And right in the middle of it all was Marcellus climbing, exploring, carrying 18-wheeler toy trucks bigger than himself from one end of the Family Room to the other while his mother, Natalie, told stories that moved seamlessly between humor, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom.

When families are confined to their suites for months at a time, caregiver well-being becomes not optional—but essential. For caregivers, RMH-NY’s Blavatnik Family Foundation Wellness Center continues to provide:

It begins in rural Michigan, “where two dirt roads collide and you’re staring at corn fields all over the place,” as Haley explains later. It stretches all the way to New York City, past two big front doors,

For Shonda and her three daughters—Aviana (13), Vaughncia (19), and three-year-old Rohana (Roro)—life in Albion, New York, was simple and filled with family.

When Alina began her graduate thesis in architecture, she brought more than drafting pencils and design models to the table. She carried the weight of her own childhood — years defined by treatment for neuroblastoma, long stays at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital (MSK), and a second home at Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY).

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.

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.

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.

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.