Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena and East Hollywood will always have a special place in our hearts. Families come to Los Angeles from all over the world seeking treatment for their children at our amazing local hospitals. The Ronald McDonald House provides a low-cost/free place to stay so that these families can be together while undergoing treatment.
Our visits to the Ronald McDonald House are always full of smiles and laughter. Spending time with our mini therapy horses transports these young patients to a place where they aren't thinking about their illness or disability. They are free of worry and purely focused on having fun with our magical minis. And their parents and siblings are overjoyed to see their loved one smiling and laughing.
We have so many incredible experiences with the children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House. On one visit, Pearl and Victoria visited with a little girl that was going through critical surgical procedures.
She had lost a leg to cancer. We hooked a lead on both sides of Pearl’s halter and off they went together with her walker and all! She was so overjoyed and felt so proud to be walking a horse while Pearl pranced in her little boots. Being able to lead a horse from a walker or wheelchair gives these kids a sense of empowerment and a memory they will never forget.
On another magical visit, we were spending some time with a child that was visually impaired. With sensitivity and compassion, our volunteer took the boy's hands and helped him navigate our therapy horse, Willow, from her ears to her hooves. He felt the warm breath from her nostrils and ran his fingers through her fluffy mane. He was absolutely ecstatic and his mother was crying saying she had never seen him respond like that and be so engaged. This comfort and relief for the parents and siblings is vital to the health of the entire family and their support system. These experiences are the essence of what drives our hearts and our mission.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities:
We believe in supporting families around the world and helping them access the medical care and resources they need. With a network of RMHC Chapters in 62 countries and regions around the world, we provide more than 2.6 million overnight stays annually for families with ill or injured children receiving medical care.
