Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan makes holidays bright for guests

Watch the video above: guests at Ronald McDonald House grateful to be staying there for the holidays.

SASKATOON – Christmas is meant to be spent with family and friends, unfortunately some won’t have that opportunity this holiday season. The Ronald McDonald House of Saskatchewan will be doing what it can to deliver a Christmas away from home for it’s guests.

For a lot families it’s tradition to wake up Christmas morning, gather around the tree and unwrap presents. Aileen Herman knows that’s not going to happen in her case. Her six-year-old son, William, is in the hospital waiting for surgery.

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“I asked Santa for my baby to be good, to be a happy family again,” said Aileen, a guest at the house.

Last Christmas, Aileen was in Edmonton at the Children’s Hospital with William. This Christmas he’s in Saskatoon and while Aileen would rather be at home with her family in La Loche, she is grateful to be staying at Ronald McDonald House.

“I’m so happy because I’ve met a lot of people and they’re nice and they talk to people and I talk to them. If you feel lonely just share your stories with them and I like that,” said Herman.

“We know that they’re not home, we know they’re not with their extended families so we got to decorate and make this place feel like they’re home,” said Tammy Forrester, Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan executive director.

“We’ve got a lot of people who’ve been with us for quite a few months already and they kind of have made this place home and they have made the families that have surrounded them their families as well.”

Guests will be treated to Christmas Eve appetizers and on Christmas Day a brunch and turkey supper.

All the rooms are currently full at the Ronald McDonald House, with some families on a waiting list. With the expansion to be completed in the new year the hope is to not have this problem next year.