Something Good: Ronald McDonald House Gets Supersized

If the Ronald McDonald House had one wish, it would be to house more families.

"We turned families away 2,200 times last year because we didn't have enough room, and that's one of the hardest things we have to do," said Ronald McDonald House OKC president and CEO Susan Adams.

This will help. Set to be dedicated in mid-October, a fourth-floor expansion at their Children's Hospital location.

That brings their room total to 40, 26 more than before, to go along with an expansive kitchen and dining area, a reading and media room and even a hair salon.

"It is such a sense of peace that we will be able to give hope and comfort to families who need us," Adams said.

Rachelle Huckaby knows all about that. Her son Creed was born 6 weeks premature in December of 2018. Creed had a heart murmur and needed surgery and multiple procedures.

The Huckabys live in Buffalo, OK, a 3-hour drive away.

"My husband and I driving to OU, not knowing what we were going to do, where we were going to stay," Huckaby said. "I didn't know anything about the Ronald McDonald House."

They ended up staying for nine months.

Creed continues to get better nearly a year after coming home. And the Huckabys will never forget their home away from home, that made an unimaginable situation a little more manageable.

"They became family. We're extremely grateful," Huckaby said.

The Ronald McDonald House now needs to furnish their new kitchen with appliances and fill the cabinets with pots, pans and plates. Basically, anything you can think of for a kitchen, the Ronald McDonald House will take.

If you'd like to contribute, check out the Ronald McDonald House website.