Nothing prepares you for the moment you realise something is wrong with your child.
Theo was born on 31 May 2023. What should have been a normal delivery quickly became an emergency. Rochelle noticed something wasn’t right with his movements, we went in for monitoring, and within moments everything escalated. Theo was delivered by emergency C‑section and wasn’t breathing when he was born.
He was diagnosed with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy, caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. He needed ventilation and cooling treatment straight away. We were told that for Theo to have the best chance of survival he had to be transferred to a specialist neonatal unit at Arrowe Park Hospital. The transfer itself was high risk but staying where we were meant his chances were even lower.
From that point on, life became minute by minute.
Theo spent 72 hours sedated on a cooling mat. He had seizures and, at one point, was on 13 different medications just to keep him stable. We didn’t hold him until day seven. Later scans confirmed brain damage that could affect his movement and development. Those early days were overwhelming. Every trip into the unit came with fear about what had gone wrong next.
Rochelle and I were exhausted. I slept on the floor of a wardroom next to her, surrounded by families welcoming healthy babies while we went back and forth to the NICU. Emotionally, we were empty.
On the second night, a nurse came to speak to us and told us about Ronald McDonald House. Once it was clear Theo wasn’t going anywhere soon, a room became available and we were invited to take a look.
The moment we walked in, we both cried.
For the first time since Theo was born, we felt safe. The House felt calm, warm and human, exactly what we needed. We were just above the NICU, with a direct line to Theo’s bed. Knowing we could get to him in seconds lifted a huge weight from us.
We stayed at Ronald McDonald House Arrowe Park for 14 nights. Being so close meant we were truly present for Theo. We were with him early in the morning, late at night and throughout the day. We talked to him, read him bedtime stories and took part in his care alongside the medical team. When doctors needed to speak to us, we were there in person, fully involved and informed. I am completely convinced that this closeness made a difference to Theo.
But the House didn’t just support him, it supported all of us. One moment I’ll never forget is when our daughter Bella came to visit. She was just two years old, and we worried how she’d cope. But she walked into the House and immediately felt at home, playing with the toys and relaxing. Seeing her safe and settled broke us both. Rochelle and Bella lay down together and slept. In the middle of everything, we felt like a family again.
The House also gave us community. You meet other families who understand without words. The House team were incredible, caring for us while the clinical teams cared for Theo. They made sure we ate, rested and, most importantly, looked after each other.
When we eventually left, it was reassuring because Theo was well enough to move, but heartbreaking too. The House had become our anchor.
If we hadn’t had Ronald McDonald House, we’d have been travelling 40 miles back and forth, juggling accommodation and costs while trying to be with our son. I can’t imagine how we would have coped.
Ronald McDonald House didn’t just give us somewhere to stay. It kept our family together, close to care, and strong enough to get through the darkest days of our lives.
