On June 7th, 2021, the Hogan family’s life changed abruptly when their son, Aidan Matthew, was born at 29 weeks.
Weighing only 2-pounds 10-ounces and measuring at 14-inches long, the Hogans were tossed into a whole new world of uncertainties and obstacles.
Previously, Rachel and Matthew Hogan, married for fifteen years, had two daughters, Alivia, and Adalynn. Both were conceived after months of planning and fertility treatments. “Both girls were very well planned out! We never thought having a baby without medical help was even possible,” Rachel said.
Yet, on January 17th, 2021, they were completely surprised to discover they were expecting again. The beginning of the pregnancy was pretty typical. Rachel experienced some high blood pressure, but it
was well cared for with the help of medication.
As they counted down the days to Aidan’s due date, August 23rd, they unexpectedly underwent a set of events that led to the early arrival of their son. After getting bit in the hand by a dog on May 19th, Rachel spent several weeks in and out of hospitals due to resulting blood pressure challenges.
While originally receiving care in Park Rapids, near where the Hogans lived, Rachel was eventually transferred to Essentia Health Hospital in Fargo. She would later spend her 39th birthday there, surrounded by her husband and two daughters for a birthday that will likely never be forgotten. The evening after her birthday, everything took a turn when the nurses restricted food and told Rachel to contact Matt. They needed to deliver the baby right away.
After Aidan was born, and as tiny as he was, the Hogan family navigated the real fear of having a child in the NICU along with all the roadblocks that come with it. For many nights after the initial delivery, Rachel and Matt traded off staying at the hospital while the other looked after Alivia and Adalynn. It was a nightmare of separation during a time when they needed each other the most.
Throughout these long days and nights, Rachel and Matt found comfort in the
Ronald McDonald Family Room located in Essentia Health Hospital. Some days the Hogans spent upwards of five hours in the Family Room. They had access to snacks, a kitchenette, a television, toys for their little girls, a place to shower, and other NICU families to connect with. Significant memories in the Family Room for the Hogans include watching the Fargo AirSho from the air-conditioned unit and a day-long Scrabble marathon with one of their favorite nurses when they could take a break.
“Being able to get away from the beeps and constant machine sounds of the rooms, yet still be close enough just in case, made the Family Room one of the most important parts of our daily NICU life,” Rachel said.
A NOTE FROM Jill Christopher
Executive Director
During one Thursday night, Rachel and Matt had the rare opportunity to both stay together with Aidan. They were informed of the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo at the good word of a NICU nurse and decided to reach out. Within a week, RMHC called them back and set up a room.
”Up until the day of check in, our family had not spent more than a few short periods of time together in over a month and our drive to the hospital was two hours one way,” Rachel said. “We were told to expect Aidan in the hospital until his due date, which was 11 weeks from when he was born. We moved into RMHC two weeks after he was born.”
“I cannot tell the story of Aidan without giving RMHC huge praise for what they did for us and do for other families in need.
- Rachel Hogan
From those two weeks and on, the Hogan family had an assortment of wonderful memories at the Ronald McDonald House. Thanks to the staff, fully stocked kitchen, and opportunities RMHC made accessible for the Hogans,
the 73 nights Aidan was in the NICU held pockets of joy in an otherwise unpredictable and frightening time.
One sweet memory that stood out to Rachel was the time they received free tickets to Trollwood Performing Arts School to watch Cinderella. “We knew nothing about it going into it, but sitting outside in the evening watching a play was magical and breathtaking,” Rachel said. “It will never be forgotten by us.”
The Hogan family, like many others, never expected to be in this situation. “We all think that nothing like that will ever happen to us, or that we won’t ever need to use a charity to help us through a rough time in life,” Rachel said. “But it does happen, and without the extreme generosity of donors, volunteers, and employees of RMHC we wouldn’t have been able to keep our family together.”
When the Hogan family reflects on their experience, these memories will always be alive for them. Thanks to RMHC they were able to stay together while Aidan grew to be 7-pounds 12.5-ounces—leaving the NICU strong and healthy.
September marks a special addition to our RMHC of the Red River Valley Chapter as we celebrate the anniversary of the opening of our Ronald McDonald Family Room in partnership with Essentia Health. Three years ago, this place of respite was opened within the Essentia Health NICU and allows families to have a place to rest and regroup just steps away from their child’s bedside. In these first three years, we have served over 750 families! This program would not be possible without the strong partnership with Essentia Health, the dedicated volunteers who commit time each week to staff our Family Room, and our staff that ensures the Family Room is well-stocked to best serve our families.
When a child is sick, nothing is more important than staying connected. Thank you for making this connection possible. It is a vital part of our mission!
