2026 F A M I L Y
P R O F I L E
Oliver Irwin’s Story Home: Lebanon, MO (Laclede County)
“On May 15, 2025, I went into labor at 33 weeks
and 2 days when my water broke spontaneously. I ended up having to have a C-section that night because my water was completely gone, I wasn’t going into labor, and my son was breech. My son was sent to the NICU to be observed for a rare disease called Menkes Syndrome, as well as for being born early. Menkes Syndrome affects the small intestines, heart, and brain. It makes it difficult to eat and to live everyday life, including even being able to regulate body temperature. It can cause childhood death. There is currently no cure. Our NICU nurse applied for us to have a room at the Ronald McDonald House, as I was worried about what we were going to do when we were discharged from the hospital since we lived in Lebanon, MO. I also have a 6-year-old autistic son who was with us, and they allowed him to stay in the room with us. They made sure we were fed and had access to free laundry and so much more. They treated us like family and did everything they could to make our stay as easy and comfortable as possible while we were going through such a difficult time away from home. On May 29, 2025, we were told at the last minute that our son was being life-flighted to St. Louis Children’s Hospital due to his rare disease. When we told the Ronald McDonald House, they wished us the best on our next journey and even went as far as calling the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis to secure a room for us so we wouldn’t have to worry and could focus fully on our little one. On July 2, 2025, our son went to be with the Lord at 6 weeks and 6 days old. Still to this day, the Springfield Ronald McDonald House checks on us from time to time. I can honestly say the people at the Ronald McDonald House are some of the most wonderful, loving people. They helped create the best memories we could have had with our son while he was here on earth with us. We are truly thankful for them. Whenever I have the chance, I donate so they can continue helping other families in their time of need, just as they helped ours.”
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