Ronald McDonald House of Dallas

05.29.10
An Inspiring Life

The following is a letter sent to our Executive Diretor, Barbara McDermott. It touched our hearts as so many of our families do!

Dear Ms. McDermott:

Congratulations on the construction of your new house! You can never imagine the amount of good work you and your volunteers do for families with seriously ill children. My daughter, Amanda Kruse, was air transported on a Friday night from Children’s Hospital in New Orleans to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas 13 years ago with idiopathic hepatic failure (i.e. liver failure) of unknown origin. Amanda was 14 months old, in a coma, and expected to die. They didn’t let us travel with her for fear of hysterical parents should she die in flight.

We flew up the next morning. Amanda was still in a coma and we were given a transplant beeper. Her EEG had begun to flatten, and the medical staff could no longer find her liver. She was expected to die Saturday night. Yet, Sunday morning, she awoke out of her coma and began trying to pull out her tubes. To this day, she hates needles. We were moved to a regular room Monday morning. Her liver inexplicably began to regenerate and she has had a miraculous recovery.

Your staff and volunteers offered us a home away from home. I even remember the gentleman who used to bring roses for guests. I understand this tradition lives on. Without the support of the Ronald McDonald House, I’m not sure how we would have made it through those days.

You have also been a source of inspiration. In gratitude, Amanda and I began cooking for the New Orleans House. She would sit on my hip and help me stir. I continued cooking until I was injured in a car accident.

When Amanda started high school and needed service hours, I let her read my journal. She only knew she had 2 scars from her liver failure. She didn’t remember anything else for which I am grateful. She began cooking for the New Orleans House and it has become her charity. She also works with 4 other charities. Your hospitality was her inspiration. She went from cooking “cold cereal in a bowl” to jambalaya, brownies, and cornbread. This year her repertoire has increased to include angel food cake. And she can bake one that does not fall.

She has had several interviews about her charity work. She’s earned a Presidential Volunteer Medal last year and she will receive one this year. She is working on a Congressional Medal, and she won a Charity and Social Service Award from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for her work.

I wanted you to know we remember you. Not only did you support us in our time of need, you gave Amanda insight into the good work of charity. Our family can never express our gratitude.

Sincerely,

Debbie Kruse (Amanda’s mom)
Click here to see her Video Story