Artur

Artur spent the first 31 days of his life in a coma until doctors diagnosed him with a rare genetic disease called Maple Syrup Urine Disease, which can lead to brain swelling, mental retardation, and death. Mom and Dad sold their home, truck, and most of their possessions to import the costly baby formula their son required, but Artur's health continued to decline. In June 2005, Artur, then three, came to Pittsburgh with his parents and five-year-old brother, Vinicius, from Fortaleza, Brazil to undergo a lifesaving liver transplant at Children's Hospital. Although the transplant was successful, Artur retained a large amount of fluid that ended up going to his brain. For the past several months, he has been recovering while trying to learn the skills of a healthy toddler -- how to eat, talk, walk and play. Artur and his family have faced many hardships, but they only count their blessings.

Chapell

In 2003, this Baltimore native received a small bowel transplant. After her surgery, Chapell had several setbacks - multiple line infections, wound infections, Pancreatitis, and an eating problem. Chapell and her guardian, "Aunt" Barbara, loved staying at the Ronald McDonald House, where they knew quite a few people. When she felt well, she and Barbara cooked meals and baked cookies to share with other families. Their family visited as often as possible, usually every other weekend: "The facilities at the Ronald McDonald House made us feel at home and enabled us to enjoy our time together; we talk, play cards, watch movies and have a big home cooked breakfast before everyone left on Sunday.” Chapell and Barbara returned home, while awaiting a suitable kidney for her next transplant surgery.

Cory

Cory’s bright smile and kind nature has warmed the hearts of staff and halls of the Ronald McDonald House since he was 2-years-old. Born with a rare and life-threatening condition called short-gut syndrome, in which the intestines are not long enough to absorb adequate nutrition for survival, Cory, a Massachusetts’ resident, has been under the watch of doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for the past 15 years. Typically, children born with this condition do not live more than a few years, but Cory has defied the odds! After 17 years and 75 surgeries he finally received a small bowel transplant in March 2003. Cory’s mom, Beth, explains her fondness for Ronald McDonald House: “Our family has grown up in this house; coming here is like visiting family, it is familiar and comfortable. Support from staff and other families is offered when you want it, and your privacy is respected when you need it”.

Destiny

Destiny was born on August 11, 2002 in Dallas, Texas with Megacystic Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperstalsis Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder. In August 2003 she received a multi-organ transplant (stomach, small bowel, liver and pancreas), and in January 2005, Destiny received a kidney transplant. In August 2005, Destiny celebrated her third birthday at her “home away from home” with her new friends. Destiny's mom, Christie, is not sure when she and her daughter will return to Texas, but says, “other than the hospital, [the House] is all Destiny has ever known. She really likes it here. Both of us appreciate the support of other families and having conversations with them about going through similar situations. The support of the staff is just magnificent, and the generosity of the donors and volunteers who make the House possible is a great blessing. We are truly grateful to be part of the family.”

Cassidy

When Cassidy was three months old, she was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy which is a disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart to become enlarged and to pump less strongly. When she was 13 months old, she was evaluated at Children's Hospital and put on the transplant list. In June 2000, she was admitted to the hospital to wait for her new heart because her heart was failing. While Cassidy was in the hospital, her parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. Cassidy successfully received her new heart in July 2000 when she was 18 months old. There have been trips back to Pittsburgh since then and most of the time if there is a room available Cassidy and her mom stay at the House. Cassidy says that the best thing about staying at the house is playing in the playroom.

Kara

Kara and her twin brother, Zach, were born when they were only 28 weeks old. Combined, the twins weighed less than 5 pounds. Although Zach had a clean bill of health, Kara had a staph infection, a common ailment among babies born prematurely, called Necrotizing Enterocolitis. NEC, as it's commonly referred to, ruined Kara's small intestine, which prohibited her from processing normal foods and growing. Kara was being fed intravenously on TPN, a nutrition supplement that eventually damaged her liver. At the tender age of 15 months Kara received a new small bowel, liver, and pancreas. While waiting to return home, Kara stayed at the Ronald McDonald House with her mom, Michelle. On the weekends, her dad, Brian, and Zach came to visit. Michelle explains that living at the House "was the nicest experience. We met so many families that became friends who we still talk to. The staff was so wonderful and caring."

Kenneth

Hailing from Anderson, South Carolina, Mom, Myra, and Son, Kenneth, came to Pittsburgh more than three years ago for Kenneth’s small bowel transplant. During that time, these two have formed wonderful friendships with others staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Myra explained, “I don’t know what we would have done without [these families]. They are our family now.” In February 2005, Myra and Kenneth went home for good, but the bonds created in Pittsburgh are sure to withstand even the furthest distance.

Maryse

Every six months for the past six years, Maryse (9) and mother Jacqueline, who speak very little English, come from Tilly, Belgium to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, while Maryse receives outpatient care from Children’s Hospital. At a very young age, Maryse was diagnosed with Moya-moya syndrome, a rare disease that leads to irreversible blockage of the main blood vessels to the brain. In children, it causes seizures or strokes. If detected and treated early with surgery, the long-term outlook for children can be good. Jacqueline and Maryse are glad that they can stay at the Ronald McDonald House because it gives them great support during an uncertain time.

Ricardo

Little Ricardo lived at the Ronald McDonald House for four months with his mother, Eudescilia, who is originally from Brazil. This 2 year-old received a liver and intestine transplant. Despite the circumstances, Ricardo and Eudescilia loved living at the Ronald McDonald House, where Ricardo played and learned to take his first steps! Mom and Son have returned to Connecticut, where Ricardo is reportedly doing very well.

Terrell & Tamico

Tamico was diagnosed with Sclerderma Crust Syndrome Pumunary Hypertention in 1999. Shortly thereafter, she and Mom, Rosalind, traveled from Detroit, Michigan to Pittsburgh to be evaluated for a double lung transplant. In July 2000, Tamico successfully underwent her transplant surgery and has been doing well since. Tamico, now 16, comes back to Pittsburgh with her mom and older brother, Terrell (18), every six months to monitor her progress. Terrell likes to stay at the House with his sister and mom because, "They treat you nice and always keep a smile on your face!"