The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for the Hood family of Riverview.
“There’s plenty of room,” said Jason Hood. “A place for my daughter to sleep and a place for me and my wife to sleep.”
It’s also located on the All Children’s Hospital campus, which is where the Hood’s newborn baby, Hawkins, is recovering from open heart surgery.
“It is getting tough just watching him lay there in the bed and have to recover,” Hood said.
Still, Hood said the family has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, Hood’s family will able to spend the holiday with their new addition.
On top of that, doctors say Hawkins’ surgery was a success.
“If you pay attention, even in the storms, you’re reminded of how blessed you are,” Hood said.
It’s a sentiment shared by the Blevins family, who are also staying at the Ronald McDonald House while their 18-year-old son Austin recovers from surgery of his own.
“Greatest kid ever,” said father Tom Blevins. “Always has a smile no matter what.”
Even through more than a dozen operations, all the result of umbilical cord complications at birth.
“People get so busy in life and stress out about the littlest things,” said mother Jennifer Leonard. “You know, making that mountain out of a molehill. And we’re lucky it’s not worse, what we’re going through. We could be homeless. As long as we’re together.”