Two years ago, John Pealer and his wife, Myrna, watched as their son, Michael, struggled with Muscular Dystrophy at Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando. This family lived in the Winter Garden area and did not have a vehicle, so it was hard for them to visit Michael, especially as his health condition would change rapidly. They wanted to be close to their son, but it was not something they were always able to work out.
The Pealer family was referred by the pediatric hospital to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Through this program, they were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House on the campus of Arnold Palmer Medical Center until Michael passed away peacefully on March 24, 2009. The family was able to find some peace, knowing that they were able to be at Michael's side as Muscular Dystrophy overpowered his frail body.
The Ronald McDonald House program of Orlando provides a comfortable, affordable and pleasant place for the families of hospitalized children. There are two Houses situated directly on hospital property: one on the campus of the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children at the corner of Princeton and Alden Road and the other on the campus of Arnold Palmer Medical Center on Kuhl Avenue.
Since December 1996, the RMH program has helped more than 15,000 families. The Houses are operated by a small staff and volunteer board of directors, and they rely on the assistance of community volunteers to help care for the families and maintain the properties. While there is no cost to stay at a Ronald McDonald House, a $15 donation is suggested for an overnight stay. No family is ever turned away for inability to contribute.
The Delaney family relied on the Ronald McDonald House when their twins, William and Noah, were born prematurely. Both weighed under 4 pounds and required hospitalization for three weeks.
“During such a stressful time, The Ronald McDonald House allowed us to be together as a family” Mike Delaney recalled. “From dinners provided by volunteers, fresh coffee in the morning, a computer room where we could work and stay connected with loved ones and sharing with other families, our experience was amazing.”
John Pealer remains grateful and always wanted to somehow pay back RMH for their kindness and compassion. He felt it was the right thing for him to do, even though it was not required. He never had the money to offer them, but still today he wants to do something.
The Real Charitable Housewives (RCH) of Orlando learned of John's wishes and wanted to help out. RCH was formed in Wilmington, DE in 2010 by Jill Fella. She believed that, to some, there was a stereotypical "housewife" that valued the material things over helping to make this a better world for everyone. So Fella, in an effort to reverse this stereotype, formed RCH.
In January, 2011, Kim Ryan, a teacher at a low income public school in Orlando, was impressed with Fella's concept and formed The Real Charitable Housewives of Orlando (RCHO).
Ryan and her team at RCHO have come up with a way to help make John's Christmas Wish come true. Enlisting the assistance of area companies, stores and groups, RCHO ia collecting donations of products that the RMH needs most. Cristina O’Connell, one of the assistant house managers, said "the items on the wish list, large or small, help keep our houses functioning on a daily basis. From a simple paper plate for a mom to take food over to the hospital to an umbrella for a parent to shield their child from the rain - every item on the list counts.”
RCHO is also looking for locations that would like to be "real charitable businesses" by being drop off locations. Interested businesses can contact Ryan at kimblee322@gmail.com.
John will be given the honor of serving as Santa Claus and deliver the products directly to the Ronald McDonald House near the Florida Hospital for Children on December 17.
“The Ronald McDonald House was very helpful. They provided whatever we needed,” Pealer said. “I was getting sick and the hospital told me about RMH that was across the street. I have always wanted to help the Ronald McDonald Houses of Orlando for all they did for me and my family,” Pealer admitted. “This makes me and Myrna so happy to be able to be a part of this.”
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