You Made an Unbearable Situation So Much Easier
My son Dennis was born with multiple health conditions, including autism, epilepsy, additional chromosomes, scoliosis, haemophilia, developmental delay and a brain disease. Dennis didn’t walk until just before his second birthday, so every milestone has been hard fought and incredibly special to us.
Just after Dennis’ seventh birthday, he attended a scan to check the severity of his scoliosis. Within 24 hours of that scan, we were rushed into Southampton Hospital for emergency surgery after doctors discovered Dennis had a slipped femur.
Everything happened so quickly, and naturally we were terrified.
From the moment we arrived in Southampton, Ronald McDonald House Southampton was contacted, and immediately there was space available for Dennis’ dad, Dylan, and little brother, Barnaby, to stay. Barnaby is hard of hearing himself, so having somewhere safe, understanding and supportive for them both meant absolutely everything to us.
From the second Dylan and Barnaby arrived at the Southampton House, they were treated with such kindness, compassion, dignity and understanding. During such a stressful and emotional time, the team at the House provided so much more than just accommodation. They gave our family comfort, reassurance and support when we needed it most.
They supplied essentials such as toiletries, towels and food, a safe place to sleep, somewhere for Barnaby to play, and endless emotional support throughout our stay. Every single member of staff made us feel cared for and never alone.
As a family, we genuinely don’t know how we would have coped without the support we received. Being able to stay together and remain close to Dennis during such a frightening time made all the difference.
My sister, Paige Tong, is a Business Manager at McDonald’s Mannings Heath in Poole. Having seen first-hand the impact Ronald McDonald House UK had on our family, she has been fundraising through the Raise It Your Way challenge to help support other families facing similar situations. So far, her restaurant team has raised almost £800, with more fundraising events planned across the StreetSharp franchise group throughout 2026.
I truly cannot express how grateful we are. Every single penny raised for Ronald McDonald House UK is completely worthwhile because families like ours genuinely could not cope without their support.
Dennis is thankfully recovering well, although he still has two further surgeries ahead, one on his spine and another on his knee. Knowing that Ronald McDonald House Southampton will be there gives us enormous comfort and confidence for the future.
Thank you again for everything you do for families during their hardest moments. You made an unbearable situation so much easier for us all, and we will never forget your kindness.
