As 3-year-old Lysiana blew out the candles on her pink and purple birthday cupcakes, she was surrounded by a room full of children and adults singing “Happy Birthday.”
But the people gathered to celebrate weren’t relatives, classmates or long-time family friends. They were other families staying at Ronald McDonald House Central and Northern Arizona, where Lysiana’s mom, Ariana, has been staying while her infant son, Bennett, receives specialized medical care in Phoenix.
For Ariana, a single mother from Tucson who arrived in Phoenix without family or friends nearby, the celebration was a reminder of the unexpected friendships and support she’s found while coping with Bennett’s serious medical issues.
When Ariana was just five months pregnant, doctors discovered Bennett had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly. She learned he would need at least three open-heart surgeries to survive, along with specialized medical care unavailable in Tucson.
Three weeks before she gave birth, Ariana traveled to Phoenix so Bennett could receive the intense medical care he needed right after delivery. Bennett was born July 10 at St. Joseph’s Hospital and was immediately transferred to Phoenix Children’s, where he underwent his first open-heart surgery.
With no family nearby and unable to afford a hotel, Ariana spent weeks sleeping at Bennett’s bedside in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) until a room became available at Cambridge House in August.
“It was a relief being able to get a little bit of privacy and space” Ariana said of staying at Cambridge House. “I was finally able to rest my mind and find peace.”
At first, Ariana mostly kept to herself. But after a few days, she noticed other families gathering downstairs for meals and decided to join them.
Around the dinner table, she met other parents whose children were facing serious medical challenges. They shared their stories, provided emotional support and formed friendships. One mother even had a son with the same heart condition as Bennett.
“Everyone is so welcoming here and everyone helps each other,” Ariana said. “You make new family with the other moms.”
Those friendships have become an important source of comfort for Ariana, especially as she navigates the challenges of caring for Bennett while being separated from Lysiana, who is living with her father in Tucson during the school year.
When Lysiana came to visit for her third birthday, Ariana decorated their room with balloons and presents, took her to the playground at Cambridge House and invited the other families to celebrate with cupcakes and ice cream.
After the celebration, the children played together while Lysiana enthusiastically handed out lollipops to the other moms, sometimes giving the same person several until they were all gone.
“I couldn’t do much for my daughter because we’re apart,” Ariana said. “It helped to sing to her and make her feel special.”
Today, Bennett is out of the hospital and continues to attend multiple medical appointments each week. He is expected to undergo his second open-heart surgery in December.
Ariana doesn’t know when they’ll be able to return to Tucson. But in the meantime, Ronald McDonald House provides a safe place for Ariana and Bennett to stay within walking distance of his medical care. It also gives Lysiana a place to visit and spend time with her mom and baby brother.
“Going through all of this is draining,” Ariana said. “But being able to not have to worry about anything else at home is making things easier for me. I am at peace.”