Making Treatment Possible: Our RMH Experience

We had a few hesitations when considering treatment for food allergies. TIP treatment was briefly mentioned in the comments of a food allergy support group, and I remember the moment I saw it—I immediately thought, We have to do this.

Like many parents, I took a deep dive into researching it. If I could have, I would have signed up right then and there. At that time, Theodore was very young, and we had concerns about his age, the travel required, and, most importantly, whether we could even afford it. We accepted that it wasn’t an option for us at that moment and just hoped we would be one of the lucky ones whose child “outgrows” their allergies.

I kept this treatment option in the back of my mind, following other moms who were in the midst of it. Seeing their results gave me hope that we had options.

The Turning Point

By the summer of 2024, Theodore was almost five. We went to his routine six-month allergy appointment, where he had his usual skin prick test to assess any changes. It’s easy to say, Don’t get your hopes up, but every time we went into these appointments, I couldn’t help but pray for a miracle—that we would be one of those stories where, poof, the allergies disappeared.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. His test results showed a strong positive reaction to all of his allergens. My heart sank. I felt a pit in my stomach, trying my best to hold it together as the doctor recommended we reduce his visits to once a year since the likelihood of improvement was low.

After the initial sadness and disappointment settled in, I couldn’t stop thinking: Maybe it’s time to go to California. I sat with this thought for a month before deciding I needed more information. Theo was older, I was back to work, but the cost was still our biggest hurdle. I scheduled a virtual meeting to gather all the details—insurance coverage, estimated travel requirements, and what day-to-day life would look like during treatment.

That meeting was eye-opening. We learned that our insurance would cover part of the treatment, and we had options for low-cost housing and even free flights—a huge win for us.

Finding a Place to Stay: The Ronald McDonald House

Although we didn’t qualify for free flights, staying at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) has been a tremendous blessing. Even with hotel discounts, the financial burden would have been overwhelming. Plus, trying to cook safe foods in a standard hotel room would have been a challenge.

RMH is very different from a hotel, but for a food allergy family like ours, it’s the perfect place.

Since availability is not guaranteed, we don’t know if we’ll have a room until two days before our stay, so having a backup plan is necessary. The rooms are simple, clean, and tidy—most importantly, no food is allowed in them. While this might seem inconvenient to some, it’s a relief for us, knowing we don’t have to worry about allergens left behind by previous guests.

The Benefits of Staying at RMH

One of the best things about RMH is the communal areas—there are televisions, games, toys, couches, and even a large outdoor play area with small bikes, grills, a patio, and fire pits. The kids have endless entertainment, from video games and crafts to storytime and movie nights.

Traveling usually means eating out, but that’s not an option for us. The best part of RMH is the giant communal kitchen, fully equipped with multiple sinks, ovens, stovetops, and every kitchen tool we could need. Each family has access to their own locked fridge and pantry space.

We were also pleasantly surprised to learn that local businesses and restaurants donate meals. During our most recent visit, these generous donations significantly cut down our food expenses.

How RMH Made Treatment Possible

Between the low cost of staying at RMH, the entertainment for the kids, access to a full kitchen, donated food, and even laundry facilities, we will always choose to stay here.

On our last trip, we estimated that staying at RMH saved us around $2,000 in hotel and food costs. I felt compelled to share this because, with the high costs of treatment, flights, and transportation, finding ways to save is the only way we can make this possible. This treatment has the potential to change Theodore’s life forever—giving him the food freedom he deserves.

We are so grateful for all the volunteers, employees, and donations that go into making the Ronald McDonald House available to us and so many other families that need it