The Schatz Family
When Noell and Dustin Schatz’s baby, Xavier, had to be airlifted to Fargo from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Bismarck, ND, they knew they had a long road ahead to reunite their family and bring their beautiful baby home. On top of that, Xavier’s twin, Xander, and mom, Noell, were still being cared for in Bismarck. Dustin knew that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley (RMHC-RRV) would be there and would be able to help lift their burdens.
Before their NICU journey, Noell and Dustin, along with their family, were just settling into their
new home in Steele, ND, when they found out they were pregnant and expecting twins! On August 7th, 2019, Noell came home from work and her stomach felt extremely tight. At first, she didn’t think it unusual but soon she started having complications. Noell was scared and worried that she would have a miscarriage. Noell knew the pain and heartache that their family had gone through when she had previously had a miscarriage a few short years ago.
Noell and Dustin were airlifted from Steele, ND, to the Bismarck hospital where she was instantly wheeled into surgery for an emergency cesarean section to deliver their twin boys three months early. Their little miracles were extremely fragile; Xander was born at 2.6 pounds, 13 inches long, and Xavier was 2.2 pounds, 12 inches long. The boys were immediately intubated and put into their own isolates.
Doctors noticed a problem with Xavier’s stomach that they weren’t equipped to fix. Just days old, Xander and Xavier were separated for the first time when Xavier was airlifted to Sanford Health
98 Nights
in Fargo, ND. At Sanford, medical staff found a perforation in Xavier’s stomach which caused air in his stomach. This made him susceptible for contracting necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease affecting the intestine of premature infants that causes infection and inflammation that can ultimately destroy the wall of
the bowel. Although he developed some NEC, he was able to be treated without surgery. A few days later, Xavier had a pulmonary hemorrhage. They almost lost him. “We will forever be grateful to the amazing medical team at Sanford. They saved our baby boy,” Noell says.
Xavier was going to be in the hospital for the foreseeable future in Fargo so Noell and Dustin made the decision to reunite their twins and Xander was transferred from Bismarck to the NICU in Fargo. They knew the road to recovery was going to be long and rocky, and all that mattered was that they could all be together.
A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER
Executive Director
2020 has not been the year that we planned or expected. It has thrown us all for a loop to say the least.
Rest assured that despite the challenges we have faced since March, one thing remains the same for us here at RMHC of the Red River Valley - our commitment to ensure our families have everything they need so they can focus on their sick child. We know it’s tough times for everyone and we are so grateful for your continued support and friendship. The
well-being of our families is at the heart of everything we do and we are following the advice of health officials to keep everyone safe as we continue to care for them during this trying time.
For 98 nights, the Schatz family stayed close to their twins by staying at RMHCRRV while they went through the ups and downs of their NICU journey.
“The Ronald McDonald House is an amazing organization. I don’t know what my family and I would have done without it,” Noell said. “The kitchen and amenities were so helpful! Having a place to store our own groceries and cook our own food was a life saver... The House also helped us with toiletries and provided blankets if we needed them. Anything you can imagine, they helped with.”
5 year old big brother, Keegan, still talks about the playrooms, staff members, and activities. These small touches helped the family have fun together during a stressful time in their lives and when that wasn’t enough, they were able to pull strength from staff and other families who helped them realize they weren’t alone in what they were going through.
While 2020 has had its hard moments, it also shows the best in people. People like you – our donors, advocates and volunteers –who have dropped off food, donated gift cards and needed items, and
made monetary donations to support our mission. I am so grateful for your continued support!
RMHC GOLF TOURNAMENT
Admittedly, when we first started planning our 2020 ForeRMHC Golf Tournament, we were nervous but on July 12, 13 & 14th, 124 golfers took to the course at Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead to support the RMHC mission! With the generosity of our community, we gave each golfer a goodie bag and followed along using the #ForeRMHC hashtag. In total, we were able to raise a gross total of over $29,000 towards keeping families together while they stayed near their sick child in the hospital.
YOUR SMALL CHANGE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
2020 has shaped up to be a year like no other. As we’ve navigated these rocky times, we have pulled strength from our community and supporters because without them, we couldn’t keep providing a place of solace to our families. We want to extend a giant thank you to each person who has provided a meal or restaurant gift card, dropped off donations of wish list items and pop tabs, as well as
all the monetary donations when we know times are tough and uncertain. We could not pursue our mission without each one of you.
We know everyone’s financial situations are different, so we want to introduce a new way to give. Our Round-Up for RMHC program allows you to donate monthly without any hassle. You simply
text RMHCFargo to 269-89, connect your primary debit or credit card, set your monthly limit and boom. You’re done! Spare change from each purchase will be donated to supporting RMHC.
RMH RIDE
When it was clear that a large gathering in June would not be possible for the 2020 RMH Ride, the volunteer committee started dreaming and scheming how they could still make a great impact for the families at RMHC of the Red River Valley, because “…even pandemics can’t force people to stop caring for other people.”
Throughout the summer, committee members and volunteers sold raffle tickets for the chance to win a 2020 Harley Davidson Barracuda Silver Street Glide and other cash prizes! The RMH Ride also hosted a Fun Run that was a combined effort to support RMHC of the Red River Valley, as well as local businesses. Participants were encouraged to donate for an entry form that had over 100 local stops that they could visit between July 22nd – August 22nd to collect stamps, throw darts, and win prizes.
On Saturday, August 22nd, an outdoor event was held at the VFW in New York Mills with a live auction and, of course, the drawing for the motorcycle raffle! The exciting evening ended with a live band on stage, as well as freewill donations for camping overnight.
We are so grateful for all the work that was put in to make sure that the families at RMHC of the Red River Valley are cared for! Huge RMHC kudos to the committee and volunteers that made it happen!
SAVE THE DATES
Don’t forget to find us on social media to stay up to date on fun ways to get involved!
STRIPES MONTH in October
Every year, we proudly show our RMHC pride by showing off our red and white stripes. They signify the work Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley does to keep families close to their precious children in the hospital. Don’t forget to break out your stripes and show us by using the hashtag #forRMHC on social media on October 16th!
If you don’t have any stripes yet, you’re in luck! Through the month of October, your donation of $20 or more will not only provide a room for a family, we will also send you a pair of red & white striped socks!
While supplies last. Please note in your donation if you’d like socks
Follow us on social media and check out our website for more information on how you can join the fun happening in October!
32nd Annual SWEETHEART BALL
Saturday, Feb 13TH, 2021
Our 32nd Annual Sweetheart Ball will take place on Saturday, February 13th in Fargo. Please watch our website & social media for details as we get closer to the event!
February 11TH, 2021
Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online giving event co-hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, the Impact Foundation, and the Alex Stern Family Foundation. Your support on February 11th will help us work towards our goal of keeping critically-ill children close to their families as they grow strong in the hospital.
4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING S, FARGO, ND 58104
• Grab and go snacks such as granola bars, apple sauce, pop tarts
• Monetary donation
• Frozen meals such as pizza, meals in a bag or easy dinners!
• The ingredients to your favorite meal with a recipe card so our staff can cook for the families
• Gift cards to restaurants
Here are some ways you can help:
When we ask families what meant the most to them during their stay, they have often said the homemade meals from volunteers. As we navigate the waters of COVID-19, we temporarily suspended our volunteer meal program. Without these volunteers, we need more help than ever to provide meals for the families we care for so they do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from.