place that helped us stay close
On 5 November 2024, our lives took an unexpected turn. That was the day our son Elliot was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his brain. It was something we had never come across before, and it meant that Elliot would need careful monitoring and treatment.
From that point on, our days began to include hospital appointments, scans and conversations with specialists, as we slowly learned more about what this would mean for him and for us as a family.
Further tests showed that the AVM was larger and deeper than first thought, so the operation would be more complex than originally expected. It meant more planning and preparation, but we felt reassured by the expertise of the medical team.
Throughout it all, Elliot approached everything with remarkable calm and determination. He was in the middle of his GCSE year and managed to complete half of his exams before the operation. Rather than shaving his head in hospital, he chose to do it at home with friends, turning it into a moment filled with laughter. On the morning of his surgery, he even walked himself into theatre, sharing jokes with the surgeons and anaesthetists right up until he was put to sleep.
As parents, we focused on keeping life as steady as possible. We had another son, Tom, in Year 10, a dog to look after, and all the day-to-day routines that help a family feel grounded. Like many parents in our position, we took things a day at a time, leaning on one another and doing our best to stay positive while Elliot was in safe hands.
Finding the House
Ronald McDonald House was first mentioned to us a few months earlier during one of our final appointments with the neurosurgery team. At the time, we didn’t fully understand how important it would become.
That became clear as soon as we arrived.
We checked into the Camberwell House on 1 June 2025, the day before Elliot’s surgery. From the moment we walked through the door, we noticed how calm and welcoming it felt. The team greeted us warmly, and for the first time in a while, we could pause and take a breath.
Elliot’s surgery was expected to last most of the day. Chris stayed at the hospital, while my sister came to be with me. She had originally planned to stay in a hotel elsewhere in London, but the House manager kindly offered her a room with me. It meant we could support one another without worrying about travelling late at night, and that act of kindness made a real difference on a very long day.
Staying close when it matters most
After the surgery, Chris stayed with Elliot in the hospital each evening. That meant I went back to the House at night and knowing how close I was made all the difference.
Being just a five-minute walk away meant I could spend full days with Elliot and return quickly if needed. That sense of closeness was hugely comforting for all of us.
Each evening, when I left the ward, I returned to a place that felt familiar and caring. The team took a genuine interest in Elliot, his music, his band and the things that mattered to him. When he was well enough to visit the House himself, he was welcomed simply as a young person, not defined by being a patient.
The early days in hospital were busy as Elliot was closely looked after by the medical team. The House offered a peaceful space to rest and recharge, helping me come back each morning ready for a new day.
The difference it made
Looking back, being so close during Elliot’s recovery was invaluable. Knowing that both of us were nearby gave him reassurance, and staying at the House meant he never had to wonder where I was. He could focus on getting better.
If the House hadn’t been available, we would have had to stay further away, making the days longer and the evenings more complicated. Having a calm, supportive place so close to the hospital removed those practical worries and allowed us to be present when it mattered most.
We stayed at the House twice that June. Five nights initially, then another three the following week. Even though our stay was relatively short, the impact on our experience was lasting.
Leaving, and coming back
When it was time to leave, it felt comforting to be heading home and bringing our family back together. Tom had been staying with friends, and our dog had been well cared for, and it was wonderful to settle back into everyday life again.
But alongside that, there was a strong sense of gratitude.
The kindness we were shown, both practical and emotional, stayed with us. Saying goodbye was harder than I expected, because the House had been a sanctuary during such an uncertain time.
We still visit the House whenever Elliot has appointments at King’s College Hospital. Each return brings a familiar sense of comfort, and a reminder of how well we were cared for during that period.
My lasting memory of the House is feeling welcome and at ease when everything else felt unfamiliar. It was much more than just somewhere to stay; it was a place that helped our family stay close when we needed it most and for that we are so grateful.
