Meet The Van Damme Family
From Ladysmith, BC
For the Van Damme family from Ladysmith BC, so much in this past year has been unexpected. One week they were camping and enjoying typical summertime family activities, and the next week they were on an emergency flight to Vancouver. They had heard about Ronald McDonald House from commercials, but they never expected that their family would need it.
And when they checked in to RMH BC, they didn’t expect to find so many connections to home – but at the House they found a community of families in similar situations, some of them even their neighbours from Vancouver Island!
In August 2022, 6-year-old Connor Van Damme and his family were waiting for an ultrasound on a lump they had found, but otherwise living their regular lives. Then, Connor started to feel sick – fevers, upset stomachs and pain – and they knew something was wrong.
After a series of tests at their local hospital and in Victoria, they got the frightening news: it was cancer and they would need to fly to Vancouver that day. “And we’ve been here ever since,” says mom Caroline. The Van Dammes are expecting to stay a full year, for surgery and several months of chemotherapy.
At first, parents Caroline and Mike weren’t sure where they could stay for such a long time while also keeping up with commitments at home. Renting an AirBnB was expensive and staying with friends as a family of four was a challenge. That’s when they found out about RMH BC, and were immediately blown away by how it big it was and how many families could stay.
Since then, Caroline and Mike have been taking turns staying at the House (two weeks on, and two weeks off) so that Connor’s big brother Mark can keep up with school and sports. “We’re trying to make it normal for him,” says Caroline. And whenever they have the opportunity, all four family members reunite at the House to spend time together.
While going through stressful treatments, staying at RMH BC has helped Connor to simply be a kid. Connor is an active 6-year-old who loves baseball, hockey, and karate, and at the House, he and Mark can play together outside like they would at home. The LEGO Room is another favourite for both boys, and they can try new things every day like Art Therapy or building a robot in STEM night. For Caroline and Mike, the Massage Therapy program helps them to unwind so that the family can heal better together.
New routines at the House have helped them all when they are missing home. “We have a dog, Isle, who Connor misses a lot,” says Caroline, “So the Pet Therapy program reminds him of home.” One activity that Connor never likes to miss is helping to feed the fish every morning! And when he isn’t feeling well or his numbers are low, their comfortable room is the perfect place to relax in their family bubble.
After travelling to a different city and moving into a home with 73 families, they were surprised at how many connections they made with other families experiencing similar situations. “The boys have met a couple of friends to play with, and we talk to people in the kitchen,” says Caroline. “It really makes you feel less alone when you know somebody else is going through the same thing.”
And more than just new connections with people from across BC and beyond – the House has tied them back to their Vancouver Island community and shown them how small the world really is. “There are so many families here from the Island: Campbell River, Port Alberni, Duncan, and now us. We met a lady across the hall from Island and it turns out we have a mutual friend! It’s totally bizarre,” laughs Caroline. “It worked out well.”