Every year, Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) becomes a refuge for families who travel from across the globe seeking life-saving medical care for their children. Here, at the intersection of healthcare and hospitality, families from every continent find not only shelter but a place where their children’s futures can be rewritten.
During International Family Week (April 28th- May 2nd) and only weeks before the world will recognize the UN-supported International Day of Families on May 15th, RMH-NY celebrates the incredible bravery of families like Edgar and Sirlene’s, who left everything behind in Paraguay to save their daughter Candela’s life. Their story reminds us that hope knows no boundaries and that…at Ronald McDonald House New York, every family belongs.
Where the World Comes Together: Ronald McDonald House New York’s Global Care
RMH-NY serves families from more than 40 countries each year, offering much more than just four walls and a roof over their head. The House creates a true home that honors every family's culture, faith, and experience.
Recognizing that a child's illness impacts the whole family, RMH-NY has prioritized cultural sensitivity and inclusion. Kenia, RMH-NY’s first international social worker helps families from other countries navigate language barriers, cultural differences, and emotional stresses unique to living abroad. In the Blavatnik Family Foundation Wellness Center, caregivers lead classes where they share traditional meals and customs from their home countries. RMH-NY’s celebrations include holidays from all around the world—ensuring every family feels seen, recognized, and supported.
For Edgar and Sirlene this sense of welcome was immediate. “We felt safe here,” Sirlene shared. “It felt like home.”
That feeling of belonging—so essential during times of crisis—helped them find strength to face the long and difficult journey ahead.
Courage Before Birth: Candela’s Story
In early 2021, Edgar and Sirlene were preparing to welcome their first child, Candela. Their excitement was boundless. Yet during a routine 17-week ultrasound, their world shifted in an instant. Doctors found that Candela’s heart was missing its entire left side.
She was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), one of the most serious congenital heart defects. In Paraguay, no surgical options were available. Doctors advised them to cherish every moment of the pregnancy but quietly warned them that Candela would not survive long after birth.
For two months, Edgar and Sirlene treasured every moment. They took trips. They ate special meals. They sang to Candela in the womb, loving her fiercely despite the uncertainty.
At 30 weeks, a chance consultation with another cardiologist revealed new hope. In places like the United States, surgeries had been developed that could reconstruct the heart’s blood flow and give children with HLHS a chance at life.
Launching a national fundraising campaign, they hoped to reach Boston Children's Hospital, where many HLHS surgeries had pioneered success. But the journey to Boston proved financially impossible. Instead, NYU Langone Health in New York City welcomed them with open arms.
And through a compassionate social worker’s connection, they learned of Ronald McDonald House New York.
A New Chapter at Ronald McDonald House New York
Two weeks before Candela’s birth, Edgar and Sirlene arrived at RMH-NY. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and protocols were strict. Families could not gather in common spaces. Meals were delivered directly to rooms. Yet even within these restrictions, the warmth of the House shone through.
“When we saw the House from the outside for the first time, we said, ‘Oh my God, we want to be there,’” Sirlene remembered.
On arrival, they were welcomed with kindness and respect. Candela, born soon after, spent her early days fighting for her life. Her first open-heart surgery came within days of birth, the beginning of a long medical journey that would stretch over years.
Each time Candela needed hospitalization—whether for surgeries, follow-ups, or recovery—Ronald McDonald House New York was there. Providing a place to sleep after long hospital days. Hot meals. Laundry facilities. Support from staff who understood the emotional toll the family was under.
Today, Candela is three years old. Her heart is still missing by half, but it is strong enough to allow her to play, laugh, and grow. And perhaps most incredibly—Candela is now a proud big sister to baby Allegra, born in early 2025.
Keep reading to the end to learn the most exciting part of Edgar, Sirlene, Candela, and Allegra’s journey. Very special news delivered by the family on National Superhero Day- April 28th.
The Importance of Community
Edgar and Sirlene speak often about the people they met at the House—fellow families from around the world, volunteers, staff members, and supporters who helped them feel at home. That sense of shared experience formed a quiet but powerful bond.
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“Este lugar es muy especial, porque todo el mundo se siente comprendido.”
"This place is very special because everyone feels understood."
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As a bilingual family, they also found comfort in the diversity of RMH-NY’s community. “It’s a multicultural house,” Sirlene noted. “We learned so much about other people, and other people learned about us. The food, the music, the conversations.”
This exchange became a small but profound form of healing. For Allegra and Candela, it was also an opportunity to make friends and discover laughter. For Edgar and Sirlene, it reminded them that even in moments of grief or fear, connection is still possible.
What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome?
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a rare, life-threatening congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped. Specifically, the left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve, and portions of the aorta are either too small or absent.
HLHS prevents the heart from effectively pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body. Without intervention, it is fatal within the first few days or weeks of life.
Treatment typically involves three complex open-heart surgeries:
- Norwood Procedure (within the first week): Reconstructs the heart to enable blood flow to the body.
- Glenn Procedure (around 4–6 months): Connects the superior vena cava to the pulmonary artery, reducing the heart's workload.
- Fontan Procedure (between ages 2–5): Diverts venous blood directly to the lungs, bypassing the heart.
Children who survive these surgeries often face additional challenges, including arrhythmias, heart failure, or the need for a future heart transplant.
Yet thanks to surgical innovation, survival rates have improved dramatically. Today, many children with HLHS—like Candela—are thriving well into adulthood.
Living Life Fully at Ronald McDonald House New York
Living at Ronald McDonald House New York transformed Candela’s life beyond medical care. She was able to attend a local preschool just a five-minute walk from the House. She learned English words. She made friends from all over the world.
International Family Appreciation Week 2025 at Ronald McDonald House New York
Holidays at the House brought new traditions. For a family that primarily celebrated Christmas in Paraguay, it was a joyful surprise to experience Fourth of July fireworks, Valentine’s Day parties, and even Halloween parades.
For Sirlene, the greatest gift was the sense of normalcy.
Candela’s favorite place at the House is the Playroom, where toys, games, and crafts offer children an escape from the world of doctors and treatments. There, she can simply be a child—a luxury families facing serious illnesses do not take for granted.
A Message to the Donors Who Make It Possible
When asked what they would say to the donors who make Ronald McDonald House New York possible, Edgar and Sirlene’s gratitude was overwhelming.
"First, a big, big thank you," said Sirlene. "Every small donation changes a life."
Edgar reflected on the difference RMH-NY made for their family:
"Without this House, we truly don’t know what would have happened. New York is so expensive. We needed access to the best hospitals—and we needed a place to stay. Ronald McDonald House New York made both possible."
They emphasized that RMH-NY offers much more than a place to sleep. It provides emotional support, stability, and hope. It gives children like Candela a chance to live fully—and families like theirs the chance to stay whole.
Advice for Families Coming to RMH-NY
To families just beginning their journey, Edgar and Sirlene offer heartfelt advice in both English and Spanish, their native tongue:
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Their message is one of comfort to families arriving overwhelmed and unsure of the future: RMH-NY is a place where you are never alone.
Support Families Like Candela’s
Today, families seeking medical care abroad face increasing challenges. Visa restrictions, financial hurdles, and the emotional strain of uprooting their lives make an already difficult journey even harder.
Your support for Ronald McDonald House New York ensures that families like Candela’s have a home while they fight for their child's life.
Today, on International Day of Families, we ask you to stand with these families.
Your donation provides:
- Safe, welcoming housing steps away from world-renowned hospitals.
- Hot meals, caregiver support groups, and translation services.
- Cultural celebrations that help families feel seen and loved.
- Stability for siblings like Allegra, ensuring no child is forgotten.
👉 Donate today to support international families at Ronald McDonald House New York.
Because when families are strong, a child’s medical journey becomes a much easier road to walk. When families have hope, anything is possible. And when we stand together—across borders, across differences—we make the world a kinder place.
Together, we can continue to be the open door for families seeking miracles.
Special Update
On Monday, April 28th, capes flew, buildings were scaled, and joy took center stage at Ronald McDonald House New York.
While the world celebrated National Superhero Day, RMH-NY turned things up to eleven—as we do every year—with a full-throttle, no-holds-barred salute to courage, strength, and heart. Thanks to our Children’s Enrichment Program’s Team, Superhero Day at the House has long been a beloved tradition, growing more epic each year since its humble beginnings well before the pandemic. It’s a day made for laughter, wide eyes, and the kind of memories that live forever in a kid’s heart.
Need proof that magic happens on Superhero Day? Just take a look back at Denise’s story—when her son met Batman for the first time on our 3rd floor terrace, something shifted for their family in a way words can barely capture.
And this year? The miracles came faster than a speeding bullet.
The most thrilling news flying through the House faster than a boomarang? Candela received the ‘all clear’ from her care team. That’s right—she and her family are officially heading home to Paraguay full-time. Cue the confetti cannons and happy tears. By the time you read this, Edgar, Sirlene, Candela, and Allegra will likely be unpacking suitcases in Paraguay, telling their relatives about a city called New York, a home-away-from-home that still houses so many new friends, and all the superheroes they met—both in costume and out.
Edgar let us know the family will return to NYC in February 2026 for Candela’s next check-up. But for now, the smiles are wide, the hearts are full, and the journey ahead looks bright.
And speaking of bright—did we mention the literal superheroes climbing the outside of the House?
Thank you to Skyline Access
This year’s Superhero Day featured the incredible volunteer team from Skyline Access and Skyline Charitable Foundation—a brave, gravity-defying crew who brought the kids’ favorite comic book champions to life by scaling the actual walls of RMH-NY. Yes, you read that right. Captain America rappelled past the fourth-floor windows. Batman gave a salute mid-air. Spiderman did a few tricks that made us question the laws of physics entirely. And we’re pretty sure we caught Iron Man waving at a toddler on the 7th floor.
These real-life heroes strapped into their harnesses and descended like legends, waving to every child (and adult) glued to the glass with awe and glee. The impact was instant. One child shouted, “MOM! SPIDERMAN IS REAL!” and honestly, who were we to argue? For a few hours on a Monday afternoon, the House shimmered with wonder.
Skyline Access didn’t just bring costumes and ropes—they brought joy, courage, and the reminder that strength comes in many forms. Whether it’s a dad holding his daughter’s hand at an appointment, or a volunteer in a cape going over the edge of a building to make a child smile, heroism takes many shapes at RMH-NY.
An International Family’s Homecoming
So yes, April 28th was National Superhero Day and this same week we highlight our international families with International Family Week—but here, it became personal. We honored those from across the world like we honor those families right here in NYC fighting battles big and small, those cheering from the sidelines, and those rappelling down brick walls just to spark a laugh and to urge a bigger smile.
And as the House said goodbye to Candela and her family, we did so the way only RMH-NY can—with capes fluttering, hearts bursting, and the sweet, unshakable belief that love and laughter truly are the greatest superpowers of them all.
So, to Candela, Allegra, Sirlene, and Edgar—we wish you the happiest of homecomings and safest of travels. You’ll always have a second home waiting for you here, just beyond our House’s front door.
And to every family, every volunteer, and every supporter—thank you for making days like this possible. You, just like our kids and families, are the real superheroes.
Leaving Home and Finding Hope: Candela’s Journey at Ronald McDonald House New York
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