“We were still terrified, but the House gave us space and support so we could bring our family back together. It is much easier on our hearts to have a comfortable space where we can sleep, rest, and be together. And Javi has all of us by his side giving him love and strength.”
In November 2023, Sammi and Luis learned that their unborn son Javi had 22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. They faced the terrifying reality of a heart defect that would require surgery shortly after his birth. The lives of the family of four including 4-year-old Zion, and 2-year-old Luca became a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments and uncertainty as they braced for the challenges ahead.
Javi was born five weeks early and spent 30 days at the NICU in their local hospital in Boise, Idaho. There, Javi gained strength to be discharged expecting his first open-heart surgery a few months later. Their time at home after discharge turned into horrifying ambulance rides, a rotating door at the hospital, and constant fear of losing their son. Javi’s heart surgery couldn’t wait.
The Cuevas family flew from Boise to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, expecting to be there for just a week. Instead, Javi endured three surgeries, and the family’s stay extended for months. At first, while Javi was fighting to recover in the Cardiovascular ICU, Sammi and Luis stayed in a hotel 30 minutes away, but the cost and distance were overwhelming. That’s when Ronald McDonald House Charities welcomed them in and brought relief to their difficult situation.
At Ronald McDonald House, the Cuevas family was able to stay close to Javi’s bedside, with their two other children, Zion and Luca, joining them. They no longer had to worry about food, laundry, or where to sleep. The House became their sanctuary, allowing them to focus on Javi’s recovery. The support from Ronald McDonald House made a world of difference. With home-cooked meals, activities like Tuesday Bingo Night for Zion and Luca, and a community around them, the Cuevas family found comfort and healing amid uncertainty. Thanks to the generosity of the Ronald McDonald House Bay Area community, the Cuevas family could stay together and care for Javi when he needed them most.
“As parents it was unfathomable to not be at Javi’s bedside for his surgeries, for making tough decisions, and to support him while we watched him struggle to recover time and time again. With the support of Ronald McDonald House, we are just steps away.”
"Ronald McDonald House has been a safe landing spot for our family in the hardest season of our lives. Thank you so much to RMHC Bay Area donors, volunteers and staff for holding us so tight and taking such good care of us at our most vulnerable time."
