A $10 Donation Can Mean More Than You Think

Sometimes life changes in an instant, dividing everything into a before and an after. For Jevon and Jules McBride, that moment came at 25 weeks pregnant with their daughter, Juliana, when a severe car accident left both parents in need of immediate medical care and set off a series of events that would test their family in ways they never could have imagined.

After being rushed to the hospital, Jules and Jevon both required surgery, and Jules needed an emergency C-section. Juliana was born prematurely, weighing just 1 pound, 10 ounces at birth, and facing health conditions like cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and dystonia. In the blink of an eye, the McBrides’ world turned upside down, with Jevon hospitalized, Jules in a wheelchair, and Juliana in the NICU fighting for her life. What ensued was a 105-day hospital stay for Juliana and an unimaginable physical, emotional, and financial toll on the new parents.

The road ahead was anything but easy, but thanks to the support they found through Ronald McDonald House, the McBrides were able to focus on what mattered most: being there for Juliana and each other. Now, as the first-ever Global Spokesfamily for Ronald McDonald House, the McBrides are sharing their story in hopes of inspiring others and showing how far small acts of kindness can go for those who need it most.

Piece by Piece: How Ronald McDonald House Helped The McBrides Navigate Their Biggest Challenge Yet

Before Jules and Jevon could worry about alternating late-night feedings or diaper-change schedules, they had to figure out how to stay close to their daughter throughout her around-the-clock care. When a hospital social worker told Jules about Ronald McDonald House, the McBrides could breathe a little easier.

“Ronald McDonald House gave us a home just steps away from Juliana’s hospital during a 105-day hospitalization,” Jevon explains. “It meant we didn’t have to leave her side or manage the logistics of finding a place to stay while also recovering from our own serious injuries. The House provided meals, a place to rest, and access to a supportive community while our family focused on Juliana’s care and our recovery. Staff, volunteers, and other families all helped create a home for us when our lives felt completely disrupted.”

“There were so many people who showed up when we needed it most,” says Jules. “We hope they know that their support helped us survive one of the darkest periods of our lives and gave us hope, comfort, and community.”

Not only did Ronald McDonald House give Jules and Jevon the confidence and skills they needed to care for Juliana — a now happy, healthy, 10-year-old who loves music and spending time with her family — but the organization’s services also supported the whole family’s recovery. Providing everything from nutritious meals and hospitality to mental health counseling, sibling support groups, transportation, art therapy, referrals, and community support groups, Ronald McDonald House knows that helping a family in need goes much further than housing alone.

“We have returned to Ronald McDonald House several times for Juliana’s brain surgeries and other medical care,” Jevon explains. “Each time, the House welcomed us with open arms. It became a consistent, safe space and a familiar home to our family. Returning reminded us that we had a community behind us and did not have to face our challenges alone.”

Now, 10 years after the day that changed everything, the McBrides are still awestruck by how far they’ve come. “This past weekend we went to the cider mill,” Jules recalls. “I watched as my husband, who had to learn to walk all over again, pushed our daughter in her wheelchair while we all smiled, listened to music, ate apple donuts, and watched cider being made. After arriving home later that day, we swam in the pool as a family. At three days old, we were told our daughter wouldn't survive, yet at 10 years old, she had a typical Saturday filled with fun and sweet memories. It was the best day. It truly is the little things that are such huge reminders of how far we’ve come as a family.”

10 Years. $10. One Small Way To Show Up

The McBrides’ story is one of hope, resilience, and perseverance, and at the core of their triumph is the generosity of strangers across the world. “When a child needs medical care, their family needs care, too,” says Katie Fitzgerald, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Global. “Ronald McDonald House helps families with hospitalized children stay close to their child and care team through Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Family Room programs.”

“Through a network of 250+ Chapters in more than 60 countries and regions, we offer these families a place to sleep, nutritious meals, and a community of support that can ease the everyday pressures that come with their child’s treatment, especially when they’ve traveled far,” Fitzgerald explains. “Over the last three years alone, Ronald McDonald House has served 4 million+ families across its programs, saving them an estimated $2.2B in meal and lodging expenses.”

To put this impact into perspective, in 2025, families worldwide saved a whopping $738 million in housing and meal expenses thanks to the organization. “Think about a family whose child needs specialized care at a hospital that’s hours from home,” Fitzgerald says.

“What they expect to be a short stay may stretch into weeks, months, or even years — while hotel and meal costs keep adding up — and a parent may be missing work at the same time. Easing those expenses helps families remain close to their child and care team without taking on the full financial burden of staying away from home.”

While Ronald McDonald House continues to change the lives of millions of families each year, the organization estimates that 2.6 million families worldwide need its services. In the U.S., the organization meets about 55% of estimated demand, and globally, it is currently able to serve only one in four families in need. With so many families in need of its support, the organization’s reach can only grow through the generosity of others. You can give back by volunteering at one of Ronald McDonald House’s locations nationwide, offering your talents to prepare meals and help maintain welcoming spaces for families, or by making monetary donations. Every contribution goes a long way in ensuring the organization can keep helping families everywhere.

In their role as Global Spokesfamily for Ronald McDonald House, Jules and Jevon are connecting with more families navigating their child’s medical care and providing the same support and encouragement that others gave them when they needed it most.

“The House gave us a lasting community and an entire network of people we know we can count on and who have been through experiences like the one we survived,” Jules says. “As we mark 10 years since our first stay, please consider donating $10 or more so more families can stay close to their child and never have to face their hardest moments alone.”