While six-year-old Ava drifted to sleep beneath a tangle of hospital blankets and beeping monitors, her mother remained at her bedside as her father settled into the family car to try to catch a few hours of rest in the chilly, well-lit parking lot.
For Ava’s family, the first days after her cancer diagnosis were filled with uncertainty, exhaustion and difficult choices.
Then a room opened at Ronald McDonald House.
It was a refuge where both parents could sleep, shower and recharge while remaining just minutes from their daughter’s medical care. More importantly, it was a place where the entire family, including Ava’s two siblings, could stay together.
Anyone who meets Ava quickly notices two things: she loves toys and she loves giving them away.
The Casa Grande kindergartner is known for sharing with others, especially her older sister Alena, 10, and brother Andre, 8. Her parents say helping people comes naturally to her.
On January 11, Ava began complaining of stomach pain. When her parents took her to a Casa Grande emergency room, doctors quickly realized she was facing something much more serious than an ordinary stomachache. She was transferred to Mesa for additional testing, where physicians discovered a tumor on her left kidney.
A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis a week later – a Stage 4 Wilms tumor, a rare form of childhood kidney cancer.
Ava spent nearly a month in the hospital as doctors worked to remove the tumor and begin treatment before finally returning home.
“Ronald McDonald House helped with so much stress,” Cecilia said. “We didn’t have to worry about how we were going to stay near her.”
The family lives more than an hour from the Valley hospitals where Ava now receives ongoing treatment. Because Ava’s care often requires week-long stays, Cecilia regularly misses work to be by her daughter’s side. Without Ronald McDonald House, the family would also face the added burden of hotel costs or hours of daily driving between Casa Grande and Mesa.
“You never really understand what people go through unless you’re going through it,” Cecilia said. “Staying at Ronald McDonald House means we can have our kids with us and not worry about them or dealing with serious financial stress.”
Having siblings Alena and Andre nearby means Ava doesn’t have to face treatment alone. During her extended hospital stays, the children can still spend time together, preserving a sense of normalcy during an otherwise difficult chapter.
When the family arrives at Ronald McDonald House, Ava heads straight for the play area, where she plays tic-tac-toe, makes pretend pizzas and spends time with her older siblings while their parents finally catch their breath.
Alena loves the snacks, while Andre says his favorite thing about Ronald McDonald House is that it’s clean and quiet.
Ava’s treatment is expected to continue through November. Her prognosis remains positive, and doctors are encouraged by her response to treatment.
Through it all, brave little Ava has maintained the same outlook that has always defined her. She still loves swimming, playing outside and helping other people.
When friends and family created a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical expenses, Ava suggested using some of the money to make sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness.
Every time the family returns to Ronald McDonald House, Ava still makes a beeline for the playroom and the toy pizza oven waiting inside. For Cecilia, that’s a reminder that Ronald McDonald House provides more than a place to stay. It has helped keep her family together and preserve a little bit of her kids’ childhood during one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.
