The Duchess of Cambridge made the royal rounds on Tuesday, visiting the Ronald McDonald Evelina London House in Lambeth, UK and leaving her mark on more than a few families while she was there.
Ronald McDonald Houses are living facilities that provide families with a free place to stay while their child is in the hospital. Often, families have to travel a great distance to get the care their child needs and are burdened by the stress of either finding a place to stay nearby or constantly traveling back and forth. This new Ronald McDonald House has 59 bedrooms, communal lounge areas, and multiple kitchens “which enable families to come together in support whilst their little ones are ill,” according to Kensington Palace.
Her Royal Highness has the chance to meet little Jack who was born with just half a heart. His mum and dad, who live in Glasgow, are able to stay at the "home away from home" while their baby receives specialist treatment. The new 59-bedroom facility also has lounge areas and kitchens, which enable families to come together in support whilst their little ones are ill. Ronald McDonald House charities run 14 houses around the UK and support over 7,000 families each year.
While opening the new facility, The Duchess of Cambridge (and mom of two herself) touched the heart of nearly everyone she met, particularly two mothers going through difficult times.
Rebecca Bridges-Wheeler’s son Lewis was born at just 23 weeks and has faced numerous health problems since. She was especially touched that The Duchess of Cambridge would take the time to visit her family and lend her support.
According to The Daily Mail, Bridges-Wheeler described the meeting as “emotional”:
“I got a bit emotional talking to Kate. She stopped talking and let me compose myself. You could see the sympathy in her eyes, she was so warm and down-to-earth.”
On the same visit, The Duchess of Cambridge met Jack (pictured above), a little boy born with half a heart. His mom and dad are from Glasgow (roughly 415 miles away), but thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, they are able to stay close by while Jack undergoes treatment from a specialist at a nearby hospital.
The Duchess of Cambridge also met with Danielle Debono and Dion Mifsud. Their baby Mia needs dialysis every night for 12 hours after having both her kidneys removed. According to The Daily Mail, Kate “gave the eight-month-old infant a gentle tickle on the foot” and told the parents, ‘Having a baby is a life-changing moment but for you having to go through all that as well is extraordinary.’
Thank you for the lovely posy Isabelle! Little eight year old Isabelle gave The Duchess a lovely bouquet of flowers. Isabelle's little brother Luke is just six years old and he suffers from multiple illnesses. He has up to 50 epileptic fits a day and has sensory impairments. Isabelle and her __parents have been staying at Evelina House for four weeks and Isabelle has had the chance to attend school there while her brother receives treatment.
Another little girl, who presented flowers to The Duchess of Cambridge upon her arrival, is 8-year-old Isabelle, also a temporary resident of The Ronald McDonald House. Her little brother Luke has a number of health problems and experiences up to 50 epileptic fits every day. Thanks to the charity, he is able to receive treatment while remaining close to his family.
Of course, this is far from the first time The Duchess of Cambridge has given back to those in need. Her “job” as a senior member of the royal family (and the future Queen of England) is to champion causes important to her. Since marrying The Duke of Cambridge in April 2011, she has balanced work and motherhood by traveling the globe — everywhere from Canada to India — raising awareness on issues like mental illness, domestic abuse, and bullying.