When doctors in Dallas told Cherish Smith that a treatment in Phoenix could spare her 3-year-old son, Chozn, from a kidney transplant and dialysis, the decision was simple. She would go anywhere to give him that chance.
But the logistics of traveling more than 1,000 miles for treatment, leaving her other four children in Texas and figuring out how to afford at least nine weeks of lodging when she couldn’t work felt impossible.
That changed the moment she was introduced to Ronald McDonald House.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Just after his first birthday, little Chozn contracted hand, foot and mouth disease at daycare. Instead of recovering, his body began to swell. He gained five pounds in four days.
Doctors diagnosed him with nephrotic syndrome and FSGS, rare kidney conditions that cause his body to retain fluid instead of releasing it.
After nearly two years of treatment in Dallas, specialists told Cherish that the only remaining option in the state would be dialysis and a kidney transplant. But they knew of another possibility: a specialized treatment available in Phoenix that provided hope for remission without surgery.
Arrangements were made for Chozn to begin this outpatient program at Phoenix Children’s in late October 2025, with hopes of returning home without the need for a transplant or dialysis, if his kidneys responded well to treatment.
A Temporary Home – for Months
The Dallas-area nephrologist’s office connected Cherish with Ronald McDonald House Central and Northern Arizona and confirmed her lodging during her little boy’s months-long outpatient treatment protocol.
“Our whole life was turned upside down,” Cherish said. “But at Ronald McDonald House, they cook meals, they have laundry soap and cleaning supplies for us, they have hygiene products available. There are always snacks and coffee. It helps tremendously.”
After long treatment days that often stretch from early morning to late afternoon, that support makes an overwhelming situation feel more manageable. A warm meal, a quiet room and a short walk to the hospital from Cambridge House enables Cherish to stay emotionally and physically present for her son.
It also provides plenty of space for Chozn to simply be a 3-year-old. Despite the swelling and long hours in treatment, “he still plays, he still sings, he still laughs,” Cherish said. At the House, he spends time on the playground, watches Bluey and takes apart toy cars to put them back together. He’s curious and cheerful in a way that constantly reminds Cherish how strong he is.
Separated by Distance, Supported by Community
While Cherish and Chozn live in Phoenix, Cherish’s mother moved from Amarillo to care for the older children near Dallas. At Ronald McDonald House, Cherish has found a supportive community of other parents who understand what it means to be far from home during their child’s medical crisis.
Conversations in the kitchen or common areas provide perspective on the hardest days and remind Cherish she’s not alone.
Hope, Gratitude and the Road Ahead
Cherish’s message to donors is simple and heartfelt: “Ronald McDonald House is very needed, not only for me and Chozn, but for other families I see coming in. It’s good that something like this is here for people to have a place to stay while their child is going through treatment.”
As treatment continues, Cherish holds onto hope. Hope for remission, hope for functioning kidneys and hope for the day they can safely return home.
Until then, Ronald McDonald House is giving her what every parent needs when a child is undergoing serious medical intervention: the ability to focus on just being mom.