Family Stories


Sharing a Safe Haven - The Warrens Family Story

Sharing a Safe Haven (The Warrens Family Story)

April 19th, 2023

Shortly after her 2nd birthday, Lydia Warrens was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK). A rare diagnosis, CCSK represents 2-4% of all renal cancer diagnoses in children and can quickly spread from the kidney to other organs, including the bone, lungs, brain and soft tissues. Lydia and her mom, Sara, were transported via helicopter from Green Bay…


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Charlie and Nehemiah

Living Full Lives (The Salchert Family Story)

January 5th, 2023

“We began our foster care/adoption journey in 2012. Given that we have medically complex/fragile children, we are frequent flyers at Children’s Wisconsin and the Ronald McDonald House®. What a gift both places continue to be! This past November into December, our Charlie was inpatient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It was exhausting, and not knowing whether his lungs and…


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Lussi Family

Meeting a Big Family’s Big Needs (The Lussi Family Story)

November 11th, 2022

It was a routine doctor visit for a 20-week ultrasound that changed everything for Alaskan natives, Brittany and Jeremy Lussi, the parents of five boys (Liam, Seth, Jack and twins Rhet and Rory), with twins Beau and Theo on the way. The ultrasound revealed that Theo had a congenital heart defect that would require surgical intervention within his first weeks…


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Steinbach Family

Priceless Peace of Mind (The Steinbach Family Story)

April 1st, 2022

By Alexa Steinbach Before she was born, our daughter Elsie was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAs). Elsie was born on December 14, 2020, at the Froedtert Birth Center and immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Wisconsin (CW). Although we…


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Ellie HomeWord B 2021

I’m Still Standing (Ellie’s Story)

November 2nd, 2021

When Brianna and Andy took their kids sledding in early March, they did not anticipate a fun family outing turning into a nightmare. Their seven-year-old daughter, Ellie, was riding downhill with a friend when their sled hit an icy patch and sent them full-speed into a tree. Ellie was unconscious, missing teeth and had an extensive leg injury. She was…


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TA Moms HomeWord A 2021

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

November 2nd, 2021

Editor’s Note: At the time of publication, Alex and family had to say goodbye to sweet Ava. With the family’s permission, we share this story, honoring Ava’s memory. When you look at the smiling faces of Rachel, Jessica and Alex (pictured above, left to right), you see three strong women with an unbreakable bond. They affectionately refer to themselves as…


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Allen Family

65 Nights, Infinite Love (The Allen Family Story)

November 13th, 2020

With 37 weeks considered a term pregnancy for twins, Kristyn Allen was ready to welcome her daughters into the world at 38 weeks. Braelyn and Brielle joined mom, dad Greg, and big sister Bailey on December 21, 2018. Kristyn had an easy delivery and both twins seemed healthy. Braelyn, “Twin A,” weighed seven pounds, three ounces and Brielle weighed five…


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Miles Pearson

Giving Back to the House that Became Home (Miles’ Story)

June 5th, 2020

On November 2, 2011, Lindsey and Rob Pearson welcomed Miles into the world. Arriving three months early, Miles spent the first weeks of his life at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin. Eventually, Lindsey had to return to work on a part-time basis, and that’s where she was when she received the phone call that would turn the Pearsons’…


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Heuer Family

Braving the Unknown Together (The Heuer Family Story)

May 29th, 2020

A new treatment plan brought Grace to Milwaukee, but RMHC brought her so much more. Grace has a few favorite things she’s always happy to talk about – including her love of dolls, her friends, and favorite books. When you see her big smile and hear her mom’s laugh, it’s difficult to even picture a kiddo that couldn’t get out…


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Phan Family

Better Together (The Phan Family Story)

May 22nd, 2020

Seventeen-year-old Aja Phan and her mom, Sheila, are closer than most mothers and daughters. After staying at the Ronald McDonald House 12 times in 2019, with two stays of nearly 150 days each, it’s not difficult to see why. Aja was a typical high school freshman battling finals, preparing for the upcoming soccer season, when her family noticed she was…


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