Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan is the epitome of love. During our stay at the House, my family sought refuge in the warm and caring environment and found comfort and peace, when both seemed impossible.

Maverick Jack was born January 27, 2008. At 31 weeks gestation and weighing only 4 pounds, 2 ounces, he still had growth and development to complete in order to do seemingly simple, but life-sustaining things. Maverick was unable to maintain his own body temperature and breathe without supplemental oxygen, so he was sent to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Lansing. Along with the challenges of surviving a premature birth, Maverick would also battle Necrotizing Enteric Colitis, a condition that causes death of the intestinal track, during his stay.

During Maverick's first few weeks of life, I would make the daily trek to Lansing–86 miles away from our home in Clare–to hold him, bathe him, breastfeed him…and cry and pray.

But on February 15, I was unable to make the trip. Our six-year-old daughter, Morgan, had what appeared to be the flu. She lay on the couch in pain, vomiting and lethargic. On the second day of this illness, and during our second emergency room visit, the cause of the symptoms was found: Morgan had nephroblastoma, a malignant tumor of the kidneys that is also known as Wilms' Tumor. Her right kidney had been destroyed when the tumor ruptured. We opted to have her moved to Lansing to receive treatment in the same city as her brother.

Morgan underwent an operation to remove her right kidney and the tumor that had obliterated it. She would spend a week in the pediatric intensive care unit. It was determined that Morgan would require 13 radiation treatments and 31 weeks of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy treatments would range from 15-minute "pushes" in the oncologists' office to five-day admissions in the hospital.

In the midst of this situation, the multitude of emotions a parent experiences is unfathomable. No words suffice. Yet, there in the middle of our nightmare were multiple blessings. This is when the love of others gets you through. Family members came to spend countless hours rocking Maverick in the NICU. Prayers of health and healing for two precious children were shared. And unknown people, like angels, gave of their time and resources to grant families like ours a place of solitude during a chaotic time. It makes perfect sense that Ronald McDonald House is called 'The House that Love Built.'

Brian, Clarissa, Morgan and Maverick Filhart
Clare, MI