Blessings of ohana bring out life’s gifts

Especially at this time of year, home and hearth provide much comfort and joy. Not everyone is thus blessed, of course, but there are "angels" in Hawaii’s community who work to fill the needs of home. Three of them — Genie Brown, Jerri Chong and Connie Mitchell — share what they do, and why.

The holidays can be difficult for families that are far from home and away from many of their loved ones, especially if they are also seeking medical treatments for a child’s serious illness or injury. Cancer and other serious diseases don’t take holidays off, so you will always find families staying at Hawaii’s Ronald McDonald House — whether it’s Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, a child’s birthday or even Christmas.

But these families are not alone. Each year as Christmas approaches, numerous people and businesses, our "volunteer heroes," step forward to create a holiday season bathed in yuletide spirits. Caring individuals and groups step forward with offers of food, gifts and holiday activities for the families to enjoy, taking away some of the frustration and worry of being so far from home with a very sick child.

But the holiday cheer, generous spirit, and compassionate hearts are not just a seasonal offering. All year long, families staying at the Ronald McDonald House lend valuable support to each other, but at Christmas it is even more important and the mutual caring is stronger than ever. Together, they share all the things that make the holidays special, allowing themselves to think about better days ahead.

Each day, there are remarkable displays of strength and devotion. Each day, families sit down and talk together, sharing what they are going through.

New guest families are often guided through their challenges by other House guests that have gone through similar experiences. Children reassure one another about what lies ahead. Families share each others’ victories and setbacks. The closeness and bond between families is difficult to describe except that the spirit of helping, caring and sharing abounds every moment of every day, each day of the year.

Not long ago, a chance meeting of two very young cancer patients defined how healing can occur in so many different ways.

"Don’t worry, May, your hair will grow back. Mine did, see?" 7-year-old Ruthie told 9-year-old May. Ruthie sensed her new friend’s uncertainty and was comforting her. What made it so meaningful was that not long before, Ruthie herself had been fearful and confused about her cancer and losing her hair. She received encouragement and inspiration from other children staying at the House, and now, Ruthie was doing the same for her friend, in a way that no one else could.

Some people think that a Ronald McDonald House must be a sad or at least a very somber place because of the gravity of the families’ situations. But it is really the sound of children’s laughter, families preparing meals and sharing activities together, and the warm feeling of ohana that anyone who pays the House a visit will remember.

The Ronald McDonald House is a place of hope and nurturing, where kids go on being kids and parents have the ability to hold on to family unity and dignity during a child’s serious illness.

I am amazed by the tremendous power that is unleashed when a community steps forward, together, for the well-being of its children. I have also found that the children and families who make up the Ronald McDonald House ohana truly define strength and character, and exemplify the kind of community we can be.

As each family’s journey unfolds, they help build the cornerstones of this very special place, inspiring us to appreciate life’s gifts, and understand how blessed we all are.

Jerri Chong is executive director of the Ronald McDonald House.