Doris Clementine Mydosh was born August 10th at Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph, over 120 miles away from home.

In order to ensure a safe delivery, her mother Heather Mydosh made the difficult decision to travel to Wichita to have her child. This would take her far from her supportive family and friends.

“When Independence lost its hospital, we knew we would have to go somewhere else,” Heather said. “I don’t know anyone in Wichita. I don’t have family here and I live 2 hours away.”

When Doris was placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, her mother’s only concern was being close to her child.

“I wasn’t emotionally prepared to be discharged and not take her with me,” Heather remembered. “That was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, to leave the hospital and not have her. Nothing prepares you for that moment”

“You are in a really funny spot in that you’re incredibly anxious because things aren’t going the way you thought that they would. You don’t get to go home. There is something wrong with the baby but at the same time, you are surrounded by all these incredible professionals that you know are taking excellent care of her,” Heather said.

With the help of RMHC Wichita, Heather could spend as much time as possible being near her daughter when she needed her mom the most.

“I don’t know how we would have made this possible, to be this close to her for this long without the Ronald McDonald House,” Heather said. “I could leave, come here and sleep knowing she was well taken care of”

“I’d never imagined I would be the beneficiary of this phenomenal charity. I didn’t know I needed this, and when I did need it, it was here.”

Doris and her family went home August 28th.

Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters for giving Doris what she needed, her family by her side.