Max and his family have conquered cancer and now pay-it-forward for other seriously ill children.
Max is your typical sports-mad teenager; a very talented Footy and Cricket player - winning best and fairest for the Under 16's Lismore-Derrinallum Football Club in 2018 and was playing cricket right up until life changed for him and his family. 
On February 7th 2019, Max was diagnosed with Large B-Cell Lymphoma. The news devasted him and his whole family as they were told treatment would be needed at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
“We were all in a complete blur when we were first told. We weren’t sure what to do but thankfully our social worker organised for us to stay at Ronald McDonald House.” Narelle, Max’s Mum.
Max and his family travelled from their home in Derrinallum Victoria to Ronald McDonald House Parkville where he would receive treatment. But his family still felt overwhelmed with stress after they learned about his treatment plan.
“We were told treatment may take 4 to 6 months and that he would be inpatient for most of the time. Which made us question everything from hospital life to family life.”
Their stress went away as they realized the amount of support they had from their hometown, hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
“We had friends and family support us from home and we had the House that gave us an escape from hospital life.”
Max’s mum, dad and brother called Ronald McDonald House Parkville home for 99 nights and overcame a difficult time together, as a family. Their time in the House made them feel inspired to become charity champions for future families.
The Uren family are proud Adopt a Room sponsors of Room 11, their home away from home for those 99 nights.
“I know we wouldn’t have been able to support Max as well as we did if it wasn’t for Ronald McDonald House, and now I want to give back. “
Max returned home in remission and was greeted by the loving community of Derrinallum. He recovered fully from his diagnosis and his family take comfort in knowing that Room 11 doors will remain open for other families going through a tough time.
Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania
Children like Max, who has needed months of treatment, miss out on time spent at home surrounded by their family and community. The purpose of the Ronald McDonald House is to provide a safe and supportive home-away-from-home for families when they need it the most.
In 2019 Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania supported 2,402 families.
