The Hulen Family
“Family.”
It’s the first word that comes to mind when Megan and Josh Hulen are asked how Ronald McDonald House Charities makes them feel.
Megan and Josh had a rush of emotions when they received the news that Megan was pregnant with quintuplets, a one in 43 million chance.
“I was super scared when I found out I was having quintuplets,” Megan said. “I could hardly believe it; it took a long time to adjust to the fact that we were about to have so many.”
Their original birth plan was to deliver close to their home in Surrey, ND, but
like so many plans in 2020, Covid-19 turned that upside down. Their hospital’s remodel was not going to be complete in time. Doctors advised they travel to Fargo, 278 miles away, to continue the rest of the pregnancy near a hospital with specialized care. Questions of how they would make it work rushed through their heads. Where would they stay, being so far away from home, and how would they continue to care for their two boys at home?
Once Megan and Josh heard there was a Ronald McDonald House in Fargo, they felt an instant relief. The Hulen family was no stranger to Ronald McDonald House Charities Their RMHC journey first started with Ronald McDonald House Denver when they learned their son Matthew was diagnosed with Nager Syndrome, a
very rare mutation in a protein gene that prevents bones from forming correctly, as well as Heterotaxy Syndrome, a misalignment of organs. His diagnosis was rare so they needed to deliver him
with specialists around. During that time, the family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House Denver for 21 nights. The Hulen family knew they could count on RMHC again!
“Being pregnant with that many babies made me high risk, and it was already stressful not knowing what was coming or how it would progress,” Megan said. “Staying at the House helped tremendously as it took a lot of stress off me not just financially but being able to have our family together.”
She also mentioned that staying at RMHC wasn’t like staying at a hotel, but more like being welcomed into a family member’s home. As the pregnancy progressed, she found
it increasingly difficult to grocery shop, so the kitchen and pantry were a huge relief.
“Having the kitchen made it feel like home,” Megan recalled. And the living rooms gave her space to spend time with her two boys, who were anxiously waiting to become big brothers.
Doctors were shocked at how well Megan’s body was handling the physical strain of carrying five babies.
“They said whatever you’re doing is working, but the most important thing is not to stress,” Megan said. “It would have been far more stressful if we didn’t stay at the House. We didn’t have to worry about going to and from the hospital, the financial aspect, groceries, or keeping our two kids cooped up in a hotel room.”
On September 2, 2020, within a matter of minutes, Allison, Madison, Emma, Adam, and Chloe were born with little complication – the first set of quintuplets in North Dakota.
“I honestly think that me getting to 32 weeks was a huge part of having such a short NICU stay and the babies being so healthy,” Megan said. “I wouldn’t have made it that far without the Ronald McDonald House.”
Today, Megan and Josh have their hands full as they tend to all seven kids, but they couldn’t be happier. They’ve found a groove with the babies and Matthew and Jacob love being big brothers!
We invite you to hear from the Hulens at this year’s Sweetheart Ball! Join us virtually on February 13, 2021 as we celebrate the bravery and resilience of RMHC families past, present, and future. This virtual ball will also feature an online auction, an optional date-night box, and giving opportunity. We hope to “see” you there! Register today at rmhcfargo.org or by calling Erica at 701-232-3980
A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER Executive Director
As we reflect on 2020, it is easy to remember only the hard times or rush to leave the year behind. However, I am choosing to focus on the good. I’m choosing to remember that because of you, our steadfast supporters, we were able to continue our mission of keeping families together through our Ronald McDonald House and our Ronald McDonald Family Room programs. In addition, we were able to extend our mission and the number of families we served through a hotel partnership. We were able to continue to provide families with warm meals and necessities like toothbrushes and shampoo, comfort items like quilts and fleece blankets, and fun items like toys and art supplies. We could not have done this without you!
Among my favorite moments this past year were the times when someone thought of us enough to drop off wishlist items or pick up the phone to call to ensure our team was okay. Those touches built us up on the toughest days. Thank you for helping us persevere and do what we love to do: keep families together during times of medical crisis.
As we kick off a new year, we look forward to continuing to share our mission with you. Know that your gifts are already at work supporting the brave and resilient families we have with us today. You are making an incredible impact! We are excited to honor those courageous families by sharing one of their stories with you at the 2021 Sweetheart Ball. I encourage you to join us virtually on Saturday, Feb. 13th, 2021!
CHRISTMAS AT THE HOUSE
As a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children in the hospital, we strive to surround our families with care, compassion, and hope, especially around the holiday season. At RMHC, we hope to ease every burden that a family might face during this time of year, which includes gift shopping.
This year’s Christmas store was filled to the brim with colorful toys that sang, art supplies galore, fuzzy socks, the latest headphones, and so much more! Parents and kids had the opportunity to “shop” for every loved one on their list. After shopping, they headed down the hall to our Gift-Wrapping Room for the finishing touch of bows and ribbons.
For families utilizing the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Essentia Health, staff created carefully curated Christmas baskets for the whole family. With help from pediatric and NICU staff, we were able to deliver Christmas spirit to those whose only focus is getting their child healthy.
What people remember about the holiday season is not the gifts, but the magical moments when families gather and make memories for a lifetime. From Santa popping in virtually to say “hello”, to the Christmas tree in the dining room,
IN MEMORY AND HONOR
Gifts in 2020 were given in memory of and in honor of those below.
Alyssa
Art
Rossford
Sophia
Tuyet
Vayda
Zane
to a delicious feast that families could share together on Christmas Eve, you helped us provide meaningful comforts and moments of joy for families working through a stressful time. Thank you for your endless support and goodwill that allows us to provide the best support for the families we serve.
A special thanks to our community partners for hosting Giving Trees as well as all those who held a gift drive in our honor! Your support is greatly noticed and appreciated.
Knutson
Isabella Eltobgi
Jackie Huschle
Jerold and Darlene Krueger
Jill Christopher
Justin and Charid Martines Family
Keegan Kostohryz
Kelly Gehrz
Linda and Lee Prout
Lori and Ron Crotty
Louie Neil Fischer
Lucas and Darian Bollum
Lyla Grace Merkens
Marie Willyard
Nicole Burley
Paxton Dingmann
Rick Lawrence
Robert and Linda Hoff
Roger Larson
Ronnie and Carol Erickson
Rosie McGinty
Ruby Knutson
Samantha Gillespie
Sandra Berg
Sanford Cardiothoracic
Surgery Team
Sawyer Wilkie
Shauna Wimer
Wyatt, Dani, Hope and Faith Stramer
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 TH , 2021
First ever Virtual Sweetheart Ball - 7pm start!
Bravery, resilience, and unshakable determination –that’s what families at RMHC of the Red River Valley are made of! Join us for a virtual ball featuring an online silent auction, family story featuring the Hulen quintuplets, a live auction, and much more! Perfect pre-Valentine’s Day date!
Get the full experience delivered to your doorstep!
• Sweetheart Ball at Home Party for 10
• Sweetheart Ball Table for 4
• Valentine’s Date Night for 2
Visit our website www.rmhcfargo.org or call 701-232-3980 for tickets!
On Giving Hearts Day show your support for RMHC of the Red River Valley!
Make an online donation of $10 or more.
Follow along on Facebook for more details!
Thanks to Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Foundation for coordinating such a wonderful day of giving!
4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING S, FARGO, ND 58104
RMHC WISHLIST
We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received throughout the pandemic. To keep supporting us, please consider donating our most urgent items.
• Gift cards to restaurants
• Individually wrapped pantry snacks
• Mittens for adults, kids and babies
• Hats for adults and older kids/teens
• Slippers with grips for women
THANK YOU
2020 was a year unlike any other, and maybe that’s okay! We faced unprecedented challenges, grew stronger as a team, and continued to support families as they faced the hardship of having a child in the hospital during a pandemic. Thank you for helping us persevere and do what we love to do: keep families together during times of medical crisis. Happy New Year!