“We didn’t know what was coming next,” says Jenna Devlin, mother to five-year-old Hendrix Armes. “One minute we were at home in Cobourg, trying to rebuild our lives after a devastating first cancer diagnosis. The next, we were packing bags and heading back to Toronto after learning that Hendrix had relapsed — less than two years later.” 

For the Armes family, 2025 began with heartbreak. Hendrix’s early relapse meant urgent treatment at SickKids, bringing long, unpredictable hospital stays and emotional upheaval. Life became a careful balance between medical appointments and stolen moments of normalcy. “It’s been so uncertain,” Jenna shares. “There have been so many days where we’re just living hour by hour.” 

After weeks of intense preparation, Hendrix received a potentially life-saving treatment this spring — a type of advanced immunotherapy. But in a heartbreaking twist, the treatment didn’t have the outcome the family had hoped for. Hendrix’s care team quickly pivoted to an aggressive new plan, with the goal of moving him toward a bone marrow transplant. The treatment path ahead is complex, filled with hard decisions and unknowns. But Hendrix is fighting — with everything he’s got. 

Like two in three Canadian families needing life-saving pediatric care, the Devlin Armes family had no choice but to leave home. With only 16 children’s hospitals across the country, specialized treatment meant packing up their lives and heading to Toronto—again. The cost of staying close to Hendrix was daunting; the emotional toll even greater. 

But there was a safe place ready to welcome them. 

“We first learned about Ronald McDonald House two years ago when a patient navigator sat with us and helped us apply,” says Jenna. “We got a room that same night.” 

That first night at RMHC Toronto was a turning point. It offered more than just a place to sleep. It gave them peace, dignity, and — perhaps most importantly — a space to be together. “If the House didn’t exist,” Jenna reflects, “we’d be paying for expensive hotels, commuting hours back and forth, and we’d be even more separated as a family. It’s unimaginable.” 

Since January 16, 2025, the Armes family has been calling RMHC Toronto home — this being their third and longest stay. In the midst of medical turmoil, they’ve found stability within these walls. 

“It’s super important to have the family together during something like this,” Jenna says. 

“You’re living in a high-stress situation. You need a consistent environment that can resemble home. It’s crucial to maintain routines and feel whole.” 

Brian, Hendrix’s dad, agrees. “It’s a huge peace of mind knowing we’re just minutes from the hospital,” he says. “We’re so lucky to be close to such great doctors, and at the end of the day, we can walk back to the House, cook a meal, be together, and feel a bit of normal life again.” 

Within RMHC Toronto, Hendrix has found joy. And community. He loves playing outside on the playground with the other kids, running around the club house with his friends, and joining in on sports. One of his favourite parts of the week is his one-on-one lessons with the teachers at the RMHC Toronto School, where he feels like a real part of the class. And when his big step-brother Brady comes to visit, it feels like camp or a vacation — something exciting to look forward to. 

In the summer of 2023, Hendrix was part of a group of children who turned their days into camp-like adventures — complete with nightly 7 p.m. game nights. For Jenna, the bonds she formed with other parents, especially fellow moms, were just as transformative. “I’m still close with one mom in particular,” she says. “That connection helped turn this overwhelming experience into something positive.” 

Daily life at RMHC Toronto is supported in ways both seen and unseen. After 14-hour days at the hospital, the smell of a warm, nutritious dinner from Chef Michael is more than comfort—it’s relief. “Coming back to a premade meal took away the stress of planning food,” Jenna says. “It sounds small, but it’s everything.” 

And then there are the little things that aren’t so little: art activities, dog therapy visits, the onsite gym, safe day camps tailored for immunocompromised children. “These are experiences Hendrix wouldn’t have been able to do at home,” Jenna explains. “And to see him excited, to see him just be a kid — it means so much.” 

But the journey is far from over. 

“There are good days and terrible ones,” Jenna admits. “We’ve been here for months, and there are still a lot of unknowns. But the one thing that’s stayed constant is RMHC Toronto.” 

That constancy has been a gift — one made possible by a community of donors who believe that no family should go through this alone. “We’ve truly been blessed,” Jenna says. “Having this place has been imperative for Hendrix’s mental health — being around other children who understand what he’s going through. For us, it’s been everything: being so close to the hospital, having meals, the staples of daily life. RMH has become our home away from home. It holds a special place in our hearts.” 

It’s that heart—the human-centered soul of RMHC Toronto — that continues to inspire. 

“There are so many families like ours,” Jenna says softly. “And they need this place too.” 

Learn more. Get involved. Support families like the Armes. Because no one should face childhood illness alone.