The Taylor Family: 239 Days of Hope and Strength Ronald McDonald House of Denver

At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, our mission is to provide a home away from home for families with critically ill children who need medical care far from home. Our doors are open to families facing some of their most difficult moments, offering them a place to rest, find comfort and stay close to their loved ones during treatment at no cost to them. The Taylor family, from New Mexico, is one of the thousands of families who stayed with us this year.

The Taylor Family: 239 Days of Hope and Strength Ronald McDonald House of Denver

Two hundred and thirty-nine days is a long time. It’s a span that can encompass an entire NFL season from training camp to the Super Bowl showdown. For the Taylor family, this period marks something profoundly different but equally momentous — their extended stay at the Aurora Ronald McDonald House.

The family first made the exploratory trip from their hometown in New Mexico to Denver in July 2023. Alyssa, six months pregnant and accompanied by her husband and firstborn, was there to visit a hospital known for its medical excellence. This need arose during a routine medical check-up, when they uncovered an abnormal thickening on the left side of her unborn baby’s heart. This diagnosis marked the beginning of an unforeseen journey of resilience and hope, as the family prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.

“My doctor told me three times not to have this baby anywhere else but Denver,” she explained. During the visit, Alyssa began to feel ill and was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. With that complication, she knew she wouldn’t be going back home to New Mexico anytime soon. 

It was then that the family moved into the Aurora Ronald McDonald House so that Alyssa, now considered a high-risk pregnancy, could receive the medical care that she needed. Less than a month later, her son Julius was born with, among other issues, two holes in his tiny heart. He had his first heart surgery soon after, and thankfully, it went well. Now, Julius is healing and gaining strength, preparing for his second surgery with his family close by.

Through Ronald McDonald House of Denver, the Taylors have been given a safe, welcoming space to navigate this difficult journey. “Donations help families with kids who are very sick, like mine. Without the Ronald McDonald House of Denver, we wouldn’t have a place to be with them as they heal,” Aaliyah shared.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Ronald McDonald House of Denver can continue to provide comfort and relief to families like the Taylors, who are braving each day with love and strength.