07 Nov Comforts of the Heart: Jaida’s Story

What started as leg pain and a fever suddenly grew much more concerning for Cassidy’s 11-year-old daughter Jaida after the symptoms prompted doctors to send the family directly to Phoenix, over 400 miles from their home in Littlefield, in northwest Arizona. Shortly after, Jaida was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia.

“We didn’t have a plan, they just said you have to go now,” Cassidy said. But Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona did have a plan for her family. “As soon as we walked in, we were amazed,” she said. “They had everything that we needed. They had shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom – everything.”

Besides providing all of the functional essentials from home, Jadia and Cassidy found the House to provide the comforts of the heart, too. “I really feel like the House is almost life for us right now,” Cassidy said. “I’ll remember the time we got to spend together here rather than being in the hospital. We got to have fun and hang out and just be together. This room is a memory we’ll have forever.”

Even though she’s anxious to get home to her friends, the House is unforgettable for Jaida, too. “The Ronald McDonald House is magical,” she said. “The people here are always so happy. This place is awesome.”

Your generous gift to the House provides priceless memories for families like Jaida’s. Help keep families close to the care and resources they need by donating to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona today.