That’s when they learned that Jack had cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that is usually seen in much younger patients. Because they had more resources to treat Ewing’s Sarcoma at BC Children’s Hospital, doctors advised them to travel to Vancouver – where they would stay for almost a full year.

During those early days of Jack’s diagnosis, so many worries were running through his parents Mark and Alison’s heads. “It was a whole new world to us,” says Mark. “We were trying to process his diagnosis, and wrap our heads around the severity, the stage, the type – and whether he would survive.”

Mark had heard about Ronald McDonald House through one of his work colleagues at TELUS, but once they were able to check in to the House, it exceeded all of the family’s expectations.

The proximity to the hospital helped to improve their situation right away. “It’s another logistic you don’t have to think about, when you have to go back and forth to the hospital all the time,” says Mark. “It’s another concern taken off our plate.”

The kitchens and Food Programs were also lifesavers for a family whose lives had been turned upside down: “It’s the last thing you want to worry about – where you’re going to get food, when will you have time to prepare the food. Thanks to the Family Meals, you don’t need to worry about your meals every night.” The Bermels were particularly blown away by the Christmas and holiday meals that families were treated to, thanks to generous volunteers and donors.

The family settled into a routine at the House, with Mark and Alison taking turns travelling between RMH BC and their home in Kelowna, and Jack’s older brother Joshua and younger brother Phinneas visiting when they could. While they were separated, the family was impressed by the community fostered by the staff, who took the time to accommodate all types of situations and family needs: “They really want this experience to feel as close as possible to home, without actually being home.”

As an avid musician, dad Mark was immediately drawn to the Music Therapy room, and while he was expecting to see old instruments that had seen better days, he was thrilled to discover a wall full of shiny new guitars which he could use for impromptu jam sessions. Whenever he came to the House, his first stop would be the Music Room, to borrow a guitar to help pass the time.

While Jack was a bit older than many of the patients staying at RMH BC & Yukon, he found that having a relaxing space to come home to meant the world – including the outdoor courtyards and gardens that were perfect to unwind in after a long day at the hospital. He enjoyed chatting with many of the adults that he saw every day in the House.