When six-year-old Ana was recovering from surgery, she turned to her mom, Mey Ling, and asked a simple question:

“When are we going home?”

It stopped Mey Ling in her tracks. At first, she thought Ana was asking about returning to Guatemala. But Ana wasn’t asking about her country; she meant the Ronald McDonald House.

“And it made me realize that this is a special place,” Mey Ling said. “I remember crying that day, not from sadness, but happiness and gratitude. Entering the House felt like a welcoming hug, as if to say, ‘Everything is fine.’ I was alone in the hospital, far from home, but returning to the House and being here in that moment made it feel like home. We felt supported and surrounded by really kind-hearted people.”

From the moment they arrived, the mother-daughter duo felt the warmth of the House. “I didn’t know where we were going to end up, so I was impressed with what I found. I remember someone from my family asking if we were okay that first night, and I said, ‘I think it couldn’t be any better being here.’ For me, it was a blessing to be in such a beautiful place. Even knowing difficult days and months were ahead, just being here made me feel safe and reassured that everything would go well.”

It wasn’t just the comfort of the House that helped Mey Ling and Ana settle in; it was the comfort of the people around them, too. The space gave them a place to breathe, rest, and feel at home, but the community made them feel understood.

Ana was born with Crouzon syndrome, a rare craniofacial condition that requires specialized care, and early in their stay, Mey Ling met other families whose children shared the same or a similar diagnosis. Even though they came from different countries and spoke different languages, the connection came naturally. “In one way or another, we understood each other. With a gesture, a smile, or simply being together, we felt supported,” Mey said. “It created a sense of sisterhood among the mothers. We shared stories, worries, and experiences, and it was comforting to know we weren’t alone.”

Mey Ling also spoke about the staff and volunteers who made each day a little brighter. “They gave us more than a space; they gave us love, company, and support,” she said. Ana especially loved the playroom and art room. These spaces helped soothe her worries and made upcoming surgeries and tests feel a little less intimidating because she felt happy and comfortable.

Over time, the people around them became more than fellow guests. They became a circle of support that felt like family. For Ana and her mom, Ronald McDonald House Dayton became a home, a community, and a steady source of hope during a challenging part of their journey.