New family room at EIRMC gives families home away from home
There will soon be a new home away from home for families with children in the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho are opening a family room at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical in Idaho Falls Friday.
“Anyone who is a parent, an aunt, a grandparent, anything like that, you can imagine the stress when you have a child who is critically ill,” said Mindy Plumlee, the executive director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho.
Families with sick children are often at the hospital for long periods of time. Some may not have time to run home for food or even shower.
“Caregivers help the healing process,” said Jeff Sollis, the CEO of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical. “Without them here at their child’s side, their treatment and their healing do not go as well. But caregivers also need care.”
The new space allows families to grab something to eat, take a shower, do laundry, watch TV, nap or stay the night. All the while being just a few steps from the child.
“Step out of the walls of the hospital, refresh and take care of themselves,” Plumlee said.
It is crucial for families to have that home away from home. Something Lena and Josh Archibald know well.
“We would travel to Boise, so it would be a five-hour drive because it would require extra stops along the way,” said Lena Archibald. “First few times we did, I would leave at five in the morning and not get home until 10 or 11 at night.”
The Archibald family had to travel to St. Lukes in Boise often because of their son, Christian. Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho family room in St. Lukes, the trips became less dreaded.
“We would have the opportunity to rest, do fun things, just to make it fun for him,” Lena Archibald said.
It also eases the stress of having to book a hotel room for long periods of time.
“My favorite part has been having somewhere we can count on and somewhere to go,” said Josh Archibald.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho is asking the community to help stock the family room. To ensure the space has everything needed to support families, they’ve put together an online wish list.
