Meet the Douglas Family
From Kamloops, BC
Before Mason Douglas was born, RMH BC helped to take care of his mom Jocelyn during her high-risk pregnancy. Later, while he was in the NICU, the House helped Jocelyn to stay by his side every step of the way. For 3-year-old Mason, RMH BC is now a fun new world of friends, play and festivity while he recovers from surgery.
Now that they have stayed 4 times for a total of 95 nights, Mason and his family are giving back, and inspiring others to give back, this holiday season.
“When I first found out I had to come to Vancouver, I felt terrified, and alone,” remembers mom Jocelyn Douglas. In 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, she found out that she would need to travel to Vancouver to await the birth of her first child, Mason. Doctors had found an abnormality on the ultrasound at 21 weeks, and were concerned that he was not growing as expected. Jocelyn was rushed to BC Women’s Hospital to stay close to care.
During this frightening time for the world and for the new mom, Jocelyn was grateful to check in to Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, with its services to support families and the familiar faces at the front desk that she could check in with every day. “It was my home during the pandemic; it saved my mental health,” she says.
Dad Kevin agrees: “I’m more of a small town person, and like to be outdoors. Staying here made being in Vancouver a lot more comfortable. You’re nervous enough being a first-time parent, and then you have all of these medical issues added on top. Ronald McDonald House is a place of peace, where they welcome you with open arms.” For this expectant family, even the simple things like a cup of coffee or some time spent relaxing by the koi pond made all the difference.
Mason was born at 31 weeks, at only 833 grams. Thanks to accommodation at RMH BC, his mom could be by his side and involved in his care, morning to night, every day he was in the NICU. Jocelyn looks back particularly fondly on the Christmas programming at the House in 2020, particularly the North Pole, a program where donors and volunteers ensure that ‘Santa’ never misses a family staying at RMH BC. “It was tight, being down here,” she shared. “We didn’t know if we’d be able to do Christmas – and it literally gave us the opportunity to give, which is what I love most.”
As Mason continues to grow, he continues to require surgeries in Vancouver – and now he too has found a home away from home at RMH BC. “Now we are able to experience all the good things about this House again, with him!” says Jocelyn. Mason loves the education program, the LEGO Lounge, and was thrilled to visit the Milestone Cupboard to pick out a toy after he was discharged from the hospital. Most importantly, he loves being around other kids all day – including his baby sister Amberleigh and his new RMH BC friends.
For both Jocelyn and Kevin, the most important part of the House is the community it provides. “We feel like we have family everywhere!” says Kevin. Jocelyn agrees: “This stay alone, I already have 6 – 7 new phone numbers, and even Amberleigh is making friends! I keep in touch with moms from previous stays, we have play dates now in Kamloops, and we all text and check in on each other.”
What makes the community at RMH BC like no other for the Douglas family? Being with other people who fully understand the challenges of being a medical parent.
After seeing the difference that RMH BC has made in their journey, the family’s relatives and friends have been inspired to give back. This year, Mason and Amberleigh’s grandma, Lorna Douglas, rallied her community of Chase, BC to come together and drop off cans and bottles for return. Together, the community was able to donate $5,000 during our Gift a Moment matching campaign!
We asked the Douglas family what they would say to inspire the wider community to give this holiday season:
“Take some time and think back to when you were most stressed in your life,” says Jocelyn. “This is a place where we can be with people who understand, and even with what we’re going through, it’s a safe place.”
Kevin adds: “It’s giving a helping hand to a struggling family, and helping a kid who really needs that family bond when they’re sick. Mason wouldn’t be flourishing as the happy person he is now if we couldn’t be here together or if we had to stay at a hotel. The joy he experiences here every day would be missing!”