Charlie’s Journey
“In Pittsburgh we have the best of everything – excellent medical care and an amazing place to stay.” – Chris, RMHC Dad
It took two days and nearly 500 miles, but Chris knew that every mile he, his wife Gina and their two-year-old son Joel traveled was bringing them closer to the place they needed to be.
When Gina was 20 weeks pregnant, she and Chris learned their baby, Charlie, had a rare heart defect called Ebstein’s Anomaly. Determined to give their son the best possible care, they began researching the condition and consulting with pediatric cardiologists. After careful consideration, they decided Pittsburgh was the best place for their son.
On the day Charlie was born, Gina and Chris got to see their son for just a few minutes before he was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit. After he was stabilized, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital.
“It was a very emotional night for us,” said Chris.
With Gina in one hospital and Charlie in another, Chris traveled back and forth to be with his wife and son. During this time, Joel stayed at Ronald McDonald House with his grandmother.
Now out of the hospital, Gina and Chris take turns spending time with their boys. With Charlie still in the hospital, one of them stays by his side, while the other is just steps away at the Ronald McDonald House with Joel. Being able to stay close to both of their children in such a difficult time means the world to them.
Chris shares that staying at the Ronald McDonald House has given his family comfort in ways he never anticipated—one of the greatest being how much Joel loves it here. He’s made new friends, spends hours in the playroom, and even named the fish in the dining room fish tank.
“The Ronald McDonald House has been positive for Joel. He never asks to go home. He feels comfortable here and as a parent that is very reassuring,” Chris said.
Recently Chris and Joel took some time to enjoy a day at the Pittsburgh Zoo and visited the home of the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
“I love football so I thought it would be fun to take Joel out and see the stadium,” said Chris.
Making sure Charlie has the best medical care means this family of four will be away from home for an uncertain amount of time, but knowing his family has a safe, welcoming place to stay near the hospital gives Chris great peace of mind.
“In Pittsburgh we have the best of everything – excellent medical care and an amazing place to stay,” said Chris.
