My name is Katie, my husband is Derrick, and we have two beautiful children — our seven-year-old son, Mack, and our four-year-old daughter, Evie. Late in December 2023, our world changed forever. Evie, who was just two years old at the time, became very ill. She was weak, not eating, and ran a high fever that wouldn’t break for more than ten days. After several trips to the doctor in Brandon, we were sent to Winnipeg, where Evie was admitted to the hospital. A blood transfusion was followed by more tests, and then came the devastating news no parent ever wants to hear — Evie had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Everything happened so fast. Within a week, Evie began chemotherapy and had surgery to implant a port. The treatment was intense and incredibly hard on her little body. We were exhausted, scared, and trying to hold it all together when we were welcomed to Ronald McDonald House Manitoba. I’ll never forget walking through those doors for the first time. We were anxious and unsure of what the future held, but the kindness and calmness of the staff wrapped around us like a hug. That night, I had my first hot shower in days — something so simple, but at that moment, it felt like a lifeline

The House became our refuge — a warm, safe place during the coldest, darkest days of winter. Whether it was caring check-ins from staff or cheerful greetings in the hallway, we always felt supported and never alone. When Evie was too sick to do much, we spent quiet days together at the House, finding comfort in small routines and gentle activities. Meanwhile, our son, Mack, showed incredible strength, staying with family in Brandon and visiting when he could. It wasn’t easy being apart, but Ronald McDonald House helped make those separations more bearable by giving us a sense of home in Winnipeg.

Today, Evie is in maintenance chemotherapy and doing so well. She continues her treatments until March 2026, when we hope to see her start kindergarten soon after. We are forever grateful to Ronald McDonald House Manitoba and to donors like you. Without your support, families like ours would face this journey alone. Because of you, we had a place to stay, a community to lean on, and the strength to keep going.

— Katie Kerkowich