I know many of you have been following my Facebook posts of Stone and his twin sister Sadie Gilley (no relation) who attend my church, Tiftonia Baptist.  But for those that don’t know, this summer the unimaginable happened; Stone suffered a stroke—actually three.  Sara, their Mom, was awakened by their dog at 5am, which ultimately saved his life.  I believe this was Stone’s first of many miracles throughout his journey, but I’ll let Sara tell you the rest of the story...

On August 18, 2022, our lives changed forever when our dog woke me to let me know something was wrong with my son. My seemingly healthy 10 year old boy, Stone, suffered a spontaneous ruptured aneurysm in his sleep, which caused three strokes and severe aspiration. As a result, Stone was gravely ill, admitted into the Pediatric ICU at Erlanger, on a ventilator with a grim prognosis…BUT GOD!

After six long weeks in Erlanger, with many difficulties, and many more triumphs, Stone was released to go into the next phase of healing and rehabilitation. At this point, Stone was unable to hold up his own body, barely able to speak, and was communicating through minimal facial gestures and eye movements.

The day Stone was released from Erlanger, he was taken by ambulance and admitted into the inpatient facility at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite (CHOA), two hours from home, where we “lived” for 6 more weeks. Here, Stone learned to talk, walk, eat and just live again. Stone was then admitted into the outpatient program through CHOA for another 6 weeks, where he fine-tuned all of the abilities he worked so hard to regain. We were able to take our son home 10 days before Christmas of 2022!

We had always known of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, but had never had our own personal experience. It was during our stay in Erlanger when we were blessed with the opportunity to visit the Ronald McDonald Room. With Sadie by our side, we had spent endless hours in hospital rooms and by Stone’s side. Sadie is Stone’s twin sister, whose life also changed that morning in August. Together, the staff at Erlanger and the Ronald McDonald Family Room, became Sadie’s refuge during the hardest trial of her young life. Cups of microwaveable macaroni, and what she felt like was a space of her own, was her sanity in this incredible storm. It’s the little things.

In Atlanta, we were miles and hours away from home. Our blended family took turns sleeping in Stone’s hospital room, and the Ronald McDonald House became our home away from home. When Stone was discharged from inpatient, he “came home” to the Scottish Rite Ronald McDonald House, and so did Sadie! Finally, after months of not being able to tuck my twins into bed under the same roof and after months of sporadic separations, we were all together again full time in a home-like environment. To have both of my children alive and under the same roof is a feeling I could never describe but something I am eternally grateful for.

During the days, Stone took the shuttle and attended the outpatient program a few blocks away, while Sadie did virtual school, and we worked from our room. In the evenings, we would come down from our room for dinner where we always had a great meal. At night, we played in the game room, watched movies, did arts and crafts, and enjoyed life the best way we could. At bedtime, after a hot shower, with full bellies and clean clothes, we kissed our children goodnight and had as much peace as anyone could possibly have in these circumstances. The most loving staff and volunteers always greeted us, were always available, and genuinely cared for our family. The comradery we developed with other families, and the connections we made during our stay, will always be dear to our hearts and will always be one of the most precious parts of our journey. No one understands quite like someone in similar shoes.

By the grace of God and with an assistant, Stone is now back in his school with his friends, active in church, walks on his own and can talk almost as well as before. He still has a lot of healing to do, but he has come an extraordinarily long way in a relatively short time and has a bright future ahead.

It’s hard to imagine where we would be, or how we would have made it, without the help of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, but we are so thankful for the opportunity. The clean room, the warm meals and hearts, the generosity, accommodations and the love we felt during our hardest trial is immeasurable. This charity means so much to our family and to so many others we have met along the way. It is our hope, as well as Sadie and Stone’s, that many more families continue to be blessed, comforted and supported during their hardest times for years to come through this charity. The Ronald McDonald House Charities changed my family’s life!!  It is an honor to be a part of the Ronald McDonald House family.

With love and thanks,

Sara Gilley and the Stone and Sadie Gilley family

John 15:12-13

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Just as in Stone’s case, parents with critically ill and injured children need a place to stay when the hospital with specialized care is many miles away.  The Ronald McDonald House provides all the comforts of home for up to 600 families each year – comfortable beds, private showers, laundry, and home-cooked meals – a real home where no one is ever turned away because of their inability to pay.  We believe in keeping families close and no family should ever have to worry about the cost of being at their child’s side, especially when they are sick.

As you know, the "ask" has never been easy for me, but I know how important it is for these families to be with their children in a home environment, not the sanitized world of a hospital room.  Seeing pictures of Sadie curled up in the hospital closet, with her iPad, blankets, and “her stuff,” was a personal reminder that the House was indeed a place for “families to be family,” and I know without this “ask” and your support there would not be a Ronald McDonald House. 

Please take a moment and consider making a financial contribution to The House that Love Built for families like Stone and Sadie. 

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A few facts … did you know?
• $150.00 helps one family for one night
• 16 days is the average number of days families stay at the Ronald McDonald House
• $1,000 is what families save on the weekly average for food, hotel and parking expenses