John was one week old when he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition.

“I just knew something was wrong,” is what Celine, John’s mother, thought when he was transferred from a children’s hospital to a women's hospital to see a cardiologist. She was right and at just 7 days old John was diagnosed with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAVPD).

This heart condition is rare and came as heart breaking news for John and his family. Following that appointment John was immediately airlifted from Adelaide to Melbourne for emergency surgery. 

Being that far away from home caused a lot of anxiety for Celine, but she had a place to call home at Ronald McDonald House Parkville.

“Ronald McDonald House is the best support system. I don’t think we would’ve coped without them.”

While John received treatment, Celine was able to stay close and help him his recovery.

John’s surgery was a success and the family were able to return to their home in Adelaide after staying 18 nights at Ronald McDonald House. Back home he would continue to recover by meeting with specialists.  

Unfortunately, their relief was short lived as a routine check up showed John’s heart wasn’t receiving normal blood flow as it should’ve.

With this heart-breaking news, John and his family had to return to Melbourne for another emergency open-heart surgery.

“I wasn’t expecting to hear those words again, but I knew I had to be strong for John.”

This time, it wasn’t so easy for John to get the treatment he needed, as COVID-19 stopped the family from getting into Melbourne.

“The cardiologist didn’t want to risk sending John to Melbourne, so it became a waiting game.”

Fearful is how John’s family felt as they waited an extra 6 months to get the much-needed surgery at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s hospital.

“We were very unsure if we could be accepted but we are extremely lucky to have Ronald McDonald House.”

Now John has had two open heart surgeries and is continuing to grow stronger each day.

Celine shares that she will miss the staff and volunteers the most at Ronald McDonald House as “they always asked if we needed anything and asked how John was, it was the support I needed.”

We were able to be there for John during his treatment and recovery, and with your amazing community support we are able to keep our doors open for families like Johns.

“Ronald McDonald House put a lot of work into helping people, and they helped my family so much during John’s surgeries.”

Today John and Celine are back home in Adelaide with the rest of their family where he continues to see a cardiologist for his heart condition. We look forward to seeing the family again for any future appointments they have in Melbourne.

Children like John, need the support of their family nearby. 

You can help sick kids, like John, stay close with their family by making a donation.