“You may have seen an exhausted mom in the House with a stressed look on her face, toting her child around on a rolling suitcase,” said Lauren Boyd, Ronald McDonald House Atlanta parent. “What you didn’t see was a mom soaking it all in, finding solace and sanctuary at the Ronald McDonald House.”
The Boyd family, from Mount Sinai, New York, stayed at Ronald McDonald House Atlanta for eight weeks while their six-year-old, Camden, completed the Multidisciplinary Feeding Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Not only were the Boyds one of the first families to move into the new North Druid Hills House, they also were one of the first to utilize the House’s specialized dining rooms created in partnership with the Marcus Autism Center. Ronald McDonald House Atlanta is the first House in the world to provide specialized dining spaces for families participating in a feeding program.
Lauren shared that Ronald McDonald House Atlanta’s specialized dining rooms and prep spaces played a huge role in Camden’s progress and success throughout the program. “Those rooms became more than places to eat; they became spaces of courage. What once felt impossible gradually became achievable, bite by bite, in an environment designed with intention, privacy, and hope,” said Lauren.
One of their most special memories in the House was opening the divider between two dining rooms so Camden and his new best friend could take their bites together.
“It was a small but powerful moment of courage and connection,” said Lauren.
“A child who once could not tolerate food now casually taking bites in the middle of laughter and play.”
Lauren is grateful to have found a support system at the House while spending eight weeks away from home. “Ronald McDonald House was the warm hug I didn’t know I needed,” said Lauren. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
As we recognize National Nutrition Month, we’re honored to play a role in Camden’s recovery.
