March 2018

FAMILY NEWSGreater Cincinnati

www.rmhcincinnati.org | (513) 636-7642

You Gave Lydia the SUPPORT She NeededLydia had never known what it was like to be healthy. At an early age, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and an autoimmune disease. Over the next few years, Lydia endured a gallbladder removal and countless infections. Doctors did everything they could to delay the inevitable—a liver transplant. She was finally added to the transplant list in December 2016 at the age of 16.

While waiting for her new liver, Lydia checked into Cincinnati Children’s to make sure she would stay strong enough to support the transplant. Meanwhile, her family moved into a room at our House. No matter how long it took for her to get a new liver, they wanted to be right by her side.

On April 9, 2017, Lydia received her liver transplant. Her initial recovery went very well, but just before she was discharged, doctors found a blood clot in the artery that led to her liver. After attempts to get rid of the clot failed, doctors had to tie off the artery, blocking blood flow to the liver. Doctors delivered the devastating news that Lydia would need a second transplant.

Lydia was placed at the top of the national transplant list and about a month later, her second liver was available. This transplant was also not without complications, including steroid-induced diabetes, medicine complications that nearly caused a liver rejection, and then a diagnosis of PTLD, a form of blood cancer. On top of everything else, Lydia now had to endure chemotherapy.

Throughout her months in the hospital, Lydia’s family continued to be her source of strength. They were all thrilled when Lydia was finally strong enough to leave the hospital and join them at our House.

“I was in a hospital bed for so long that I had scars on my back from just lying there. Although I was still in isolation, I could walk around the House. I could walk the playground, through the garden and look at the new flowers or sit on the patio and do crafts. My dad brought apples from home and we made apple butter, fried apples and cinnamon apples in the kitchen. It’s like a community here. There are always people around but it's quiet if you need it.”

Lydia’s favorite room in the House was our craft room. She used sewing and crafts as a way to take her mind off her pain and do something creative. Her family loved seeing her grow stronger each day and were so grateful to have our House throughout the process. There was simply no way they could

afford staying in a hotel and eating every meal out for nearly 200 days. Thanks to you, our House was there

for them with comfortable beds, nutritious meals, and caring staff and volunteers.

Lydia is now back at home and continuing to improve. While her road to recovery is long, she now has the support of families from around the world whom she met at our House. Thank you

for giving Lydia and her family the support they needed so

that she could have the chance to finally be

healthy.

Letter from JennI hope that 2018 is off to a great start for you.

As I write this letter, it’s another cold, dreary day in Cincinnati. We’re all anxious for winter to be over. But inside our House, something magical is happening. As families spend more time inside this time of year, amazing friendships are forming. A mother from Florida hugs a father from Canada as he shares the news that his son’s doctor has given him a clean bill of health. A mom from Kentucky is supported by moms from around the world as she learns to manage the feeding tube and oxygen tank for her beautiful baby girl. A family from West Virginia shares a late-night snack with a family from Venezuela as their oldest children become best friends (see the adorable picture below!). Without our House, these families would not have found the support systems that are getting them through their darkest days, and we have you to thank for it!

Your support of our House gives our guest families more opportunities to be together. When you come to our House for a Taste of Hope meal, you are offering families the chance to share a meal together. When you donate toys, you help us stock playrooms where kids can interact in spaces they know are clean and safe—something that’s so critical for children whose immune systems are already compromised. And when you give a financial gift, you are helping the very foundation of our mission, providing rest, comfort and hope for families during the most challenging times of their lives.

The families in our House are far from home facing unimaginable circumstances. The friendships they form here will help them now and for years to come. It’s inspiring to see so many people look past their differences to offer love and support when it matters most.

We couldn’t do any of this without you. We are so grateful for all that you do to make our mission possible.

Fondly,

Jennifer Goodin Executive Director

2017YEAR IN REVIEW

We served families from21 countries

97%of guests indicated

stress levels

decreasedwhen they stayed

at our House

Overall experience at House rated

satisfactory

99%

We served families from

43 states

Volunteers served

723 meals

Total Guest Service

Volunteer Hours

34,000

Average time on waitlist

15 days

1,906families served

52days

Average length of

stay

JanuaryFebruary

March

July

SeptemberAugust

Thanks to your generosity,

WE'RE HERE FOR OUR FAMILIESevery month of the year.

AprilMay

June

October

NovemberDecember

Thanks to your generosity,

WE'RE HERE FOR OUR FAMILIESevery month of the year.

2017 INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS & CIVIC GROUPS

Individuals

$25,000+

Mildred BarhorstArnold and Mary Jo Barnett

Philanthropic FundPam and Gordon BonfieldHarry BrownPark and Linda GilmoreNorvita HildboldJimmy and Carolynne HoBrandon and Kelly JanszenBob and Lynn StengerMrs. William (Margaret)

Strawser

$11,000–$24,999

Jerry G. BachBob and Pattie CoffaroJohn A. GavozziKevin and Judy JenkinsPeggy and Marvin LewisJeff and Andi OrschellMichael and Janet SepelaTeresa and Tim TannerAnthony and Sally Woodward

$3,000–$10,999

Keith and Cheryl AdamsKathryn Al-LamadaniKathleen AlmandDavid and Eva AndersonAngel Charitable TrustBob and Sydney AnningAnonymous in honor of Susan

Lozano and Jeanine ToneyJohn and Megan AtkinsonBernard and Pamela Barbash

Family FoundationMarilyn C. and Kenneth BarnesDave and Jenn BastosThomas BlahaMike and Katie BlankenshipJack and Joanne BrownMike and Ruthie BrunsmanEdward and Vonnie Butera

and FamilySylvia BuxtonTodd and Christin CalawayShad and Jennifer CarnesJohn and Sheli Carney

Family Fund*Terry and Mary Sue CheesemanPam ChidesterHannelore CiccarelliMatthew and Kelley CoffeyBarbara Culver and Resonate

FoundationTerry L. and Vicki DaviesDr. Alessandro and Katie

de AlarconPatrick and Nancy DeCastroJones Family Fund*Robin ElliottJerry and Mary Jean Esselman

Mrs. Stona J. (Barbara) FitchJohn and Ann FlournoyDr. and Mrs. H. B. FrancisDon and Shirley FreedRyan and Miriam GibbsJames E. GieltyFamily and Friends of

Elizabeth GramanBeverly Hackney in honor of

Avery WintersWilliam and Debbie Hayden

Family FoundationBill and Karen HerkampKevin J. and Debbie HopperJack and Barb HunterTrey and Tina IsgrigDan and Pam IsonJon and Leigh JonesMichael and Michelle KachmannBill KilroyJames and Karen KnightC. Bart and Linda KohlerJerry Kroger and Helen ArcherPete and Sonia KwiatkowskiCarolyn LaBarGeorge and Kathleen LandonR. Kyle LawlerPaul and Maureen LechleiterDan and Barbara LucianoD. Martin Family Fund* Dr. Paul and Charlotte McEneryScott and Robi McIntireThe McIntosh-Maley FamilyTerry and Lisa McLaughlinJohn and Audrey MericleFamily and Friends of Rebecca

and Brad Messenger in memory of Lily Algenio Messenger

Michael and Marissa MillerDr. Ida Molina-ZinamDon and Anne MurphyThe Nagle FamilyNathan and Christina NeyraMike, Gloria and Paige NodaySteve and Becky OsborneDrs. John Perentesis and

Stella DaviesJoseph A. and Susan E.

Pichler Fund*Jon and Evon PitcockLarry and Melissa RennerRobert and Marilyn RheinVince and Anne Rinaldi

The Rinear FamilyBrianna and Richard RitzThe RMP Family FundMargaret S. and Durwood G.

Rorie, Jr. Designated Fund*D. Bruce and Bettina RossRick and Cathie RothfussJacob F. and Luann SchererTony and Karen Schweier FamilyThomas and Donna SeithJohn and Nannette ShermanMichele SkoraJoe and Amber SprengardBobby and Courtney StengerJerry and Melinda StengerStuder Family and FriendsBarbara TofaniThomas and Lois TrappThe Varner FamilyShashank Vats and

Damayanti MajumdarThe Vincent FamilyJason and Allison VirgilJim and Magda WaddellGreg WesselsDr. Jeffrey and Dorinda WhitsettFelicia WilliamsSonja Ann WilsonNancy U. WitteVirginia A. and William H.

Zimmer Trust

Estate Gifts**

Estate of Doris Froehlich - Froehlich Family Trust

Estate of Dorothy HabigEstate of Joyce J. JacksonEstate of Vanita R. Weyer

** In 2017 our Pillars of the House Society grew to 123 members

Foundations

$3,000 +The AMGIS FoundationChemed FoundationChild's PlayWilliam R. Dally FoundationCharles H. Dater FoundationGeneral Electric Evendale

Employees' Community Service Fund

General Electric FoundationGeneral Mills FoundationThe John Hauck Foundation,

Fifth Third Bank, John W. Hauck and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees

The William, Edith, Charles and Sophie Hueneke Foundation

The Frank J. & Jacqueline Dawson Kloenne Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees

The LeBlond Foundation of Makino

The H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees

Maryssa's Mission FoundationThe Nabama FoundationHartzell Norris Charitable TrustRhinestone FoundationBrian & Jill Rowe FoundationMarge and Charles J.

Schott FoundationThe Louise Taft Semple

FoundationRudolph & Marie Simich

Family FoundationThe Phillip Smith FoundationTAS FoundationUBS Employee Giving ProgramRonald F. Walker Charitable

FoundationWeist Family Charitable FundWohlgemuth Herschede

FoundationThe Wyler Family Foundation

Civic Groups

$3,000 +Allen East High School

Student CouncilAlpha Delta Pi - Eta Epsilon

ChapterCincinnati International Wine

Festival, Inc.Co-Operative Society of

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Epiphany United Methodist Church

Free Throws for KidsJ.B. Baseball ClassicLakeside Christian ChurchLiar's Club of New RichmondMarge Gallagher Memorial

ClassicMaryssa's Mission FoundationPlay-a-Thon #kidshelpingkids

#musichealsRonald McDonald House Guest

Services VolunteersRonald McDonald House StaffTri-State Mustang ClubWest Chester Mothers of Twins &

More Club

* Denotes a fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

2017 CORPORATE & IN-KIND DONORS

Corporate Donors

$50,000+

Alliance DataCincinnati Children'sThe Cincinnati Mine Machinery

Co.EthiconMcDonald's Restaurants of

Greater Cincinnati

$25,000–$49,999

Cold Jet LLCMacy'sOhio National Financial ServicesPNCRMHC GlobalRough Greenhouses (RBI, Inc)

$11,000–$24,999

Emery Oleochemicals, LLCFifth Third BankJaguar Land Rover CincinnatiLinks UnlimitedProLink StaffingHal Welge Building Contractor,

Inc.

$3,000–$10,999

84.51°American Modern Insurance

GroupAnchor Fluid PowerARC Document SolutionsBahl & Gaynor Investment

CounselCapital Investment Group, Inc.CBRECengage LearningCFM InternationalCincinnati Children's Cancer &

Blood Diseases InstituteCincinnati Children's Colorectal

Center for ChildrenCincinnati Children's Community

RelationsCincinnati Children's Department

of RadiologyCincinnati Children's Department

of OtolaryngologyCincinnati Children's Heart

InstituteCincinnati EnquirerCincinnati Financial CorporationCincinnati RedsCintas CorporationClark Schaefer HackettCohen Recycling CentersCombined Federal CampaignCushman & WakefieldDaVita Dialysis Centers of

Greater CincinnatiDeloitte & ToucheDillard's

Directions ResearchDr PepperDuke Energy FoundationThe F.L. Emmert CompanyErnst & YoungFahlgrenFederal Home Loan Bank

of CincinnatiFischer HomesGBBN ArchitectsGE AviationGeneral MillsGreat Wolf LodgeH&H Glass, LLCHeidelberg Distributing Co.The Hillman GroupHills PropertiesHPE, Inc.Isgrig Capital ManagementJohn Henry HomesJohnson Investment Counsel,

Inc.KDM P.O.P. Solutions GroupKentucky Heat TreatKilroy Restaurants, Inc.Klosterman Baking CompanyKPMG LLPThe Kroger Co.LothThe Martin-Brower CompanyMcDonald's USAMesser ConstructionThe Neat, Redpath and Spaeth

Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Neyra Industries, Inc,Noday RestaurantsNordstromOberson's Nursery and

LandscapesOhio Valley FlooringOnSite Retail GroupPeopleFoundry

Perfetti Van Melle Marketing Team

The William Powell Co.RBI Solar, Inc.Robbins, Kelly, Patterson

and TuckerThe Roehr AgencyRoto-RooterSKANSKAStep CG LLCEmployees of Stevenson ColorRSM US LLPToyota Financial ServicesTurnbull-Wahlert Construction

Co.UBS Financial Services, Inc. -

KenwoodUC HealthUSA Today - CincinnatiValco MeltonVillage Green PropertiesVonLehman & Company, Inc.Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease

LLPWaste Resource ManagementWestern & Southern Financial

Group

In-Kind Donors

$25,000+

Dave and Jenn Bastos Cincinnati BellProcter & GambleThirty-One Gifts

$11,000–$24,999

Cincinnati Children's Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical

GardenThe Coca-Cola Company

Frost Brown Todd, LLCHyde Park Landscape & Tree

Service, Inc.The Kroger Co. Store #448McDonald's Restaurants of

Greater CincinnatiNewport AquariumPrestige AV

$3,000–$10,999

Adriatico'sAdvancePierre Foods and

Loeffler Family Aegis Protective ServicesAnneken, Huey & Moser PLLCThe BonBonerieChef's WarehouseCincinnati Children's Grounds

DepartmentConey IslandEagle Financial ServicesElegant FareGE AviationHeidelberg Distributing Co.Hyatt Regency CincinnatiInnergreenJaguar Land Rover CincinnatiJTM Food GroupKDM P.O.P. Solutions GroupKendra ScottKings IslandKlosterman Baking CompanyKoch FoodsLee's Famous RecipeLinks UnlimitedLove Your MelonMama Mimi's PizzaMesser Construction CompanyNothing Bundt CakesQueen's Banquet CenterReiter DairyThe Review Wire Rumpke Consolidated

Companies, Inc.Silco Fire ProtectionSouthwest AirlinesStandard TextileTempur-PedicThe RCF GroupD. Bruce and Bettina Ross Mike and Monique Sewell United Dairy FarmersLee and Diane Wallace Wings of Love

Note: All gifts are recorded in the year they are pledged.

Although every attempt is made to accurately report all of our donors, errors can occur. We apologize for any misspelling or omission. Please contact Shirley Wuske at (513) 636-9304 or swuske@rmhouse.org with corrections.

Greater Cincinnati350 Erkenbrecher AvenueCincinnati, OH 45229

www.rmhcincinnati.org

NONPROFIT

U.S.POSTAGE

PAIDCincinnati, OHPermit No. 9772

If you receive an extra newsletter or if your name and address are incorrect, please let us know by contacting Shawnie Dukes at (513) 636-2046 or sdukes@rmhouse.org. Thank you.

“We have made lifetime bonds with other families who each have their own story. We’ve laughed and cried so many times together. Having Ronald McDonald House and the other guest bonds we’ve formed has truly made this house our Home.”

Effective June 1, 2018, our address will be changing to

341 Erkenbrecher.