Our miracle baby, Archer Ronald Mitchler, was born on June 10, 2023 in Milwaukee, WI. He was born at 33 weeks – premature, very ill and diagnosed with a rare condition called Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome. Archer was fighting for his life and needed to be surrounded by the best care – the medical team at Children’s Wisconsin.

We were 127 miles away from our home, and if this wasn’t hard enough for my husband and me, Archer’s brothers (5, 3 and 1 at the time) needed to be cared for as well. Our social worker suggested we stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Being right across the road from the hospital, we knew this would be the best decision for our family. We were able to be with Archer, get daily reports from the doctors, and Archer’s brothers could be with us at the House.

The moment we checked in, it felt easy and natural. Everyone was so gentle and caring, making sure we felt at home. We got settled into our room and were told supper was going to be served in the Family Dinner Kitchen. But first, we made a trip to the Magic Room. My boys each got to pick a toy and a book and to see their faces light up at such a hard time was so comforting. After all, their lives were just as upside-down as ours were.

Archer’s recovery was very up and down, and unknown at times. It was extremely helpful for my husband and me to be surrounded by people that were going through similar situations. The volunteers’ and staffs’ smiles, care and support truly helped put a little light in our day.

For the older boys, the time at RMHC was happy and easy. From reptile shows and therapy dogs to playgrounds and toys, there were so many experiences they will never forget. They went to a Brewers game, Discovery World and the zoo. Seeing their smiles during such a tragic time helped my husband and I get our mind off of the hospital. Being present in their lives while Archer was sick helped put a smile on our faces as well. The number of good memories we have from our stay help dilute the bad.

Archer was discharged from the hospital after 125 days in the NICU. Today he is thriving – bubbly, outgoing and happy. He loves trying to keep up with his brothers, tagging along to numerous school and sporting events, and best of all, smiling. We will be forever grateful for RMHC and we are so incredibly blessed that we are chasing after our FOUR boys!

This experience has shown us how generous people can be. From donating time, funds, meals and snacks, toys and so much more, RMHC supporters have made us look at life differently. Every June for Archer’s birthday, we take our boys shopping for toys to donate to the Magic Room. We want to teach our boys to give back and to keep their RMHC memories alive so that future families can have the extraordinary experience that ours did.

We cannot thank RMHC and all its supporters and donors enough. The generosity and kindness truly helped our family so much, making such a difficult time easier for us.

We are thankful for the continued support of the Francie Luke Silverman Foundation and their commitment to our Adopt a Room Program. Their generosity — and the generosity of so many Appleton-area foundations, businesses, community groups and individuals — makes it possible for us to keep families together during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

In 2024, thanks in part to our Adopt a Room sponsors, 375 families from the Appleton area stayed with us for 3,438 nights — completely free of charge. Together, we helped these families save more than $420,000 in lodging and living expenses. But the real gift wasn’t financial — it was the chance for parents to be near their children during treatment, to hold their hands, share bedtime stories and be there for every moment – big or small.

Because of your support, our House becomes more than a place to sleep. It becomes a home. A place where families find comfort, strength, hope and community. A place filled with warm meals, caring hearts and quiet corners for rest and reflection. In the summertime, our Secret Garden and Big Backyard — complete with a multi-ability playground — become places where kids can laugh, play and just be kids, and parents can take a moment and a breath while looking on from the comfort of our patio.

“The Adopt a Room Program is a beautiful way to walk alongside the families we serve. And while your gift supports every family who walks through our doors, it’s especially meaningful for them to know that someone from their own hometown is thinking of them, cheering them on, and lifting them up,” reflects Bridget Kesner, Director of Development.

If you’d like to learn more about adopting a room at our Ronald McDonald House, please contact Bridget!

Imagine you’re a parent from Green Bay who’s just learned that your child has a serious medical condition and has to be airlifted to Children’s Wisconsin (CW) in Milwaukee for emergency treatment. Imagine learning that your child requires more long-term treatment at CW, forcing you to figure out where to stay, how to manage your job remotely and create a plan to care for the rest of your family so that you can be close to your child during treatment. And then you begin to wonder – how am I going to pay for it all? Our Ronald McDonald House^® is the solution to all these big questions, thanks to the support we receive from our Adopt a Room Program.

We are  grateful for the continued support from Adopt a Room sponsors in the Green Bay area like the George Kress Foundation and Humana. Each spring, we look forward to their renewed “adoptions” that allow families to be close to their children during treatment with all the comforts of home and opportunities to create special memories during difficult times.

On average, more than 40% of the families we serve travel from Northeastern Wisconsin for treatment. In 2024, these families called our House “home” for 1,231 nights. In addition to Adopt a Room, generous individuals and companies in the Green Bay area support us through pop tab collections, fundraising activities and monetary and wish list donations.

We are proud to have an executive from Schreiber Foods – another strong corporate partner – serving on our Board of Directors. Thanks to this hometown support, we can provide families with healthy meals, engaging programs, comfortable private rooms and so much more. And thanks in part to Adopt a Room, we can provide all of this at no cost to families, allowing them to focus on what matters most – their child’s health.

To join the George Kress Foundation and Humana in supporting our mission, please visit our Adopt a Room web page or contact Director of Development, Bridget Kesner.

Baby Shane was admitted to Children’s Wisconsin on May, 11, 2024, due to complications from feeding. While his mom, Alicia, was producing enough milk, doctors thought the milk was lacking the fat needed for Shane to gain weight. She expected a short stay – just long enough to work with a lactation consultant and gain the information needed to help Shane thrive.

Days turned to weeks. The care team tried different types of formula and even a Nasogastric (NG) Tube – a thin, flexible feeding tube inserted through the nose, down the throat and into the stomach – to try and get Shane the nutrients he needed, but his condition remained the same.

The doctors have continued to change formulas, run various tests: ultrasounds, endoscopies and other procedures, and there is still not a direct answer as to why Shane needs extra help to gain weight. He is currently receiving the nutrients he needs to thrive via a central venous catheter that delivers a Total Parenteral Nutrition solution of carbohydrates and lipids. Shane recently weighed in at exactly 16 pounds. He’s still on the smaller side – about 16 pounds shy of where he should be for his age.

Throughout this journey, Alicia has been appreciative of the resources our Ronald McDonald House has been able to provide for her and her family – meals, toiletries, laundry facilities and more. Most importantly, though, the House makes it possible for Alicia to keep Shane’s brothers and sisters with her while also focusing on Shane’s health.

Alicia’s brother helps when he can, but her sister lives in southern Illinois and her mom lives in Georgia. Alicia is not alone though – the staff and volunteers at our Ronald McDonald House have become like family to her, lending an ear and showing support during such uncertain times.

“I’m just extremely grateful and always will be for everything that the House has done for us. I know Shane will continue to need medical care, so knowing that RMHC will show support of our family no matter what is something that I will always be thankful for.”

Sherry Moore and Sara Wroblewski agree that the biggest impact our Ronald McDonald House^® has made on their families is friendship. It had been a long day at the hospital and families were gathering in the Family Dinner Kitchen for dinner. Sherry recalls that she had just finished eating quietly by herself when then four-year-old, Ashton, walked over to a nearby table and asked a little girl if she wanted to play kitties.

That little girl was Sara’s daughter, Grace, and the meeting was the first spark to a beautiful friendship. Sara describes Ashton and Grace’s relationship as “a fierce and magical friendship that we really can’t explain.”

The friendship goes well beyond just giggles and play. The girls see many of the same specialists and also share some of the same diagnoses. They have seen each other through the most difficult times, when one is in pain after surgery or so sick that she can’t sit up, offering a quiet hand to hold. They advocate for each other in the hospital and carry the voice of encouragement when fear creeps in.

Much of this also holds true for Sherry and Sara. Sherry believes the Ronald McDonald House put their families together, sharing, “As soon as I met Sara, I just knew she was going to be my person. I saw another exhausted mom who knew what I was going through because she was going through it at the same time. We didn’t have to hide our worries or feel afraid to share the hard parts of being a parent to a medically complex child.”

The families may live in separate states, but their friendship has never wavered in its strength and love for each other. They have spent fun days at the zoo, the movies or the pool, and have supported and consoled each other through tough days, complications and new diagnoses.

These moms will be forever grateful to the staff, donors and volunteers who make this House not only home, but a wonderful place where you can find your very special friend in your most vulnerable time.

Fall is quickly blowing through! As the seasons change, so do the needs of our families, especially as we look towards the holiday season. Our updated Wish List is now available to keep our generous community up-to-date on how they can make the biggest impact as we provide a home away from home for families seeking medical treatment at a partner hospital.

In addition to our House and Amazon Wish Lists, we now have registries at major retailers to maximize your gift-giving options! Thanks to your support, we are able to provide the comforts of home, make the holidays special and alleviate some of the burden so that families can focus on what matters most – the health and well-being of their sick or injured child.

Family Matters

“The Lemon Market,” a lemonade stand fundraiser hosted by a former guest family, raised over $7,000 for our House! Ava and her friends sold lemonade, baked goods, bracelets and other treats to raise the funds for our House and Children’s Wisconsin in honor of Ava’s sister, Ella, who was diagnosed with leukemia in the spring.

They visited earlier this month to host a lemonade stand for RMHC families and staff, as well as made toiletry kits and door decorations. While here, we learned some great news – Ella’s scans came back clear and she is now a cancer survivor!

A Little Help from Our Friends

The Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association (WLCA) Metro Milwaukee Chapter hosts a Day of Service for landscaping professionals in their network and this year, RMHC Eastern WI was the benefactor. Over two dozen landscape contractors collaborated on the beautification of our backyard and retaining wall, donating about $33,000 worth of labor, materials and equipment! A huge thank you to Mike Manke from LandCrafters for designing the project, Rob Holly from LandWorks for managing beginning to end and all of the members who helped transform these outdoor spaces for families to enjoy.

The Hearts and Hands of Our House

October 3^rd was our chapter’s 40^th anniversary. We celebrated by lighting the Hoan Bridge red, yellow and blue! It was so special to gather at the Cooperage with friends of the House to watch the bridge light up and celebrate our 40-year history.

Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how we feel about the tremendous support we’ve received since opening in 1984. Thank you to every volunteer, donor, staff member and advocate that has believed in our mission since day one. You are the reason we are the House that Love Built!

We are incredibly proud of our team of over 400 volunteers, whose dedication and commitment truly make this House a home for families. Our volunteers bring support in countless ways, from transporting families to and from the hospital as Van Drivers, to preparing guest rooms as Hospitality Volunteers. Our Kitchen Keepers ensure kitchens are organized, our Master Gardeners create a space of respite outdoors for our families and our Office Assistants greet guests as they arrive. Every aspect of our House relies on their invaluable contributions, and we are so grateful for each member of our growing team.

To show our appreciation, we honor our volunteers through various celebrations, including our distinguished 1,000 Hour Club. With over 30 members, this club recognizes those who have dedicated more than 1,000 hours of service to our Ronald McDonald House. Each volunteer in this group holds a unique role, but they all share the same purpose: to help keep families together when it matters most. Achieving this milestone is remarkable, and each year, we host a 1,000 Hour Club celebration. This year, we had fun celebrating at the Boerner Botanical Gardens China Lights.

As we celebrate our 40th Anniversary, we are also honoring those volunteers who have supported our mission from the start. Some of our 1,000 Hour Club members—Denny Buchan, Gerri Diedrich, John Fink, Rich Germain, Jeff Steren and Mary Ann Wickler—are marking their 40th year with RMHC. They have been integral to our mission since 1984!

Reflecting on the past 40 years, much has changed as we’ve grown to serve more families, but what remains constant is the unwavering support, dedication, and commitment of our volunteers. We are deeply grateful to every 1,000 Hour Club member and all our volunteers who contribute their time, hearts and helping hands. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

Olivia Kresse
Volunteer Services Manager

Three-year-olds are so full of life. They are always exploring, learning and bringing joy to those around them. This month, our Ronald McDonald Family Room^® celebrated its third anniversary, and over the course of the last three years, there have been many similarities between its journey and that of a three-year-old. We are always exploring and learning new ways to better serve our families and create an environment for them to connect, relax or just be. The Family Room has left a lasting impact on those who have visited and stands as an important program for those receiving treatment at Rogers Behavioral Health. In honor of our third anniversary, here are three reasons why the Family Room is so invaluable:

1. The Family Room is fun! There are so many different entertainment options and ways for families to connect with each other. Whether it is baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies, laughing while playing a board game or streaming a comfort TV show, the Family Room is a place of togetherness without the worry of being in a clinical environment or feeling the stresses of treatment. Families can focus on connecting and creating lifelong memories.
2. The Family Room is comfortable. Oftentimes, caregivers prefer to stay close while their loved one receives treatment. Before the Family Room opened, they had nowhere to go other than a local café, their car or the hospital lobby. When guests visit the Family Room, they can rest in the Quiet Room, recharge with a snack and more.
3. The Family Room prioritizes compassionate care. Our staff and volunteers really go above and beyond to make every person who comes through the door feel welcomed and cared for. Recent feedback from a guest sums this up perfectly: “A memorable moment of mine was eating a brownie prepared by the staff while playing Jenga with my fiancé. I felt pure happiness and joy in the moment. I was very comfortable in the Family Room. Thank you so much to the staff and volunteers for always working hard and being so supportive, welcoming and kind. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to use the Family Room during my stay. Words cannot express how grateful I am for you all and the Family Room.”

Just as a three-year-old is continually growing, the Family Room is striving to grow and improve in our services. Whether you visit for the day or over a period of several months, we want you to feel at home. A big thanks to everyone that has supported this program the past three years! We could not do it alone, and value all of those who have contributed to making the Family Room a place of fun, comfort and compassion for all who need it.

Andrew Finch
Family Room Manager

After learning about the opportunity to volunteer at RMHC Eastern WI from one of my friends and witnessing the passion she had for the House, I knew I had to be a part of this community. I am so lucky that she opened my eyes to this beautiful place! I have now been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House since January of 2023. I am blessed for the opportunity to serve at the House and meet so many amazing people. I have found genuine connection and happiness through meeting guest families and the dedicated staff and volunteers, and I leave every shift feeling fulfilled and with a smile on my face—this place brings me so much joy!

As a Hospitality Volunteer, my role is to make up rooms, clean the kitchens, restock snacks and other items around the House, making sure that guest families have everything they need. I also get to bring families down to the Magic Room where the child can pick out a toy and a book. I love seeing how the Magic Room can brighten their day and I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donate toys to the Magic Room in order to bring a little more joy to families during tough times. I have been able to form relationships with the other volunteers on my shift, cherishing every moment I get to spend with them. I also enjoy working with the Family Services team, who are absolutely amazing and cater to the individual needs of every family. I believe that the tangible happiness you feel when you walk into the House is because of the dedication that all the staff and volunteers have for the mission of RMHC!

This past summer, I joined the Teen Ambassador Program for the chance to collaborate with other juniors and seniors from local high schools who are just as passionate about the mission of RMHC as I am. We get to plan lots of events around the House like holiday parties and bingo nights. Some of my favorite projects this year have been snack making, creating door decorations to hang around the House and making fleece-tie blankets. I also helped organize a hygiene drive with a fellow Teen Ambassador at my school. We collected items like toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, and other hygiene products for the Hospitality bags that are given to each guest family when they check in. The Teen Ambassador Program has allowed me to form connections with lots of amazing and hardworking people from other high schools and I am proud of all the work we accomplished this school year!

The community at RMHC is truly special and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I have felt so supported by everyone here and I love sharing about the mission of RMHC so others may have the chance to experience the love I experience every time I am at the House!

Kate Krueger

First days are always full of mixed emotions and unknowns. Am I going to fit in? Will I like what I do? Will I be making a difference in people’s lives? These were all questions that were going through my head as I stepped through the doors of the Ronald McDonald House for the first time. I was immediately greeted by a kind volunteer at the front desk, and another volunteer showed me where I needed to go.

As I toured the building and started meeting other staff, I got such a sense of pride from them for the organization and the work they are doing to help create and foster a safe and welcoming space for families. This pride and kindness continued over when we had an evening staff meeting my first week. Still feeling the nerves of meeting and working with new people, I entered the space, only to be greeted with warm welcomes and exclamations that, “Andrew is here! Hi Andrew!” It was at that moment that I realized I may have found a new place I could call “home.”

With all of my good experiences so far in the House, I am thankful that those have been echoed in the Family Room as well. While training has been thorough and involved, I have had time to experience the Family Room and meet some of the families and staff at Rogers Behavioral Health (RBH). When I was searching for my new job, a priority for me was to find a job that would leave an impact on others. I really felt that impact during the beginning of my second week on the job when a new family came in with their patient and other child. After giving them a tour of the space, I left them to enjoy the Family Room. Shortly after I had returned to my office, laughter began to fill the space as I listened to this family just enjoy each other’s company and the escape from the pressures and reality of their lives. This moment solidified my decision to come to RMHC and set my mind at ease knowing that I found somewhere to work with great people and an incredible mission.

During my exploration of files and documents, I came across the meaning behind the RMHC logo. The meaning of the heart coming out of the chimney represents the love and compassion at the core of the mission. As I settle into my role as Family Room Manager, I want to continue that legacy of providing exceptional, compassionate and loving care to the families and patients at RBH. I am looking forward to working with my staff and volunteer team as we strive to make the Family Room the best that it can be.