By Roger White

‘Take a deep breath…You’re home now.’

May 3, 2017 | 5:00 PM

If you ever wondered if your donation to McHappy Day has done any good for our area, just ask Darren and Raeanne McIntyre of North Battleford.

Last fall, the McIntyre’s daughter Kenlee was born 10 weeks premature. After spending the first month and a half of her life at the Regina Hospital, Kenlee was moved to Saskatoon with her family in tow.

“Our family had been separated for a month while Kenlee was in Regina,” Raeanne remembered. “It was very difficult. When she was moved to Saskatoon, we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.”

“When I walked up to my room I saw written on the chalkboard, “Take a deep breath…You’re home now.” I broke down in tears.”

The first Ronald McDonald House was opened in 1974 and they are now in 37 countries worldwide, all with one purpose — to provide a home away from home for more than 30,000 families each year while their children are in a nearby hospital.

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The Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon opened in 1985. In 2015, 929 Saskatchewan families were helped including 85 from the Battlefords, 81 from Meadow Lake and 83 from Lloydminster.

“A common misunderstanding with Ronald McDonald House is people not knowing that we support all areas outside of Saskatoon even though we are based there,” said Ann Nickolet, Program Co-ordinator at RMH. “The Battlefords area as well as Northern Saskatchewan probably uses [RMH] the most in the province.”

The Battlefords McDonalds Restaurant joined more than 1,400 restaurants across Canada on Wednesday for McHappy Day. Darren and Raeanne felt it was important they bring their family to the event to tell their story.

“Everyone was so accommodating,” Darren added. ”Everything you need is there, if they don’t have it they will find it for you and they really do make you feel like you are home.”

These days, little Kenlee is doing fine, however she is currently using oxygen, as she is just getting over a bout of pneumonia. However all indications are she will be a grow up to live a McHappy life.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW