When a child’s health is at stake, every decision feels monumental, every day carries uncertainty, and every moment away from home is fraught with emotional weight. For Neisha and her 11-month-old son, Azaire, this reality began on the serene Caribbean island of Grenada and unfolded across the bustling streets of New York City.

When Grace Johnson arrived at Ronald McDonald House New York one summer evening with her baby girl, Gracie Rose, it wasn’t just a visit. It was a moment that tied together months of phone calls, late-night worries, and a growing trust between two women on very different journeys.

At Ronald McDonald House New York, we witness how a diagnosis can completely alter a family's life overnight. For Christopher Jackson, this change arrived on an autumn day when school, soccer, and ordinary teenage plans were abruptly interrupted by an extraordinary test of endurance.

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)

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a time to honor the resilience of young patients and the families who navigate pediatric cancer, while also recognizing the staff, volunteers, and donors who help ease those journeys.

While each child’s story at Ronald McDonald House New York may begin with a diagnosis, what unfolds inside the House is a much more joyful truth for these kids: educational opportunity, growth resilience, and deeply personal victories shaped by holistic care—and the unwavering support of the educators and families who stand beside them. 

This September, join us in building a future where every child has the support they need to heal—and where families find hope, healing, and strength together.

Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) will proudly "Go Gold" in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month as we gather for the RMH-NY’s  Annual Gala at the stunning Cipriani Wall Street on September 30^th, 2025. This year’s event brings a truly historic milestone: the presentation of the inaugural Medicine Gives Hope Award to a man whose life's work has changed the course of pediatric cancer care across the globe — Dr. Richard J. O’Reilly.

One family who embodies this journey is that of 28-year-old Balnur and her younger brother, 16-year-old Dimash. Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan—a city nestled at the base of the Tien Shan mountains—the siblings have been living at the House for over a year. Their story is one of perseverance, devotion, and profound love.