The Jones Family

Isabel Jones was a 5 year old who loved princesses, kindergarten and pink lemonade. Just days before her 6th birthday, she was admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with a Stage IV Wilms Tumor, also known as kidney cancer. Suddenly, her world of princesses and kindergarten turned into medicine and hospitals.

With such a daunting diagnosis, Isabel’s parents did not want to leave her side. But hospital rules only allow one person to stay in the room so her parents, Antonia and Nigel, took turns. One would sleep in Isabel’s room while the other slept in a waiting room chair. After several days, a nurse asked if they knew about the Ronald McDonald House.

Once they arrived, they finally had a place to rest their weary heads. Antonia and Nigel found solace knowing they could enjoy a home-cooked meal, take a warm shower and get some rest all within steps of their daughter’s bedside. They credit RMH Providence for taking care of them so they can harness the strength they needed to care for little Isabel.

Once Isabel was released from Hasbro, she joined her parents at the Ronald McDonald House because she continued to receive chemotherapy 5 days each week. She would rather be at home, but she also enjoyed her time at the House, which is designed with kids in mind. In fact, her favorite spot was in front of aquarium. With a big smile, Isabel said, “I like the fishies a lot and the library down stairs and they have my favorite pink lemonade”.

There is no happy way to describe the ending of Isabel’s story.

Her conditioned worsened. She was readmitted to the hospital and, after several months of additional treatment, she lost her courageous battle with cancer. A beautiful little girl is gone, and there is no consolation for anyone lucky enough to have known her. But at the House, there is the knowledge that everything possible was done to help remind Isabel of a world with princesses and pink lemonade.

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