SPRING 2020
Family Story
The Rodriguez Family “We are truly grateful for your support and giving us a warm and friendly place to stay during a time of stress, and not knowing what the future was to hold for our family.” When Shelly and Gilbert Rodriguez’s
daughter Ella was born six weeks early,
McDonald House Charities of the Red
River Valley (RMHC-RRV). Their worries were immediately eased knowing they
could be just minutes away from Ella. For
18 days, they shuffled back and forth from the hospital to RMHC-RRV to spend their days with their beautiful baby girl. IIn the
comfort of the Ronald McDonald House, they were able to get a good night’s
sleep—which prepared them to take care
they were met with much uncertainty.
of little Ella during the day. Meals prepared
bed rest for two months due to
donated food were lifesavers, as they did
eclampsia. Due to her unstable vitals,
worry about where they would find their
to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
right at RMHC-RRV.
Shelly and Gilbert were 60 miles from
Ella was so small that none of the hospital
and they needed to find a way to stay
her parents didn’t have anything prepared.
Shelly had already been on hospitalized
by volunteers and a pantry stocked with
gestational hypertension and pre-
not need to spend time away from Ella or
newborn Ella was immediately rushed
next meal. Everything they needed was
at Sanford Health in Fargo. Suddenly
their home in Valley City, North Dakota,
clothing fit her, and she was so early that
close to their daughter.
Thankfully, Shelly and Gilbert had time to
Soon after they arrived in Fargo, Shelly
to get all the essentials Ella would need,
and Gilbert were told about the Ronald
visit the Petite Boutique at RMHC-RRV
including baby hats, clothing, blankets,
toys, and diapers. “This was a true blessing for us to have clothes to put on her,” Shelly said.
During their time at RMHC-RRV, Shelly
and Gilbert were surrounded by a support network of other parents who were going through similar situations. All the families
were from different places and situations, Continued on pg. 2