Holly Buckendahl | Where Families Stay Together: How Ronald McDonald House Supports Families in Crisis

Where Families Stay Together

How Ronald McDonald House Charities Keeps Parents Close During Life’s Hardest Moments

When your child is hospitalized, everything in your world narrows to one point: survival. The usual routines of life—cooking, commuting, sleeping in your own bed—become luxuries. Family time, already strained by stress and fear, is split across city blocks and hospital walls. In the middle of that chaos, the red roof of Ronald McDonald House becomes a beacon.

In this deeply moving episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb speaks with Holly Buckendahl, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. But this episode is more than an interview—it’s a homecoming. Jessica’s family personally stayed at RMH near Lurie Children’s Hospital after the birth of her son, and their experience forever changed how she defines care, community, and compassion.

This conversation isn’t about an organization on paper. It’s about what it feels like to be held when everything is falling apart.

A Mission Built on Presence, Not Just Proximity

Ronald McDonald House is known for keeping families close during medical crisis—but it’s not just about distance. As Holly explains, it’s about presence. It’s about giving parents the chance to be there for their child without sacrificing everything else.

With five Houses and four Family Rooms throughout the Chicagoland region, RMHC CNI supports thousands of families every year—at no cost to them. This includes meals, beds, emotional support, laundry, playrooms for siblings, and so much more.

But what sets it apart isn’t the scale. It’s the intimacy. As Holly puts it, “We’re not here to fix the crisis. We’re here to soften it.”

Jessica’s Story: How One Night Changed Everything

For Jessica and her husband, staying at RMH wasn’t just about logistics. It was about survival with dignity.

The first night they arrived, exhausted and shell-shocked, they were greeted with warmth, food, and the rarest gift of all in that moment: space to breathe.

“We were given a room, a key, and a warm meal,” Jessica recalls. “It was the first time since the hospital that we felt human again.”

They didn’t have to explain, prove, or perform. At RMH, their story was understood before it was told. This radical hospitality didn’t just support them practically—it held them emotionally.

That care extended beyond their stay. Jessica’s family was later invited to participate in a marketing campaign, sharing their story through photos that have now appeared across the city—on trains, in stations, and in posters. "If you see one, send it our way," she jokes, but the pride is real.

Who Holds the Caregivers?

This episode dives into a topic that’s often left unsaid: the care needs of caregivers.

Mothers in medical crisis settings often disappear behind their child’s chart. Holly and Jessica explore how RMHC intentionally brings mothers—and all caregivers—back into view. From comfortable spaces to private lactation rooms, the House design itself says: you matter too.

“Being able to shower, eat, cry in peace... those aren’t small things when you’re living in survival mode,” Jessica says. “Those are life-giving.”

Leadership with Heart: Holly’s Path to RMHC

Holly Buckendahl didn’t always know she’d lead a nonprofit. Her journey into nonprofit leadership was shaped by years of work in service-based roles—and by a fundamental belief in the power of human connection.

Since stepping into her role as CEO, she’s prioritized trauma-informed care, inclusive programming, and authentic community-building.

“Families are navigating the hardest moment of their lives,” Holly shares. “Our job is to remove as many barriers as we can so they can focus on their child.”

And they’re doing just that—providing over 40,000 nights of care each year.

Not a Charity. A Lifeline.

RMHC is often referred to as a charity, but as Jessica says in the episode, “It’s a lifeline. One you don’t even realize you’ll need—until you do.”

Whether it's a midnight snack for a mom who forgot to eat, a toy for a sibling who feels forgotten, or a cup of coffee during a long day of waiting, every act of care at RMHC is intentional. It’s built around one central question:

“What would I need, if this were me?”

The answer is never one-size-fits-all—but it always starts with being seen.

The Ripple Effect of Being Held

One of the most profound moments in the episode is when Jessica reflects on how her time at RMH reshaped her motherhood journey.

“It was one of the first times I saw myself as someone deserving of care—not just someone expected to give it,” she says.

That mindset shift ripples through her work as a storyteller, podcast host, and community-builder. It’s the reason she invited Holly onto the show. And it’s why she’s passionate about highlighting support systems like RMHC—not just for what they provide, but for what they believe.

How You Can Support Ronald McDonald House

If this episode moved you, you’re not alone. Whether you’ve stayed at an RMH house or are hearing about it for the first time, you can support the mission in so many ways:

• Volunteer at a House or Family Roomronaldhousechicago.org/volunteer

• Donate or Sponsor a Family’s Stayronaldhousechicago.org/ways-to-help

• Attend an Eventronaldhousechicago.org/events

• Follow & ShareInstagram @rmhchicagolandFacebook @rmhchicagoland

Final Word

This episode is a reminder that even in the most clinical, crisis-filled environments, humanity still thrives.

Through Ronald McDonald House, we see what happens when that humanity is honored, centered, and sustained—one family at a time.

If you or someone you love has ever stayed at an RMH, you know: it’s not just a place. It’s a feeling.

And it’s one every family deserves.

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