Parents Stephanie and Blair share how the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital provided comfort during a difficult chapter of their lives

For the first two weeks of Jacob’s life, he was so tiny and fragile, his parents couldn’t even hold him. For over a month, he needed around-the-clock care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Everything Stephanie and Blair Gordon had imagined about bringing their baby home was turned upside down.

Instead of soothing lullabies, they were surrounded by the bustle and noise of a busy hospital. Instead of welcoming friends and family to meet him, they worried what each day would bring. 

“Those were the most difficult, stressful weeks of our lives,” Stephanie shares. 

But the Gordon family found something they didn’t expect in the midst of all the uncertainty. They found a safe, supportive haven, just steps away from the NICU. 

“Without the Ronald McDonald Family Room, we wouldn’t have had a moment to step away or take a break from the constant stress,” Stephanie shares.

Stephanie and Blair will never forget how it felt to walk into the Ronald McDonald Family Room for the first time. 

Just steps away from the NICU, it was a space where they could rest and take care of themselves — while never being far from Jacob’s side. 

“It gave us a quiet space to breathe, eat a meal, or just recharge for a few minutes,” says Stephanie. “It made an impossible situation a little more manageable for us.” 

This is what your support makes possible. Because when a child is seriously ill, the whole family needs care. 

Our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms — and our House — are built on that truth. Whether it’s a much-needed shower, a home-cooked meal, a hot coffee, or a place to sit and breathe, these moments of relief add up to something bigger: resilience. 

That’s the power of family-centred care. 

And it works. Families tell us that having access to our spaces: 

• Improves their own physical and emotional well-being 

• Eases the financial burden of being far from home 

• Helps them feel more present, calm, and supported during an incredibly stressful time With your help, we can be there for more families like the Gordons — families facing long days, sleepless nights, and heartbreaking uncertainty. 

Please consider making a gift today to support families like the Gordons. Every dollar helps keep families close, comfortable, and cared for when it matters most.