Foley Family

It was a typical Thursday in June. June 9th, to be exact. The sun was getting stronger every day in New England, and there were chores to be done. In a small Massachusetts town, 5-year-old Conner was very excited about turning 6 the next day. Full of energy, he began to run after the riding lawn mower rolling across his grandparents’ yard.

In an instant, Conner slipped on the grass, and his left foot went underneath the lawn mower. You can't imagine it. Your entire world is turned upside down in millisecond. Almost two-thirds of Conner's left heel bed was gone, and his entire family was devastated.

"We were devastated by this," recalls Conner’s Mom Kristen. "The Ronald McDonald House made a difference for me, and for Conner, by allowing us to be close by the hospital in case any serious situations arose. Being steps away from three hospitals is critically important."

All told, the Foley family -- Mom Kristen, Dad Ken, and older brother Tanner -- stayed at the House for three weeks during June and July of 2011.

Kristen says, "Some of my favorite memories during our stay were during the evenings and dinner times. Families would gather in the large kitchen area after being at the hospital for hours. Coming in and being able to have a great home cooked meal and being able to talk to others about your situation seemed to help everyone."

After their stay, Conner returned home and started an intensive physical therapy program that trained him to bear weight on his left foot. Slowly, he returned to normal physical activities including his favorite sport, baseball.

Kristen says, "What I believe helped us most during our stay was all the supportive employees and volunteers of the RMH. The employees were top notch and aided us throughout our stay. The volunteers are truly the backbone of the home and it could not run as superbly as it does without them. The friendships we made are ones we will have for the rest of our lives."

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