Before she was born, Kyrin’s mom used to count her kicks.  One day, there were no kicks. Her mom went to the doctor and was life-watched to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where Kyrin was born on Mother’s Day 2017. She was 10-weeks premature and diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and a rare form of cancer. In her first eleven weeks of life, Kyrin suffered from a pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension and endured five rounds of chemotherapy and open-heart surgery. Her parents lived more than 3 hours away.  Dad returned home to continue working during the week. On the weekends, he joined mom at the Ronald McDonald House, where she was able to stay and be close to Kyrin.  The house offered not just a bed, but also home-cooked meals prepared by caring volunteers and the comfort and companionship of other families. After 11 weeks in the NICU, Kyrin was able to go home.

In May, Kyrin turned one. During her first year, her family stayed over 100 nights at a Wichita Ronald McDonald House. They travel back to Wichita every 3-4 months for doctor’s appointments and are able to stay at a RMH.  A grant from the Hansen Foundation supports the RMH so that families from NW Kansas can utilize this important support system when needed.