Families find ‘sense of security' at renovated Ronald McDonald House in N Portland

Yahoo

19 hours ago

PORTLAND, Ore. () — Families with critically ill children are spending their first night in a newly renovated space aimed at giving them comfort, connection, and peace of mind.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities Portland East House, located on the campus of Randall Children's Hospital in North Portland, officially reopened after months of renovation.
The updated space is already making an impact for families like Desiree Hill's.
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After developing severe preeclampsia, Hill delivered her son at just 28 weeks.
He remains in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the East House allows her to stay close during his recovery.
'I want this to be my house, my decor. I want my lawn to look that pretty,' Hill said with a smile.
'This place brings a sense of security,' she added. 'We all support each other, we find encouragement, we talk to each other—we're never alone in what we're dealing with.'
Another resident, Bronson Kleiber, a firefighter from Dallas, Oregon, is experiencing that same sense of support.
While battling the Palisades Fire in Southern California this January, Kleiber received news—through spotty cell service—that he and his wife were expecting twins.
'All I could hear was, 'Congrats, there's two,'' Kleiber recalled.
Shortly after, his wife became dangerously ill with the flu. She was rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to their twin boys prematurely.
Now in the Portland NICU, the boys are making steady progress.
'They're tiny, but they're growing,' Kleiber said.
When families aren't at the hospital, they can find comfort at the East House in expanded guest suites, a fully upgraded kitchen, and brighter, more welcoming community spaces.
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There's also a vibrant teen lounge, play areas for kids, and quiet corners for rest.
'Every room in the house has been put together thinking about the families that are coming to stay,' said Jessica Jarratt Miller, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The $4 million renovation is made possible by donors, local foundations, McDonald's, and in-kind support—including over $300,000 in services from Andersen Construction.
Families stay at the house free of charge, which many say is invaluable.
'You know it kind of brings back a little bit, a sense of humanity, that you know, that everybody gets lost in life,' Kleiber said.
According to the organization, nearly 3,000 families stayed at Ronald McDonald House locations in Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2024.
Donations are still helping furnish and complete parts of the newly expanded space.
More information, and ways to donate, can be found at rmhcoregon.org.
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