RMH

Calvin Meredith rides around in a “bubble.”  His stroller must be covered by a clear plastic guard because at 16 months old, a rare immune deficiency disorder has made his immune system so weak that he can’t risk exposure to dust or germs of any kind. Calvin gets annoyed by the barrier, but he knows that if he wants to get out of the stroller in public, he has to wear a mask.

As sick as Calvin is, when his family arrived at Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Toronto in January 2015, his mother was more worried about his healthy older brother, Dalton. Now three years old, Dalton had experienced a lot of change in a short period of time, and his development was suffering as a result.

“Our family had moved across the country and back, he became an older brother… It was too much,” says Dalton’s mom, Janet. “He’d started talking, but by the time we got to RMHC Toronto, he’d regressed to the point that he just stopped communicating.”

Janet felt helpless. “As worried as I was about Calvin, I could put my faith in his doctors. I didn’t know what to do about Dalton.”

Within weeks of moving into the House, Janet’s fears started to ease. She was amazed by the quality of programming for families provided by RMHC Toronto and watched it help Dalton’s confidence steadily build.

Six months later, he’s a new boy.

“Dalton’s personality has absolutely bloomed,” says Janet. “He’s become incredibly social and loves interacting with families and staff. When we arrived here, I actually had him on a waitlist for speech therapy. Now- yeah right! He’s talking a mile a minute.”

At RMHC Toronto, Dalton has discovered a love of the arts, looking forward to the music program and Child Life crafts each week. He’s learned to ride a bike and become quite a dancer.

“He’s gone from missing his developmental milestones to thriving well beyond his age.”

Janet has seen Calvin thrive as well. He’s making steps towards walking, and though he must be kept fairly isolated, living in such a clean, germ-sensitive environment has allowed him freedom he wouldn’t find elsewhere.

“Calvin loves to be outside, but it’s not safe for him to crawl around in public parks,” says Janet. “The playground at the House has rubber on the ground, not sand. So I can set him down and let him play all he wants.”

Janet is incredibly thankful.

“We came to Toronto to help Calvin, and he’s on his way to better health,” says Janet. “But I have to provide love and comfort for both of my children, and living at RMHC Toronto has given Dalton so much that he wouldn’t get at home. It has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders and I’ll be forever grateful.”

The Merediths plan to stay at RMHC Toronto for another month or two while Calvin continues to recover from a bone marrow transplant. They have a new home in Whitby waiting for them, but if it was up to Dalton, they would never leave.

“We’ve taken Dalton to see the new house a couple times, and after he’s had enough playing around, he’ll say, ‘Let’s go home.’ I say, ‘Dalton, this is our home.’

‘No, Mommy. Our home is Ronald McDonald House.’”