2026 F A M I L Y
P R O F I L E
Perry Family Home: Waynesville, MO (Pulaski County)
“Our sweet girl, Charlotte, was born at 34 weeks gestation in
June 2025. I went into spontaneous preterm labor after a seemingly healthy pregnancy and ended up needing to be induced due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). My husband and I live in Waynesville, so I had planned to give birth at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, but because they do not have a NICU, we were transferred to Mercy Springfield, where our daughter was born. Charlotte was born with Respiratory Distress Syndrome and was unable to breathe on her own. We spent 15 days in the NICU, watching her fight and grow strong enough to eventually come home. Living an hour and a half from Springfield, we could not have imagined leaving our girl in such a fragile state. The Ronald McDonald House was truly a home away from home during one of the most emotionally taxing and frightening times in our lives. The accommodations themselves gave us comfort and a sense of safety, but what truly helped us continue pushing through and holding onto hope was the staff and community we found at RMH. Having close proximity to Charlotte and being able to walk down just one floor to see her whenever we wanted was such a blessing. Becoming new parents is no small feat, and with the added stress of having a baby in the NICU, the last thing on your mind is taking care of yourself. Being provided with home-cooked meals and a warm bed to sleep in were a godsend. We are forever grateful for Ronald McDonald House.”
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