Two days after giving birth to her daughter, Mary Jane, Julia Clark found herself facing a mom’s worst nightmare: her baby started twitching and stopped eating—something was terribly wrong.
At a time when Julia and her husband should have been enjoying the first moments with their newborn baby girl, Mary Jane was urgently life-flighted to the nearest hospital.
“She had an MRI scan on the fifth day, and when it came back, they told us she was expected to have little to no cognitive function. We were beyond devastated.”
Mary Jane was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and a hypoxic brain injury. Despite this, Julia and her husband never gave up on her. They were determined to give her the best possible chance in life. Because of their advocacy and dedicated care, Mary Jane received a liver transplant in November 2025.
“I was completely terrified for her to be out of a bubble after she received her new liver,” said Julia. “Any little thing could make her go back in the hospital.” Ronald McDonald House Atlanta’s transplant suites became a sanctuary for the Clarks while Mary Jane recovered. “The transplant suites are absolutely phenomenal,” said Julia. “The rooms had everything, and we never had to leave her side for any reason.”
Julia learned to find joy in the small things amidst Mary Jane’s journey. “You don’t realize how much the little things matter. Having other kids, you take for granted the first time feeding them, getting to hear a simple cry, or being happy that a diaper fits just right.”
Just as mothers and mother figures care for their children, they, too, deserve someone to support them. With your help, Ronald McDonald House Atlanta can provide comfort for all families in need.
“If people were in our shoes, they would want a place where you can have a hot meal, don’t have to cook, buy food with money you don’t have, or pay a hotel fee,” said Julia.
This Mother’s Day, help provide comfort to mothers and mother figures when they need it most. In Julia’s words: “Please give today, because moms like me need it. We really do.”
