“Everything that you give: your finances, your time, your energy; allows families to remain strong, to keep fighting, and to feel supported. It never goes to waste.”
-Allysar Eales, Ayda’s Mother and House Alumni family
***And don't miss our Post Gala Update on the Eales Family at the end of the story***
When a child faces a life-threatening illness, the impact radiates outward, touching every corner of a family’s life. For Allysar, Drew, and their daughter Ayda, the reality of pediatric cancer arrived abruptly, bringing fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty into their home in Florida. As they navigated Ayda’s major surgical needs, and recovery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, one constant provided a rare and profound comfort: Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY). Their story is one of resilience, love, and community, and it culminates in a celebration of life at this year’s RMH-NY Gala, where families and donors unite to honor the courage of children like Ayda and the remarkable support networks surrounding them.
When the Symptoms Won’t Stop
At just over a year old, Ayda’s life shifted from the ordinary chaos of toddlerhood into a medical mystery that would test the strength of her entire family. What began as what seemed like a simple stomach virus quickly spiraled into something far more serious. Weeks turned into months of endless diapers, relentless diarrhea, and countless visits to doctors and specialists. Her parents, Allysar and Drew, eliminated foods, visited gastroenterologists, consulted allergists, and even sought holistic treatments. Each time, the symptoms would ease slightly, only to return again. By the time Ayda had been sick for nearly eight months, her parents’ instincts told them something much deeper was wrong.
That instinct proved right. One terrifying afternoon, after days of worsening illness, Allysar rushed Ayda to their local children’s hospital in Florida. There, doctors discovered her potassium levels were critically low; so dangerous that her tiny heart was at risk of failing. For nearly a week, she was stabilized with constant IV potassium, yet the cause of her illness remained elusive. Finally, after an MRI, the truth came into focus: a large tumor was wrapped around her kidney and arteries, pressing deep into her spine. The word that no parent ever wants to hear became their reality, cancer.
Living Inside the Hospital
Ayda was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and her family’s life became a revolving door of hospital stays, prayers, and desperate hope. She endured round after round of chemotherapy. While most children with similar diagnoses could return home between treatments, Ayda’s unique case—marked by a rare hormone secretion from the tumor that caused dangerous electrolyte imbalances kept her in the hospital around the clock. For four long months, her parents lived in shifts, one at the hospital and one at home with their newborn, rarely seeing each other, their lives consumed by survival.
After four cycles of chemotherapy, the scans brought devastating news: the tumor had not shrunk. The treatments had done nothing. The family was left with one option, the extremely high-risk surgery doctors had once deemed nearly impossible. Suddenly, their world became a swirl of second opinions and hospital transfers, from St. Jude to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and finally to New York.
Finding Hope in New York City
New York was never the family’s first choice. To them, it seemed chaotic and overwhelming, a place where they worried they wouldn’t find the support they so desperately needed. But when they met with a legendary neuroblastoma surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering, someone who had literally written the book on these tumors, they felt a rare sense of peace. For the first time in months, hope outweighed fear.
It was in that moment of choosing New York, with all its uncertainties and challenges, that the Eales family was first introduced to Ronald McDonald House New York, a place that would soon become a home away from home Allysar and Drew.
The House offered accessibility, refuge, and a sense of safety that was impossible to overstate. “We were surrounded by grief at the hospital, witnessing families lose loved ones,” Allysar recalls. “To be able to leave and retreat to a place where we could breathe, where we could take turns resting and revive ourselves, it was a refuge.”
The House and All Its Comforts
For parents of pediatric patients, the weight of constant vigilance can be exhausting. At the hospital, only one parent could stay overnight with Ayda, and the environment itself was emotionally draining. But at RMH-NY, the family could rest together, confident that their needs were cared for. “It was a place where we didn’t have to be anything other than ourselves,” Allysar says. The House’s proximity to the hospital meant that when emergencies or late-night check-ins arose, the family could move between the House and the hospital with ease. Drew recalls one such instance: “Our first night, I was at the hospital, and I called Allysar at 3:00 AM. We could get to the House instantly. That accessibility was incredible.”
Even small comforts, like meals, became moments of profound connection. Allysar remembers the volunteers serving food not as a transactional exchange, but as an act of love. “People would look me in the eye as they put food on my plate,” she recalls. “You didn’t even need words, just a smile. Those moments of human connection were incredibly powerful.”
And when Ayda joined mom and dad at the House full-time when recovering from her surgery, ice cream was a constant source of joy. She enjoyed every scoop, a small pleasure surrounded by the chaos of treatment. It’s these simple experiences: the warmth of a meal, the familiarity of a snack, the comfort of a safe room, that encapsulate the holistic care RMH-NY provides.
The Community Within RMH-NY
What makes Ronald McDonald House New York extraordinary, Allysar emphasizes, is its community. Families navigating pediatric cancer often feel isolated, but at the House, they were surrounded by others who understood without explanation. “Even though our stories were different, we felt seen,” Allysar says. “Other families, the staff, the volunteers — everyone made us feel like we weren’t alone.” The House’s environment allowed parents and children to process their experiences while surrounded by compassion, support, and intentional care.
Allysar describes the community as compassionate, intentional, and thoughtful. Volunteers and staff weren’t simply providing services; they were showing up for hundreds of families simultaneously, yet every family felt individually valued. “You feel like you belong somewhere, which is rare when so many people can’t relate to what you’re going through,” she explains. The families staying at RMH-NY demonstrated remarkable resilience. Some had been there for months or even years, traveling from across the globe, and yet they managed to navigate their challenges with strength and courage. Allysar and Drew were inspired by these families’ tenacity, noting the mental toughness required to face prolonged medical hardship.
Ayda’s Perspective: Joy in the Everyday
Though Ayda had barely turned two during her treatment, her experience of the House left lasting impressions. When reflecting on her favorite memories today as a healthy eight-year-old, she mentions the art room, the aquarium, and, of course, the ice cream. These details highlight compassionate care that RMH-NY provides, ensuring that children have spaces for play, to think creativity, and even experience moments of joy standing hand-in-hand with serious medical treatments. Allysar and Drew recall how these features created a sense of normalcy for their daughter, providing moments of delight and distraction from her hospital visits.
“It's a really fun place,” Ayda says. “There are fun rooms, food, water, and ice cream every day.” This childlike perspective underscores the importance of family-centered care: children are not merely patients but individuals with needs for happiness, engagement, and comfort. For families like Ayda’s, RMH-NY offers holistic, family centered care—delivering wraparound services that support every aspect of a child’s journey and create a home away from home.
Support Systems and the Role of Donors
For families like Ayda’s, the generosity of RMH-NY donors is life-changing. “Every cent is impactful,” Allysar emphasizes. “Whether it goes to rooms, staff, food, or the volunteers who make beds and serve meals, nothing goes to waste.” Contributions create the foundation that allows families to focus on their children’s recovery without the added burden of logistical and financial stress. Donations allow Ronald McDonald House New York to maintain its commitment to these family’s care and provide a haven where they can regain strength, both physically and emotionally.
Volunteers also play an integral role in this ecosystem. For Drew, the volunteers’ presence conveyed more than service, it communicated solidarity. “It’s not just a scoop of food,” he says. “It’s like they’re saying, ‘We can do this. We’re in this together.’ It felt like running out of a football tunnel, ready to support us at every turn.” These volunteers give their time, energy, and compassion to ensure every family is met with dignity and warmth. Their impact resonates far beyond the walls of the House, extending to families’ emotional resilience and overall experience.
Looking Back: Gratitude and Closure
Last year, Allysar brought Ayda to New York City to commemorate and celebrate Ayda’s five years cancer-free. Allysar describes it as “healing,” a moment to witness the outcome of years of care, support, and love. She reflects on the privilege of showing Ayda the other side of her story: a healthy, thriving child surrounded by a community that helped her and her family navigate one of life’s most difficult challenges. “It’s humbling,” Allysar says. “We really wouldn’t be here without the support and generosity of the entire team and donors.”
Drew echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the closure and peace the family feels now. The experience transformed their perspective on crisis, community, and gratitude. They’ve moved from a place of survival to one of reflection and joy, appreciating the impact RMH-NY has had on their lives.
The RMH-NY Gala: Celebrating Families and Community
The family’s story is now intertwined with the RMH-NY Gala, an annual event that celebrates families, volunteers, and donors while raising essential funds for the House’s programs. This year’s Gala honors the resilience of pediatric patients like Ayda and recognizes the extraordinary generosity of supporters who sustain the House. Among the honorees is NYSE President Lynn Martin, whose leadership and dedication to RMH-NY over recent months have amplified awareness and engagement across the city.
For Allysar and Drew, the Gala is not just a formal event but a continuation of the gratitude and celebration they experienced at RMH-NY. It is a chance to share their story with the community that helped them navigate a time of immense challenge. It’s also an opportunity to emphasize to donors, volunteers, and attendees how their contributions directly impact families facing pediatric cancer. Allysar reflects on the significance: “Everything that you give, your finances, your time, your energy, allows families to remain strong, to keep fighting, and to feel supported. It doesn’t go to waste.”
RMH- NY’s Annual Gala Fundraiser
On September 30th, Ronald McDonald House New York will gather at Cipriani Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan for its Annual Gala, celebrating Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a “Go Gold” theme.
From 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., the evening will honor families like Ayda’s, highlight the House’s expanding mission, and recognize incredible advocates: Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group; Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications at Mastercard; Vince Tizzio, President & CEO of Axis Capital; and Dr. Richard J. O’Reilly, Emeritus at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and RMH-NY Founding Board Member. Emmy-winning journalist Cheryl Wills will host, and Broadway Inspirational Voices, creators of the House’s “Songs in the Key of Me” program, will perform.
This night of celebration, storytelling, and music gives guests a tangible way to support RMH-NY families with safe spaces, meals, and emotional care, allowing them to stay strong and keep fighting.
Humor and Humanity Circling Hardship
Despite the gravity of their experiences, the family’s story is not devoid of humor. Allysar shares, laughing, that she always encourages her friends to round up their change at McDonald’s because “we love McDonald’s in this house.” This small, lighthearted habit underscores the balance RMH-NY fosters between managing crisis and preserving moments of normalcy, joy, and laughter. Even in the midst of life-altering challenges, families find ways to experience everyday delights, and Ronald McDonald House New York helps make those moments possible.
Advice to Families Facing Similar Journeys
Allysar and Drew are passionate about offering guidance to other families entering RMH-NY. Their advice is rooted in reassurance and perspective: “You can’t imagine the safety net you’re about to walk into,” Allysar says. Families will be cared for in ways they cannot yet anticipate, allowing them to focus on their children and their own well-being. Drew adds that the support system enables parents to channel their energy into what matters most, instead of constantly reacting to crisis. “It gives you a level of peace and comfort to stay focused on the things you should truly react to,” he explains.
For children like Ayda, the advice is simple and encouraging. The House is a place for fun, food, and friendship, where every day offers small joys — from art rooms to aquariums to ice cream. These experiences are such an important part of the healing, underscoring RMH-NY’s commitment to holistic care and emotional support for pediatric patients.
Reflections on Resilience and Strength
What resonates throughout the family’s story is the power of resilience — both in the pediatric patient and in the parents. Ayda’s courage at such a young age is remarkable, but so too is the fortitude of Allysar and Drew, who navigated fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion with grace and love. RMH-NY supports this resilience by providing practical resources, compassionate care, and an environment that validates families’ experiences while offering reprieve.
The House’s volunteers, donors, and staff all contribute to this ecosystem of strength. Each gesture, a meal served, a bed made, a smile offered, reinforces families’ capacity to face the challenges of pediatric cancer. The ripple effects extend beyond the individual family to the broader community, fostering empathy, understanding, and connection.
Celebrating Life and Moving Forward
Today, Ayda is thriving, a testament to the power of community, medical expertise, and family-centered care. Allysar and Drew reflect on their journey not with lingering fear but with gratitude and joy. They look forward to sharing their story at the RMH-NY Gala, emphasizing not only the hardships they faced but the life they now enjoy because of the support they received. “We want to celebrate the life we have now because of the season we had to heal in New York,” Allysar explains.
The Gala will provide a stage for this celebration, honoring pediatric patients, their families, and the network of support that makes their journeys possible. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, hope, love, and resilience can prevail. RMH-NY stands as a beacon for families, offering not just rooms and meals but emotional support, community, and a tangible sense of being seen, understood, and cared for.
The Ripple of Impact
The story of Allysar, Drew, and Ayda illustrates the profound impact of RMH-NY’s mission. From the moment they arrived, exhausted and overwhelmed, to the day they returned, healthy and grateful, the House has been a place of refuge, joy, and community. It has demonstrated that compassionate care extends beyond medical needs, encompassing emotional support, social connection, and holistic care for the whole family.
Donors, volunteers, and staff alike are part of this story, creating an ecosystem that allows families to focus on healing and celebrating life. Every contribution, whether time, resources, or funds, reverberates through the lives of pediatric patients and their families, sustaining hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
As the family prepares to attend this year’s RMH-NY Gala, they carry with them gratitude, humor, and awe for the community that transformed their experience. For families facing pediatric cancer, RMH-NY is not just a house; it is a home, a sanctuary, and a source of strength. For the broader community, it is a reminder that collective generosity and compassion can change lives in profound, lasting ways.
A Gala of Gratitude
Allysar and Drew sum it up beautifully: “Every cent, every gesture, every volunteer is impactful. The House allows families to remain strong, to keep fighting, to put wind in their sails. It is a place where you don’t have to think about the next meal, the next bed, the next night’s sleep—you can just be present with your child, with your family.” That presence, that safety, and that comfort are what allow families to heal in the midst of unimaginable circumstances. And it’s exactly this spirit of giving, of community, and of care that the RMH-NY Gala celebrates each year. By honoring donors, volunteers, and staff, the Gala shines a spotlight on the collective community effort that makes miracles like Ayda’s journey possible.
For the Eales family, walking into the Gala won’t be just a chance to celebrate—it will be a moment to reflect on the journey they have endured, the community that has held them up, and the joy of witnessing their daughter thrive today. It’s a full-circle moment: from uncertainty and fear to gratitude, celebration, and hope, all thanks to the unwavering support of Ronald McDonald House New York.
Donate today to give more families like Ayda's the compassionate care they deserve in their darkest hours!
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POST-GALA UPDATE
The Eales Family didn’t just take the stage at the Gala—they owned it. Drew and Allysar walked up with Ayda by their side and immediately had the room leaning in as they bravely revisited those terrifying, sleepless nights when their daughter was fighting for her life. They spoke honestly about how Ronald McDonald House New York became their refuge, their reset button, and their reminder that joy still exists, even when you’re surrounded by the beeping machines and heavy silences of a pediatric hospital wing.
And then came Ayda.
Strutting on stage like the rockstar Lynn Martin later officially declared her to be, Ayda reminded New York’s finest and most elite guests that every dollar they give to RMH-NY isn’t just a donation—it’s a direct ticket to hope. She didn’t sugarcoat it. Families like hers were staring down despair until the House stepped in. Her message was simple, heartfelt, and a mic-drop moment… which is fitting, since she pretty much stole the whole show.
Oh, and in case you missed it, Ayda also casually revealed the breaking news of the night: her favorite color is green. Forget Wall Street reports or stock updates—this was the data point that had the crowd buzzing.
The evening also featured an epic throwback to Ayda’s recent rockstar move at the New York Stock Exchange. The Eales family rang the closing bell alongside RMH-NY Board and Leadership, and during her speech, NYSE President Lynn Martin quipped: “Celebrities, business titans, and the world’s most influential CEOs have rung the closing bell. But last Friday, for the very first time, a rockstar rang the closing bell—and that rockstar was Ayda.” Cue standing ovation (and probably a few choked-up traders).
Finally, to close out the Gala, the Eales crew joined RMH-NY Board Chair Jim Flanagan and NYSE’s Kristin Scholer to ring the final bell of the night. This wasn’t just a bell—it was a victory chime, a celebration of a little girl who beat cancer and a family who stood tall through it all.
So here’s to Ayda, Drew, Allysar, Kyden, and Zara. You stood in front of 1,000 people at Cipriani Wall Street and didn’t just share your story—you lit up the room. You reminded us why we fight for every family, and why RMH-NY is more than just a House. You were magnificent, hilarious, and unforgettable.
We’ll be counting down the days until we get to celebrate Ayda’s 7th, 8th, 9th (and let’s be real—100th) cancer-free anniversaries. And when that day comes, someone better make sure the party decorations are green.
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