For families like the Babins from\u00a0Callander, the Ronald McDonald House Ottawa has been more than just a place to stay close together; it has been\u00a0a lifeline.<\/p>\n
“I could talk for days about that place,” said BJ Babin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s the greatest place you never want to be. You cannot begin to describe the level of comfort this house has provided.”<\/p>\n
BJ spent\u202f160 nights with Ronald McDonald House while his son Brody Babin received critical medical care for Burkitt\u2019s Lymphoma Leukemia (Stage 4), an aggressive lymphoma that can affect a patient\u2019s organs.<\/p>\n
Without Ronald McDonald House, the Babin family would have\u00a0needed to\u00a0stay at a hotel while Brody was being treated, missing work and being hours away from their daughter, Taya.<\/p>\n
“The Ronald McDonald House Ottawa will forever be a part of our lives. I cannot begin to describe to you the level of comfort the House and staff provided. You can walk into that place with nothing, and they will make sure you are okay.” <\/p>\n
Road to Full Recovery<\/p>\n
While BJ Babin is grateful for everything they received from the Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa, he is hoping they never need to pay a visit there again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, BJ says his son Brody, who turns 12 in September,\u00a0is doing “amazing.” His last chemo treatment was in July of 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“He is in full remission,” BJ said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“All his scans and all his blood work have come back clean, so he is doing amazing. He’s back playing football. He’s riding his dirt bike, his 4-wheeler, he’s fishing, he’s swimming. He’s doing what kids should do without any health worries.”<\/p>\n
Ronald McDonald House Ottawa Expansion<\/p>\n
Ronald McDonald House Ottawa recently expanded from 14 to 36 bedrooms, doubling its capacity to serve families during an unimaginable time.<\/p>\n
With this expansion, Ronald McDonald House Ottawa has officially lowered its eligibility requirement from 80km to 60km, helping families across Canada \u2013 primarily in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut \u2013 save on high travel and lodging costs as they care for their child.<\/p>\n
To mark this milestone, Ronald McDonald House Ottawa is hosting an official celebration on July 13, 2026, at 407 Smyth Road, Ottawa, which began welcoming families earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The newly expanded Ronald McDonald House supports more families by providing:<\/p>\n
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Accommodation for more than 1,300 families each year, compared to about 500 families annually, previously.<\/p>\n
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Double the capacity, expanding from 14 to 36 bedrooms, eliminating the current waitlist and increasing nights of comfort from 5,000 to over 13,000 annually.<\/p>\n
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Specialized, family-centred spaces and programs that include expanded kitchens, shared meals, active play spaces, and suite layouts carefully designed to accommodate the diverse needs of families who stay.<\/p>\n
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Support for both overnight guests and local day-use families looking to recharge near their child’s bedside through the two Ronald McDonald House Family Room programs at CHEO (Children\u2019s Hospital of Eastern Ontario).<\/p>\n
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