Oliver, the youngest of the Cueto Acosta family, of Dominican origin.
In March 2022, they traveled to New York after the child began to show unusual symptoms and while here he was diagnosed with a type of pediatric cancer.
Thanks to a social worker at the hospital where he was treated, the family learned about the Ronald McDonald House, a non-profit organization that is literally a house.
In April of that same year, the center opened its doors to this family and since then, it has helped them stay in the city together while Oliver receives his treatment.
Oliver’s father explains: “It is a place where it gave us the ease of being able to be together as a family and begin this whole process.”
Little Oliver’s mother, Jennife Acosta, adds: “They make you feel like family, they make you feel that you are not far from your home.”
Here, Oliver, who is currently 8 years old, and his older brother Octavio, 13, play, laugh, share with other children and live a colorful, enjoyable life.
“The playroom and also the living room,” he says.
In addition to providing a temporary home away from home, the organization offers wellness programs, tutoring, transportation, specialized groups, among other social cohesion activities.
“One of the conditions that the doctors told us to make him feel that his life is still as normal as possible and it is important for him, for his brother, for us too. And here at home it helps us a lot in that sense,” he adds. Acosta.
The center even took Oliver along with his mom, dad and brother to Yankee Stadium recently where they enjoyed a game and met legendary player CC Sabathia.
With 11 floors, 95 rooms, the Ronald McDonald House serves families battling cancer and other illnesses throughout New York, the United States and the world, with a guest population that is 40% international.
Elizabeth Saavedra, chief digital officer at Roland McDonald House, points out:
“The mission of the Ronald McDonald House here in New York is for families to stay together, to focus on caring and fighting pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.
“Here families find a very strong community, a place where there are other families and there are other children who are all on the same path and deeply understand what they are going through.”
2023-10-25 11:45:00
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