In 2007, Kara received the phone call every parent fears. Her 16-year-old daughter, Karlee, had been in a catastrophic car accident. After being extracted from her crushed vehicle, Karlee was airlifted to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, where she remained in a coma for more than two weeks. She had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and faced months of intensive rehabilitation.
For more than three months of therapy, recovery, and uncertainty, Karlee, her parents, and her brother stayed together at the Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City. In the middle of one of the hardest seasons of their lives, the House became more than a place to sleep — it became a source of comfort, togetherness, and hope.
“It was a place that offered more than just a roof over our heads,” Kara recalls. “It gave us encouragement, meals, safety, and a sense of peace during a time when everything else was so uncertain. The staff, volunteers, and other families helped us feel supported and cared for when we needed it most. Our family has never forgotten that kindness.”
Karlee remembers pieces of that difficult time in her own way.
“Because of the TBI, I honestly don’t remember much,” she says. “But I do remember the dinners.”
With time, determination, and support, Karlee recovered and went on to become an ICU nurse in the neuro unit at Research Medical Center in Kansas City — caring for patients and families facing challenges much like her own.
A New Generation and a Familiar Source of Comfort
Nearly twenty years later, the family once again found themselves relying on Ronald McDonald House — this time for Karlee’s young son, Callen.
An energetic toddler with a bright smile, Callen was diagnosed as an infant with Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome, a rare congenital condition that causes involuntary eyelid movement when the jaw moves. In Callen’s case, the condition was accompanied by significant ptosis, or drooping of the eyelid, which could affect his vision development.
Only a handful of surgeons in the country specialize in correcting the condition, and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston offered some of the best care available.
Karlee, her husband AJ, and Callen traveled to Houston for specialized bilateral eye surgery. The procedure went smoothly, and during Callen’s recovery and observation period, the family stayed at Holcombe House, just minutes from the hospital.
“Everything is so welcoming and easy here,” Karlee says. “Meals and snacks are always available, there’s a kitchen if you want to cook, and the activities are wonderful.”
Experiencing Ronald McDonald House as a parent gave Karlee a new perspective on how deeply meaningful those everyday comforts can be during a medical crisis.
“When you’re focused on your child, even the smallest things make a huge difference,” she says.
For Kara, seeing her daughter cared for by Ronald McDonald House years after their own experience brought everything full circle.
“Once I knew they would be staying at Ronald McDonald House, all my worries lifted,” she says. “Just as they took care of us so many years ago, I knew they would support Karlee and her family now. Thank you, Ronald McDonald House, for walking with our family through two generations of healing.”
What began with one Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia in 1974 has grown into a global network of more than 385 Houses and programs serving families around the world. For more than 50 years, Ronald McDonald House has provided comfort, care, and community — helping families stay close across cities, countries, and generations.