Our Impact

At Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Chattanooga, the mission has stood true for over thirty-four years; to provide families with the care and resources they need when their child is sick and to support programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children. In an effort to aid families with children receiving medical care, RMHC provides a safe place full of provisions, allowing families to focus on what matters most: their sick child. RMHC operates with the understanding that life cannot be put on pause due to unforeseen circumstances; however, there is space to ease the chaos for families. This space is filled by four major programs that follow a "continuum of care" model, focusing on helping families navigate their medical journey far beyond their stay in the House. When families confront a critical illness or injury, their struggles do not end with the discharge process. As a result, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga proudly operates their Family Room, Mindful Room, and House to Home programs in addition to their House. Ronald McDonald House’s twenty-eight-bedroom facility operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Fresh meals, laundry services, and comfortable beds do not take a holiday in their Home, because unfortunately, critical injury and illness do not take holiday either. No matter the day, their House is fully operational with staff, volunteers, and of course families. Nineteen years ago, Donna and Marty Lowe found themselves calling RMHC their “home for the holidays” after their son, Mason, was born eight weeks prematurely with fluid in his lungs. Mason critically needed time in the NICU to heal and learn to breathe on his own, so the couple began searching for a place to stay near the hospital. After a nurse overheard the two discussing their difficulty finding an available hotel room, she suggested the Ronald McDonald House. “The nurse helped Marty coordinate with the staff, and by the time I was released from the hospital, RMHC had arranged everything for us. We had a place to stay across the street from our son, which was priceless,” Donna continues, “Staying at the Ronald McDonald House saved us both financially and emotionally. Knowing we were just steps away from Mason allowed us to be close when we couldn’t physically be with him. When your child is in the NICU, you can’t stay all day; there are scheduled times for visits. Being nearby was invaluable and kept us grounded during those long days and nights.” Through meals prepared with care, welcoming accommodations, and many support services provided by dedicated volunteers and staff, RMHC seeks to offer a resemblance of relief and normalcy during extraordinarily challenging times. “The Ronald McDonald House felt familiar from the moment we arrived,” Donna says, “At first, there was an awkwardness because you don’t know what to expect.” You don’t want to impose or overstay your welcome. But those feelings quickly faded because of the warmth and love that filled the house. It was Christmas time, yet the staff and volunteers were there, making sure everything was taken care of, just as they would any other day. What surprised us most was the seamless way they provided every necessity—a room, shower, kitchen, and the comfort of a home.” The holidays are meant to be spent with loved ones, and Ronald McDonald House understands this power. “Spending the holiday season away from home, with your child in the NICU, is heartbreaking. Christmas should be joyful, but with Mason's uncertain health, it was hard to find that joy, The hospital felt somber and quiet. When we moved to the Ronald McDonald House, everything changed,” Donna says, recalling a memory of making ornaments with other families facing similar circumstances. “The holiday spirit was alive there- it was warm, celebratory, and filled with care. The staff brought the comfort and joy of the season into our lives, creating an atmosphere of love and compassion.” Families staying at the House often find solace in one another, as they are experiencing similar hardships. “We shared the Ronald McDonald House with many other families, each of us bound by similar, heartbreaking experiences. Among them was a couple who had a baby girl admitted to the NICU on the same day as Mason. Although we didn’t see them often, every encounter with them at the RNHC was a moment to exchange updates and lean on each other. Tragically, their daughter didn’t make it, but those conversations left an indelible mark on us,” Donna remembers. “In the face of such uncertainty, the Ronald McDonald House brought us together, creating bonds that are impossible to forget . As a mother, my mind would often wander to worst-case scenarios, making it hard to sleep. One comforting memory was waking up in the middle of the night and heading to the kitchen. Once, I found some homemade cookies left for the families. I can’t recall what kind they were, but another parent and I ended up talking for what seemed like hours—long enough to finish the remaining cookies. Those quiet moments, often shared with other parents, became therapeutic. We exchanged stories, shared our worries, and found a silent understanding that helped us feel less alone.” Stories such as Donna, Marty, and Mason’s are the very reason Ronald McDonald House operates; to provide comfort, hope, and togetherness.

Tony and Amanda Pantanella were taking in the bliss of their second year of marriage, their love for one another, and a baby girl on the way. With meticulous planning and every precaution in place the two were ready to venture into parenthood for the first time with one another. They had a birth plan, a wonderful Duala, and determined spirits. When the two were preparing for Amanda’s 28-week check up, they expected it to go just like any other; the two would seamlessly attend together and Tony could head to his job where he works third shift. However, Amanda’s intuition told her something wasn’t right. “I told him a few days before, even a few weeks before, which is weird,” said Amanda. “I was like, I think we really need to work on the house because I don’t think we’re going to—I’m going to be full term.” Amanda knew her fears were true when the doctors took longer to enter the room than usual. Once the doctors arrived to let her know the situation, Amanda found out she had preeclampsia, meaning her pregnancy was now high risk, and she then was admitted to Erlanger Hospital, an hour drive away from her and her husband’s home, indefinitely. “We were just told we’re going to keep you here every single day. We don’t know when you’re going to get discharged, ” Amanda says. Her blood pressure was checked every 15 minutes and only continued to rise. Every morning at 7am Amanda would need blood work and an ultrasound to check on baby “We [Amanda and her doctors] were talking about keeping me admitted until the baby came,” Amanda continued. “Which they were hoping they could keep her [in] until 35 weeks at least…little did we know 72 hours later.” Just three days after being admitted to Erlanger Amanda felt the worst pain she’d experienced yet. “I thought I was in labor, that’s how bad it was,” Amanda tells us. “I’m trying all the different techniques that my Doula taught me on labor pains, and I still can’t breathe. Eventually I lost consciousness. My liver was releasing a toxin that was knocking me out. I was breathing more of a toxin than I was oxygen, my goodness.” Shortly after 4am the following morning doctors let Amanda and Tony know it was time, their baby needed to be delivered. “They [Erlanger doctors] presented us with options,” Tony recalls. “ They’re amazing and patient with us trying to honor Amanda and I on our wishes; but, if it gets bad enough it’s an emergency C section [and they said] Dad, you can’t be in the room for that.” At this point the couple called down their doula who had been coaching the couple to prepare for a natural birth. After Amanda’s bloodwork came back, all options were taken off the table. An emergency c-section was the only option. “We had this whole expectation of what it was like to have a child and within a short amount of time that’s off the table.” Tony continues. “I asked ‘Well, can I pray with my wife?’ They all left the room, our doula and I prayed with and over Amanda.” Tony prayed over Amanda at 7:10 that morning and their baby girl Melody was born at 7:24 am at one pound, 13 ounces. The first few days following Melody’s arrival the couple stayed in the hospital until the time came and Amanda was discharged on April 21st, but baby Melody still needed time in the NICU. After the hustle of it all, the couple remembered their social worker had informed them about Ronald McDonald House Charities. When looking back on their first night at the house Amanda says, “It was relief. I walk into this house not like anything… it does feel like our temporary home…it’s amazing.” As a result of checking into the Ronald McDonald House, Tony and Amanda did not have to take on all of the stress that comes with commuting to be with their daughter. “First day here our friend brought us food and we ate out on that patio. [It was] the first time I’d seen the sun in over a week… best meal of my life.” Amanda recalls happily. “It’s kind of normal now.” Tony says while the couple was nearing their 6 week mark at the house. “We call this home. Let’s go home…if we didn’t have this place here our lives would look completely different.” “This has been an absolute game changer for us and really allowed us to be present with our daughter and be there for her…” Tony continues, “ We have felt extremely helpless in this situation. But being here at the house has helped us not feel hopeless. So many things are out of our control, having some stability of just being able to walk across the street, have a place to eat a meal, rest and lay our head down on a nice comfortable bed, do our laundry- it’s just all the things that we take for granted. It’s just so easily accessible here… this place has made us feel so welcomed." Flash forward to October 2023, Melody Elise just turned 6 months old, and Amanda and Tony are enjoying their beautiful new life as Mom and Dad. The sweet trio came down to our Golf Classic this month to spend some time with their RMHC family. We enjoyed beautiful weather, a yummy lunch, and caught up with one another. Amanda fondly told us how the experience jogged her memory of volunteering at RMHC with her mother in her youth and how she would explain, “These people are going through a hard time…we are here to serve them.”

We are honored to highlight the Runyon family at this year’s Wine, Women & Shoes event May 11, 2023. We will be showcasing a special video about this family the night of the event. In the mean time, please read on to learn about their story and how Ronald McDonald House has been a part of it. Paige and Brian Runyon directly understand the impact of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga from the numerous times they needed to call RMHC their home away from home. Almost six years ago when their twins Wallace and Whitleigh were born, both babies needed immediate attention in the NICU. Wallace was able to leave the NICU after one week, but the odds were not the same for Whitleigh. 48 hours after Whitleigh was born, she underwent her first surgery of what would be one of fourteen by the age of five. When Paige was pregnant with the twins, she got news that baby Whitleigh only developed one kidney. With that being devastating news in itself, the Runyons were hit with more severe news the day the twins were born. Whitleigh was diagnosed with VACTERL association, a condition that for her involves vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo-esophageal fistula, and renal anomalies. The doctors told Paige and Brian that Whitleigh was unable to properly process food and would not be able to walk or use her voice. Now almost six years old, Whitleigh not only walks and speaks, but she does cartwheels (one-handed ones too) and sings any chances she gets. She also loves snacking on Cheetos. She may have more procedures left, but you’d never know how many obstacles she’s overcome by the brightest smile and biggest personality to walk in any room. The Runyon’s live an hour away from Erlanger Hospital. With the many surgeries and checkups in Whitleigh’s life, Paige and Brian found a space that takes care of them while their baby girl is getting better across the street. This is what the Ronald McDonald House is and will always be about, keeping families near their child when they need them most!

Thousands of families have walked through the doors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga to stay while their child is in the hospital. Many of those families, after they have stayed at RMHC, have chosen to give back by becoming donors, volunteers, or even board members. For Sallie Brooks, a former RMHC resident, she has chosen to give back to the organization in each and every way she possibly can. “I didn’t realize the scope of our mission at Ronald McDonald House until my daughter was in a car wreck and we had spent two nights in the waiting room,” said Sallie. “Finally someone said you can go over across the street and there’s a place for you.” 22 years ago, Sallie and her late husband Mark’s daughter endured a horrific, life-altering car accident. This car accident resulted in their daughter Kelly undergoing numerous emergency surgeries due to ruptured intestines from the impact, facial surgery from a cracked jaw and countless broken bones in her face and a severe spinal cord injury. Kelly was 16-years-old at the time. All the while and for months after the accident, Sallie and Mark needed to process and plan their next steps of this life changing event that left their daughter with a long journey to recovery, all while discovering Kelly was now paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout this entire process, Sallie and Mark never felt alone. However, having been given their own personal waiting room in Erlanger Hospital due to the volume of visitors, they became overwhelmed by the support. “It was wonderful to have that support from family and friends, but also I had no time to process what was going on or figure out what we needed to do,” shared Sallie. “So, looking back, I always say when we came to RMHC it became our refuge. ” For Sallie, the Ronald McDonald House was where she and her family could process and rest in the midst of something so horrible that their child was enduring. “It was a place Mark and I could get away from the crowd and we could even sleep a little,” said Sallie. “I will never forget the two weeks that you served me and I was in the worst state of my life I had no idea what I was doing half the time, but I didn’t have to because you all were just providing anything and everything.” With Kelly as the oldest of their three girls, Sallie and Mark needed RMHC not only to process and take care of one another, but they needed moments to feel like a family again. “The girls would come after school and eat the RMHC meals with us and it would give us family time, said Sallie. “ Food is necessary to nourish our bodies, but it is also a comfort and a place that people can gather to eat and reconnect.” Throughout their two weeks at their home-away-from-home, they were able to witness not only how the organization helped them, but how RMHC helps other families going through the same experience. “Where you see the most people in this house is about two in the morning in that big kitchen. You hadn’t eaten all day because you’re trying to process,” said Sallie. “Nobody is here that’s not going through something horrible and everybody was in the middle of the night trying to find something to eat. You’d be in your pajamas in the kitchen and you run into everybody raiding the refrigerator.” During a time when they were at a loss at how each day would look let alone the next meal would be, RMHC created a space where Sallie and Mark could tuck each of those worries away and focus solely on Kelly’s recovery. “I think everybody can relate to being fed and comforted in a difficult time in their lives,” said Sallie. “To this day, when I walk through that door my stomach flip flops. There is a smell in this house that brings all the memories back and that’s why I am so grateful for this house.” Now decades later, Sallie and her entire family understand the importance of Ronald McDonald House Charities and how it has shaped their lives. During the House’s kitchen renovation in early 2022, Sallie and her family donated funds to create an ADA compliant portion of the RMHC kitchen, in honor of Mark and Kelly. Sallie continuously dedicates her time as a volunteer, board member and advocate for the continuation of keeping families close at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga.  “This place has my heart and I think it always will,” said Sallie.