This year, something beautiful has taken root at the RM Family Room. We’ve welcomed 23 families, and the change has been profound.Initially, families came, ate, and immediately returned to their rooms or the OLOL WCH NICU, isolated in their own worlds. But slowly,something shifted.
Families started connecting— chatting with each other, sharing a coffee, eating meals together, being each other ‘s cheerleaders and confidants. They even played cards or Yahtzee into the early hours of the morning. What’s even more touching is that families who have gone home with their children continue to stay in touch with those still here, forming a network of support that extends beyond the walls of the Family Room. While this transformation began with the families who were here during that time, it didn’t stop there. Each new family who arrived added to this spirit of connection.
This is the heart of our mission: creating a safe, comforting space for families. Not just a bed near their baby, but a community where they can feel supported, heard, and never alone.