For families with sick children, Ronald McDonald House is a lifesaver

Ronald McDonald House is a gift to parents, writes Helen O’Callaghan

WHEN the phone rings to say there’s a room free in Ronald McDonald House, it’s like winning the lotto, says Cork mum of two Sylvia O’Riordan.

Sylvia’s six-year-old daughter, Lexie, has microvillus inclusion disease — her small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients so she can’t take food by mouth. Instead she’s fed at night through a vein. “She sits with us at mealtimes but doesn’t eat. She goes to her friends’ parties and just sips water,” says Sylvia.