Family Stories
In July 2001, Karen and Dave Hall got news that would change their life. Their oldest daughter Tiffany was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She was only 8 years old. For the next four years, Tiffany’s family stayed at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House during much of her treatments and hospitalizations so they could be close to her bedside. Tiffany also stayed at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House during many of her outpatient chemotherapy treatments. This way she wouldn’t get sick in the car on the long drives home to South Orange County. Now she comes by often to visit the staff. Tiffany, her brother David, and sister Ashley, are all home schooled. The entire family takes Tai Kwon Do. Tiffany loves math and science, but her all time favorite is art. Tiffany wants girls and boys worldwide to look for the positive. “No matter what goes on there is always something positive” says Tiffany. “You just have to find it.” Her mom Karen says the positive thing that came out of her daughter’s diagnosis of leukemia was that Tiffany got to try new and fun things. The worst thing was that she couldn’t eat sushi for two years. Her all-time favorite food is sushi. Today Tiffany is going great! Click here to make a donation in Tiffany’s honor. |
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| Tiffany Hall's Story | ||
For weeks Tahleya’s parents stayed at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House, while their fragile little girl was in the hospital. Tahleya was born April 23, 2005, twelve weeks before she was supposed to enter the world. Tahleya was having problems learning to suck and swallow. As days went by each ounce Tahleya gained was a milestone. She would stay in the hospital for five weeks until she was ready to finally go home. Tahleya’s parents say the Orange County Ronald McDonald House enabled them to be close to their fragile little girl. “I think more hospitals should have something like this for parents” said Deidra. Sadly, Tahleya’s identical twin sister Dakayla passed away. However, Dakayla lives on through the giggles of her twin sister and the cherished memories of her parents. Click here to make a donation in Tahleya’s honor. |
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| Tahleya Newborn's Story | ||
Sophia’s Story: What started out as a fun family camping trip quickly turned into a fight to save Sophia’s life. Bridget and Patrick Colby took their children camping in Mammoth. There Bridget noticed that Sophia was running a high fever and her child’s fingernail beds started turning blue. The Colby’s immediately rushed their little girl to a local hospital. She was finally transferred to Children’s Hospital Orange County, where she was diagnosed with HLH. Doctors at CHOC had told the Colby’s that their little girl probably wouldn’t make it, but Sophia is proving them all wrong. The two year old has undergone 8 weeks of harsh chemotherapy, followed by a bone marrow transplant. And on March 21, 2006 doctors had to revive Sophia five times because she kept “coding.” But today the little girl is getting stronger, and doctors believe she will be cured. The Colby Family stayed at the Orange County Ronald McDonald House during Sophia’s hospital treatment. “I was 7 months pregnant with Wyatt when Sophia was admitted to the hospital,” says Bridget. “I was so emotionally drained that it was scary to even drive. The Orange County Ronald McDonald House was a blessing for our family. I could be close to my little girl, enjoy the wonderful meals cooked by volunteers, and be surrounded by other parents who are also going through similar situations.” Her laugh and smile bring joy to all those who meet her. She is simply a “miracle child”. Diagnosis: Sophia was discovered to have a rare and often fatal disease called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in August of 2005. The disease causes white-blood cells to accumulate and rage through the body in an effort to attack a virus. But once they kill the infection, they keep multiplying and eventually can attack brain membranes, the spinal cord and organs such as the spleen and liver.By the time Sophia was diagnosed with HLH, the disease had started attacking her entire immune system. Click here to make a donation in Sophia’s honor. |
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| Sophia Colby's Story | ||
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