Finding Hope for her Family

When Shana was 20 weeks pregnant with twins, her world turned upside down. One of her baby girls, Haven, suffered a stroke in utero, and the prognosis was uncertain. To make matters more complicated, Haven’s health put her twin sister, Hadley, at risk.

Living in a small town in Kansas, hours from a children’s hospital, Shana’s doctor urged her to transfer to Children’s Hospital Colorado for specialized care. That move also introduced her to Ronald McDonald House-Denver.

“I hadn’t even heard of Ronald McDonald House before, but when the hospital care coordinator gave me a referral, I was so relieved,” Shana shared. “There was no way I could afford a hotel during such a long stay.”

At 34 weeks, Shana underwent a C-section. Haven needed bowel surgery the day after she was born.

Since then, Shana has returned to Denver many times for 4–6-week intensive occupational therapy sessions for Haven. Therapy in Kansas wasn’t enough and Denver offered the specialized care her daughter needed. Getting care in rural Kansas wasn’t easy. “The nearest children’s hospital in Kansas is more than eight hours away. I once had to drive there in a snowstorm and it took 16 hours. I had to figure out how to pump and feed the girls along the way,” Shana recalled. With two older daughters at home, ages 12 and 16, she leans on their dad for support while she focuses on Haven’s progress.

Through it all, Ronald McDonald House-Denver has been a lifeline. “Being here is a huge relief,” said Shana. “It’s so much more than a place to sleep or eat. It truly feels like our home away from home.”

At Ronald McDonald House-Denver, Shana and her girls find comfort and stability. The twins light up around the therapy dogs, enjoy the play areas, and laugh with the staff and volunteers who love making them smile.

“We still have a long road ahead,” Shana said. “But I know Ronald McDonald House-Denver will be here to walk it with us. Haven is making huge strides toward a brighter future.”