Ronald McDonald House of Dallas

08.15.11
Finding Strength in Unexpected Places

Kaytee was hidden by her brother Kathen in the womb and her heart defect was not discovered until a few days after their birth. Once tests confirmed Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome she was immediately CareFlighted to Dallas fromYukon, Oklahoma. Mom stayed behind not knowing whether she would see or hold her daughter again.

Until that day, Nicole and Jeremey Clement had no idea the emotional rollercoaster the birth of their first children would put them on. Through her tears Nicole explains, "It's difficult seeing your baby on a respirator and all kinds of tubes. You can't pick her up, feed her, hold her ... comfort her."

The Clement family was torn between the happiness of their perfectly healthy son and the fear and anxiety of their precious daughter who had been given a 30% chance of living past 2 months. "Every fear you could possibly think of, I had," Nicole explained.

"When I first arrived at the Ronald McDonald House I was scared to talk to the other families at the House. My own self-pity was so great. I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me because I knew they had their own problems."

Once Nicole and Jeremey got through their daughter's first surgery and faced many difficult decisions in her care, they quickly learned that it was through talking and bonding with other families that they received the strength they needed to overcome their fears. When Kaytee was barely 7 months old, they drew upon this strength and agreed to a surgery with a 50/50 percent survival rate. Not only did Kaytee survive, but she's thriving and a few short weeks after her surgery they are packing up to go home.

Although home is a welcome sight after being here for 8 months, Jeremy tells us "The Ronald McDonald House is a godsend. Everyone here goes above and beyond. The kind words. The helpfulness. When you arrive you're welcomed with open arms and treated like family. You all don't have to do what you're doing – what you're doing is beyond human compassion."