“That hospital room got really small, really quick,” remembers Maraea about those first stressful days in Vancouver, living out of a hospital room with a 3-year-old. When they were finally able to leave the hospital (and the big IV pole they named “dude”), having a place to call home was an incredible relief. “After checking in here, it felt like we slept for the first time,” says Maraea.

The Paulus family will need to stay near the hospital, far from their home in Campbell River, into the new year. While there is the possibility of a short visit home over Christmas, they expect that winter weather will keep them in Vancouver most of the time as they need to stay within reach of Amaeya’s doctors and appointments.

For Maraea, the House has been a “godsend” while she copes with caring for her child far away from her partner, their extended family and their dog in Campbell River. Being a 5-minute walk away from the clinic and the ER brings peace of mind, and the fitness room helps her to to blow off steam on stressful days. Amaeya’s favourite part of the House is the playroom, where the chance to escape from her room and just be a kid is priceless.

The kitchen has also been a major source of support for the family, giving them the ability to cook their own meals on their own schedule – especially important with a child receiving steroid treatments. “One day, we didn’t leave the kitchen for 5 hours!” says Maraea.

Also priceless for the family: “Being able to have some sense of normalcy and family time.” Recently, the Grand Living Room at RMH BC was filled with Christmas trees, and they were able to sign up for a socially distanced shift to decorate – something that Amaeya loved to do with her mom and grandma.

Maraea also appreciates living in a community with other families facing similar stresses. While COVID means that guests in the House are keeping more to themselves, parents still check in with other in the kitchens and immediately understand each other without needing to explain. “It’s a whole new support system of people who ‘get it,’” she says. “People can empathize but don’t fully understand if they’re not in it,” she says.

And most importantly, Maraea’s own mom is able to by her side every step of the way. “I’m so grateful not to be doing this alone, and admire the people who are,” she says. Maraea and Moana make a great team, taking turns pulling all-nighters, going to clinic appointments and taking care of details like sanitizing to keep Amaeya safe. And when they can’t be in their own houses, having their family together provides that little bit of home. “We laugh obnoxiously loud and unapologetically, we cry together if we need to, and go for walks,” says Maraea. “I’m so grateful not to be doing this alone.”

Amaeya’s dad has also been able to reunite with them at RMH BC on days off from work, helping to keep the family connected when it matters most. “As my family is going through this, it’s so good to be able to have them close,” says Maraea – something that is made possible over the holidays and beyond thanks to generous community supporters like you.