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From Our House to YOURS

FAMILY STORY:

The Beaton Family

Comfort in the Ronald

McDonald House

Clara Beaton has the kind of smile you can’t help but return. Whether she’s playing on the swing set with her big sister Stella, chasing the family dogs around the yard, or baking a pan of brownies for her family, she exudes a joy that seems so much larger than her young body.

To see Clara out in the world, with her big smile and infectious giggle, you would never guess the challenges she has faced in her short life.

Clara’s story began before she was even born, when Lana’s 20-week ultrasound took an unexpected turn.

"We didn't get the exciting news that new parents hope for," Lana said.

“We couldn't get her body to do what we needed it to do, to feel well and to grow and to thrive.”

Lana Beaton

“She's been dealt such a terrible hand of cards in her seven and a half years, and the fact that she comes out on top of all of that just is amazing,” said Clara’s mother, Lana Beaton. “She is just a spitfire of a kid–just this joyful, loving, fun, spicy little character.”

The ultrasound revealed that Clara would be born with Down syndrome and a significant heart defect. It was clear that Clara would need specialized medical attention and care–and a lot of it. But even those diagnoses couldn’t have prepared the Beaton family for the long, arduous journey that lay ahead of them.

"We just couldn't get her system regulated. We couldn't get her body to do what we needed it to do, to feel well and to grow and to thrive,” Lana said.

It wasn’t until Clara was two years old that the family finally found an answer. She was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital condition characterized by a deformity in the intestine. Imagine a puzzle missing a few pieces—Hirschsprung’s disease is like that, with sections of the intestine lacking the essential nerve cells that propel waste through the digestive system. The lack of movement often leads to a blockage, causing pain and a host of complications. For Clara, it meant additional medical concerns alongside her existing conditions.

"She's had more procedures and hospital stays than we can count–we lost track at hundreds,” Lana said. “And yet, somehow, she overcomes it all the time.”

The Need for a Home Away From Home

The Beaton family was unable to access the specialized medical care that Clara required in their hometown of Grand Forks, ND. Clara’s hundreds of procedures took the family across the Midwest, from Fargo to Rochester to Ohio. While the family’s worries were on Clara and not themselves, the endless trips to and from the hospitals in various cities began to take their toll.

“I couldn’t peel myself away, but I also missed my family,” Lana said. “And they missed her and they missed me.”

The Ronald McDonald House offered Lana and her family a solution, providing a place for the entire family to stay.

The convenience of being close to the hospital, comfortable accommodations, and access to amenities such as

fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities lightened the burden that would otherwise come with extended hospital stays. The House had everything the family needed–and many things they didn’t know they wanted.

“Being the sibling of a kid that has extraordinary needs like Clara can be really hard,” Lana said. “She's incredibly rewarding and she's a lot of fun and she's super cute, but she also requires a ton of attention from her parents.”

"We all want to be where our families are. We want to be with our mom; we want to be with our siblings. We want to curl up with our dad and read a book.”

At the House, Stella has toys to play with, friends to make, and, most importantly, time to spend with her family.

“She called it her McDonald’s Hotel,” Lana said.

Comfort and Connection

While Clara needed to be fed exclusively blended foods to help with her digestive system, Lana made use of the RMHC kitchen, where she could blend the chicken and veggies and bring them back to the hospital–no need to trek the hour back to Grand Forks.

For big sister Stella Beaton, RMHC has been more than just a temporary home away from home. It's a sanctuary for playfulness, laughter, and shared moments with Clara.

A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER

Clara’s medical journey is far from over. There will be more surgeries, more questions, more fear. But no matter where the road leads them, the Beaton family can rest assured that they will have a safe place to stay together while Clara heals.

“We all want to be where our families are. We want to be with our mom; we want to be with our siblings. We want to curl up with our dad and read a book,” Lana said. “I don't think you can lose when you're keeping kids close to their families.”

I want to start with heartfelt gratitude. The generosity that fuels our mission is absolutely one of the most incredible parts of my job. Your amazing support of our mission in 2023 has a profound impact on families, families like the Beaton family.

The Beatons–and hundreds of other families–have found comfort and support within the walls of our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs. Little things like a kitchen to prepare food,

a play room to spend time with siblings, and space to have family togetherness mean the world when a child is critically ill.

Your generosity makes this space possible. These contributions – including monetary and in-kind donations as well as volunteer time – are not just donations; they are a beacon of hope for the families we serve.

Thank you for helping families feel at home— even when they can’t be. It means the world.