When Gwen first noticed changes in her granddaughter Parker, she trusted her instincts.
Parker was 11 years old, living with Gwen in a small, rural town in West Texas, when subtle shifts in her behavior and learning raised concern. What no one expected was how quickly those questions would turn into life-altering answers.
Parker was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a rare genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. Just months later, doctors discovered an inoperable brain tumor wrapped around her brainstem and cerebellum.
“Nothing prepares you,” Gwen says. “Our world just changed overnight.”
A Long Road to Answers
Access to care was a challenge from the start. The nearest children’s hospitals were hours away and couldn’t see Parker for months. Gwen called Mayo Clinic, and within weeks, Parker had an appointment. That call changed everything.
What was meant to be a short visit for baseline testing quickly turned into a three-week stay as Parker met with specialists and underwent extensive evaluations. Gwen found herself scrambling for housing, moving from one short-term rental to another and absorbing thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, all while trying to process devastating news about her granddaughter’s future.
It wasn’t until the end of that first long stay that a social worker mentioned something Gwen had heard of, but never imagined she would need: the Ronald McDonald House.
More Than a Place to Stay
When Gwen and Parker arrived at the Ronald McDonald House, Gwen expected something simple. A bed. A shared kitchen. A place to sleep between appointments.
What they found was something entirely different.
“I was blown away,” Gwen recalls. “I had no idea this is what the Ronald McDonald House really was.”
Instead of worrying about meals, groceries, or logistics, Gwen was finally able to focus on what mattered most: Parker.
“At the House, I don’t have to worry about anything else,” she says. “I can truly just focus on Parker. Her care. Her appointments. Being there for her.”
A Place Where Parker Feels Normal
For Parker, the Ronald McDonald House quickly became something more than a place to stay.
“It’s her other home,” Gwen says. “That’s how she sees it.”
At the House, Parker found something she struggled to find back home: belonging. Surrounded by other children facing serious medical challenges, she didn’t have to explain herself, hide her differences, or feel isolated.
There was no bullying. No judgment. Just kids being kids.
One evening after dinner, Gwen watched the children gather outside to play. They kicked a ball, ran, and laughed until one child grew tired. Without a word, the entire group sat down together and began gently rolling the ball back and forth instead. When that child was ready to stand again, they all stood too.
“That’s just who these kids are,” Gwen says. “They take care of each other.”
Parker began forming friendships with children from across the country. Friendships that continued long after families returned home through letters, FaceTime calls, and small handmade gifts. On one drive home, Parker surprised Gwen by listing all the friends she had made.
“I always thought I didn’t have many friends,” she said. “But I do. They’re just all over the United States.”
Support for the Whole Family
The impact of the Ronald McDonald House wasn’t felt only by Parker.
For Gwen, being surrounded by other caregivers, people who truly understood the fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty, made all the difference.
“At home, people support you,” Gwen explains. “But they don’t fully understand. At the House, they do.”
She found comfort in shared meals, quiet conversations late at night, and the simple relief of not having to face everything alone. Volunteers and staff helped create moments of normalcy by greeting Parker by name, inviting her into activities, and giving Gwen space to simply sit, breathe, and gather herself.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Parker’s tumor is inoperable and will likely remain part of her life. Additional tumors may appear over time, and her journey with NF1 will continue into adulthood. But Gwen’s focus has never wavered.
“My job isn’t to protect her from this,” she says. “It’s to help her get through it. To help her grow into a happy, healthy adult.”
Thanks to the care Parker receives at Mayo Clinic and the support they find at Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN & Western WI, Gwen and Parker do not have to face that journey alone.
For families like theirs, the Ronald McDonald House is more than a place to stay.
It is a place where children are free to be themselves.
A place where caregivers feel seen and supported.
And a place that feels like home, even in the hardest moments.
Help Families like Parker’s