In October 2023, the Shawk family faced a tragedy when their daughter Nori—just 11 years old at the time—was struck by a car going nearly 40 mph. Her parents and brother rushed to her side as first responders arrived. She was barely breathing.

Nori was stabilized at a local hospital, then transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital. It was there that the family began to grasp the extent of her injuries: several fractured vertebrae, numerous other physical injuries, and most seriously, a traumatic brain injury.

Nori remained unconscious for weeks. When she began to slowly emerge, it was with intense neurostorming and agitation. Doctors warned this would be a long, uncertain road ahead with more questions than answers.

Nori’s family found a room at the Ronald McDonald House near the hospital. Colleen, Nori’s mom, admitted that she didn’t realize at the time just how much this space would come to mean.

“I wasn’t leaving her side,” Colleen said. “I’d choose my own discomfort—lack of sleep, lack of nourishment—if it meant I could be with my baby.” Thanks to RMHC NEO, she didn’t have to choose.

The House provided cozy beds, private showers, a place to cook meals, to store food, to rest—and maybe just as important, a place that felt safe and calm. A place that helped the family stay close to Nori, physically and emotionally.

The food, rest, quiet support of the staff, and thoughtfulness of the space allowed the family to recharge so they could give Nori what she needed most: her family’s support.

Today, Nori continues to recover. As a token of gratitude, she and a friend held a lemonade stand over the summer raising over $800 for the organization.

For Colleen, this act of giving was about more than raising funds—it was a way to say thank you. “You give more than a comfy bed and nourishing meals,” she said. “You give the hope and courage to fight. You light dark days.”