14 Nov Comfort, Support, and a Home at Every Stop
Imagine your child—a lively, joyful 13-month-old—suddenly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This was the devastating reality for Lisa and Jason Nedley when their son, Carter, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. The year that followed was filled with unimaginable challenges: hospital stays, painful treatments, and the constant search for a cure. It was a year of endless worry, exhaustion, and heartache as they traveled across Ohio—Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus—in the hopes of finding a way to save their precious boy.
Through all the chaos, one constant remained: the Ronald McDonald House. At every stop, the Nedleys found a sanctuary, a place of comfort, stability, and support. The Ronald McDonald House was their “home away from home,” where they could focus on Carter without worrying about where to sleep or what to eat. In the midst of their medical crisis, the Ronald McDonald House became their refuge.
Our family required extended stays in the local Ronald McDonald House programs across Ohio. Very quickly, RMHC NEO became a warm and welcoming ‘home away from home’. Families who stay at a Ronald McDonald House experience a sense of comfort, normalcy, camaraderie, and compassion that helps them remain strong for their children.
Carter playing with toys on Christmas morning.
A few days before Christmas, Lisa and Jason received a glimmer of hope. Carter was temporarily discharged from the hospital after a bone marrow transplant, and the Nedleys were able to celebrate the holidays together at the Ronald McDonald House. They brought in a Christmas tree, strung it with lights, and filled the air with laughter and love. For just a moment, they were able to step away from the beeping machines and sterile hallways, and create a joyful memory with their little boy, who had just turned two.
As Carter’s father, Jason, reflected, “Christmas at the Ronald McDonald House will be a memory we carry forever. We knew we didn’t want to be at the hospital for the holidays, but going home wasn’t an option either. The Ronald McDonald House was our home for the holidays.”
Just weeks after their holiday celebration, Carter’s leukemia returned. Despite the Nedleys’ relentless hope, Carter passed away peacefully at home on February 5, 2010.
In the years since, the Nedleys have continued Carter’s legacy by supporting the Ronald McDonald House through the Carter Nedley Foundation, even sponsoring a room in his honor. In 2023, 32 families stayed a total of 245 nights in Room 202 because of the Carter Nedley Foundation.
Jason shared, “Our family required extended stays in the local Ronald McDonald House programs across Ohio. Very quickly, you became a warm and welcoming ‘home away from home’. Families who stay at a Ronald McDonald House experience a sense of comfort, normalcy, camaraderie, and compassion that helps them remain strong for their children.”
We donate to RMHC NEO so that other families can know the same love and support we were so grateful to receive in our time of need.
Your support is what makes stories like this possible. At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, we provide more than just a place to stay. We give families, like the Nedleys, a lifeline during the most challenging times of their lives.
“At the dedication of Carter’s Room, I stood there with my wife and our children, who never got to meet their brother,” Jason recalled. “I remembered what it felt like to stand on the other side of that door. We donate to RMHC NEO so that other families can know the same love and support we were so grateful to receive in our time of need.”