THE MCMULLEN FAMILY

Meet Shannon and her son Jacob. Since February 2015, Jacob and his mother have been staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Huntington, Inc.. Like many eight-year-olds, Jacob loves watching the Minion movie. He loves playing on a swing set and watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. But unlike other kids his age, Jacob has spent most of his eight years in and out of hospitals.

Jacob was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes a buildup of spinal fluid on his brain.
When Shannon adopted him at the age of two, Jacob had already been through 18 brain surgeries. For years he visited specialists closer to their home in Fayettville, Ohio. It was when their long-time neurosurgeon changed hospitals that they were left looking for a new doctor.

In early 2015 Shannon began to notice Jacob having pain in his hip. “He can’t cry, he can’t speak,” his mom said, “but I knew something was wrong with his leg.” Shannon took her son to many different hospitals and clinics, but was told that nothing was wrong. A few weeks later, the McMullens found themselves in Huntington at an orthopedic clinic. Jacob was being fitted for leg braces, but Shannon asked if the doctor could also x-ray his hip. To Shannon’s surprise, the doctor came back in with the news that Jacob had a broken hip.

Jacob first visited Cabell Huntington Hospital to have surgery on his broken hip, where his mom said “I was so impressed with the hospital and how they took care of him and how they treated me.” She went on to explian, “I was looking for a whole group of doctors that needed to be in one location, and [Cabell] had all of it.” Because of their positive experience, Shannon switched all of Jacob’s treatments to Huntington.

Because they were familiar with the charity, Shannon said, “when we came [to Huntington] the very first thing I asked was ‘Do you have a Ronald McDonald House?’” Since asking that question, Shannon and Jacob could not have imagined the impact that Ronald McDonald House Charities of Huntington, Inc. would have on their lives. Because of Jacob’s many doctor’s appointments, follow ups, and physical therapy sessions, the McMullens have been staying at Ronald McDonald House on and off for over a year.

If not for the House, Shannon and Jacob would have to make the trip from Fayette County, Ohio to Huntington very often. When traveling with a child who has special needs, a two hour car ride turns into a four hour trip.

Like the long car rides to and from Huntington, life for Shannon and Jacob is often unpredictable. What starts out as a check-up can quickly end up with Jacob being admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In December 2015 Jacob had routine check-ups scheduled. He and his mother traveled to Huntington a day early to attend the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony at Ronald McDonald House. That night Shannon noticed that was having a hard time breathing. What should have been a routine visit ended with them staying the entire month of December, including Christmas.

Even though Jacob missed out on a Christmas at home, his mom insists that he didn’t miss out on celebrating the season. “Holidays at the Ronald McDonald House are by far the best experience.” She continues, “He had such a good Christmas…and it was all from people who have donated to the house.” In fact, the McMullens have spent many other holidays at the House, including Easter and Jacob’s eighth birthday. Shannon says that thanks to Ronald McDonald House, “he’s never missed out on anything because he was in the hospital.”

But beyond the basic needs that Ronald McDonald House provides, Shannon and Jacob feel that the employees are what makes the House special. “The staff here,” Shannon says through a smile, “I’ve gotten to know them so well, and they’re more like our family and friends than they are just staff and volunteers.”