The Beginning: A Young Mom Far from Home
Pattie’s journey with RMHC began more than four decades ago, when her infant daughter, Patti Jean, needed ongoing treatment in Denver. Traveling from Wyoming, the family stayed on and off for three years at the original Denver Ronald McDonald House.
“Ronald McDonald House offers love and support and connection,” Pattie shared. “It always feels normal here. This isn’t a sad place, it is filled with people who understand your journey, and that is priceless.”
A Return for the Next Generation
Twenty years later, Pattie returned as a grandmother. Her daughter, Patti Jean, came to Denver for the birth of her baby Zachary, and the two once again found comfort at RMHC-Denver. Sadly, Zachary lived only a few days, but the compassion and care they received at the House helped them through that unimaginable loss.
Hope Amid Heartache
Years later, almost unbelievably, Pattie’s other daughter, Carlee, faced a challenging journey when her daughter Cayde arrived 13 weeks early and required a double lung transplant. Again, the family turned to RMHC, first in Denver and then at the Houston House. For over five and a half years, RMHC became their second home.
“There were days you were just emotionally exhausted,” Pattie recalled. “You’d sit across from someone who looked as ragged as you did, and you just knew — you weren’t alone.”
Cayde grew up surrounded by that community of love and support. She became an advocate for RMHC, speaking at events and helping new families feel at home. “She would lose her sweet mind if she saw someone litter,” Pattie laughs fondly, “because this was her home.”
Cayde passed away at age 11½, but her legacy continues with 15 benches at Ronald McDonald Houses, transplant centers and community spaces across the country dedicated in her memory.
A New Chapter: Caring for Bentley
Pattie’s role as a caregiver didn’t end there. When her grandson Bentley was just three months old, he suffered severe brain trauma after being shaken. Doctors doubted his survival, but Pattie’s decades of advocacy became a guiding light for Bentley and his mother Alyssa. Defying every expectation, Bentley has flourished. Though his vision loss is permanent, his spirit shines brightly. He talks nonstop, sings with joy and makes friends everywhere he goes.
“I was in the playroom and Bentley broke into an Adele song. Everyone stopped to listen and applaud,” shared Leslie, RMHC-Denver Marketing & Communications.
Bentley has grown up spending time at RMHC-Denver — a place that now feels like his own. “He knows people here and can just be himself,” Pattie said. “When a new family arrived the other day, he called out, ‘Welcome to my home!’
A Legacy of Love and Connection
Over the years, Pattie has stayed at more than 15 Ronald McDonald Houses across the country. To her, each one offers something far deeper than a place to sleep.
She loves to share her wisdom and compassion with new families. “I was once a young mom unsure of everything and people were there for me,” she said. “Now I want to be there for others, especially the younger generation.”
The connections forged within RMHC extend far beyond its walls. Over the years, she has maintained lifelong friendships with many families she met through RMHC. One of those connections is with another Wyoming mom, Stephanie, whose twins often play alongside Bentley during their stays. When Stephanie recently moved to Cheyenne, she found a place just blocks from Pattie — a powerful reminder of the deep bonds that form within the RMHC community.
“That type of love, it’s deliberate, effortful, built on shared experiences and mutual support. Pattie’s family. We’d choose her tenfold,” declared Stephanie.
Where Community Makes the Journey Easier
Now, more than forty years since her first stay, Pattie continues to find a home away from home at RMHC-Denver while Bentley receives care. When she walks through the doors, she’s not just returning to a place of comfort — she’s reuniting with a community that has walked beside her family for generations, inspiring resilience, love and hope every step of the way.