“RMHC made our lives easier in our hardest moments”

When Erin and Gavin Nolan first heard the words congenital heart defect at their 20-week ultrasound, their world shattered. Their unborn daughter, Raven, would need surgery soon after birth at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. They knew they would do whatever it took to be by her side, but they had no idea how they would manage the overwhelming costs of relocating to a city over 100 kilometers from their home in Niagara.

“We thought we’d have to rent an apartment or stay in a hotel, which would have been incredibly expensive,” Erin recalls. “Then we found out about Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Toronto and it just seemed too good to be true.”

When the time came, the Nolans made the call, hoping for a room at RMHC Toronto. They got one.

“I can’t even describe the relief we felt,” Erin says. “When we arrived and saw everything available to us—the meals, the support, the community—it was the first moment we felt like we could breathe. We could focus on Raven without the stress of where we would stay or how we would manage.”

Their stay lasted 46 days. In that time, RMHC Toronto became more than just a place to sleep—it became a second home.

More Than a Room, a Lifeline

For families like the Nolans, having a critically ill child is an all-consuming battle. Two in three Canadian families must leave home to access life-saving pediatric care. The financial burden is staggering: In Toronto, it can cost as much as $20,000 in the first month alone to be close to a hospitalized child—a cost equal to 26% of the average Ontario family’s annual disposable income, according to the 2023 RBC Economic Impact Study on RMHC.

More than financial relief, RMHC Toronto gave the Nolans something just as important—a sense of community. “We weren’t alone. We met other families facing the same fears, the same exhaustion. There was always someone to talk to,” Erin says.

One of the most unexpected gifts of their RMHC Toronto experience was the connection they found with other families. “I even ran into a former coworker there,” Erin says. “His family had an emergency, and I was able to share my experience with him and offer support. We’ve stayed in touch with several families we met at RMHC. It truly creates lifelong bonds.”

Every moment of kindness has made a lasting impact on Erin and her family. 

Grab-and-go snack bags or a cup of coffee in the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the hospital made a huge difference. “Those daily costs add up quickly when you’re constantly at the hospital,” Erin explains.

When a massive storm flooded parts of the city and the kitchen at RMHC Toronto was inaccessible, McDonald’s stepped in and provided meals for every single family. “It was like this big buffet of McDonald’s,” Erin recalls. “I’ll never forget it.”

Local businesses and volunteers played a huge role in making the House feel like home, too. “I remember staff from CIBC coming in to cook pasta dinners for us,” says Erin, who now works at CIBC herself. “There were also fun activities, like craft afternoons hosted by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ wives and even free massages. Those little things meant so much when we were spending so much time in the hospital.”

Returning to RMHC When the Unthinkable Happened

Raven grew stronger. The Nolans returned home to Niagara, grateful for the support that had carried them through their darkest days. But five years later, their world turned upside down again.

The Nolan family found themselves back at Ronald McDonald House—this time at RMHC South Central Ontario, when their triplets were born prematurely. “Connor and Quinn came home after five months, but Oliver’s lungs collapsed a week and a half after birth,” Erin explains. “He needed to stay in the hospital longer, so we were there for about seven months.”

Once again, RMHC was there to support them. “By then, Raven was older and she called RMHC ‘the hotel.’ She made friends, had movie nights, and even enjoyed a little in-house theatre with popcorn. Even though we were there for a serious reason, she was still able to just be a kid.”

A Mission That Grows With Families

Each year, RMHC Toronto provides a vital refuge for over 4,330 families, ensuring they can stay together and focus on what matters most—their child’s health. With an 81-room House in downtown Toronto, seven Family Rooms across five hospitals, and over 20 programs supporting families holistically, RMHC Toronto is more than just accommodation. It is meals when grocery costs feel impossible, a school where children can keep learning, and a network of people who understand what it means to be in survival mode.

“I don’t know what we would have done without RMHC Toronto,” Erin reflects. “They made our hardest moments easier. They gave us a place to rest, to eat, to cry, to feel human again.”

The Nolan family is deeply grateful for the donors and volunteers who made their stay possible. “Large companies donate, but so do small businesses and individuals,” she says. “Some people give money, others give their time, and both are just as important. Volunteers cook meals, keep the House running, and make sure families feel supported.”

Today, RMHC Toronto faces an ever-growing need. With rising costs and more families seeking help, expansion is critical. While founding partner McDonald’s has been a cornerstone of support for over 40 years, the charity relies entirely on community donations to keep families close when they need it most.

For the Nolans—thousands of families like them—RMHC Toronto is more than a place to stay. It’s a place to find hope.

“If sharing our story encourages just one person to donate—even something as small as rounding up at the McDonald’s drive-thru—then we’re happy to do it,” Erin says. “This charity made our lives easier in our hardest moments, and we hope they continue to do the same for other families in the future.”

To learn more about the families RMHC Toronto supports, click here.