The Osowiecki Family's Story
Christiane Osowiecki did not know what to expect when she arrived at the door of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House 13 years ago.
Her daughter Gabrielle was born ten weeks early and traveled via emergency transport to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from New Jersey. “I imagined a room filled with beds,” says Christiane. “I came with coolers packed with food. When I got to the House, my breath was taken away by what I saw.”
Unsure just what her child was facing, Christiane asked the House Manager at the time just how long she could stay. “She told me ‘You’re with us until your daughter goes home’ and I just started sobbing. I could not believe it,” says Christiane. That first stay was five and half months.
It turns out that Gabby was born with Joubert Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, and her kidneys were failing. At 15 months, she became the smallest baby ever to undergo a kidney transplant. The donor was Christiane’s mother. Just two weeks after the successful procedure, Gabrielle’s liver began to fail.
That was the beginning of many stays at the House for the Osowieckis. Following her transplant, Gabby had surgery a minimum of every six weeks, for five years. “No matter how many times you go for surgery, it is such a scary thing,” Christiane explains. “Gabby was never afraid to go. She was always so excited and looking forward to the stay at the House; she was so distracted by the fun and the beauty of having us all there.” At the age of ten, Gabrielle had her second transplant, this time for her liver. She remained in the hospital for five months.
For Christiane, the most valuable thing the House provides during these times is peace of mind. “For me as a parent not to have to wonder where I am going to sleep that night, or how I am going to keep my family intact and my kids together – that mountainous burden is relieved by the House. You cannot imagine how priceless that is.” Christiane has two other children – Joshua, age 12, and Alyssa, age 2 – who have spent much of their lives at the House. “Alyssa learned to walk in the playroom, and Josh took his first steps in the kitchen,” says Christiane. “We’ve spent more Christmases here than we have at home. The House gives them a sense of normalcy.”
Today, the Osowiecki family is home in New Jersey, waiting for a second liver transplant. Gabrielle’s new liver began to fail two years ago, resulting in a 466 day stay in the hospital; she is now at the top of the list to receive a healthy liver. Each day they wait for the phone call. Despite the challenges, Gabrielle remains a spirited 13-year-old girl. “She just steals people’s hearts,” says Christiane. “Her laugh comes from the depth of her soul; it is so contagious. She just makes an impact on people.”
So many years after her first stay at the House, Christiane can barely believe all that her family has been through, and how the House has helped. “I found myself in a world that I never knew existed,” she says. “At first I wished I never had known, but there are so many blessings that come with being a part of it. Everyone should know what the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House does for families, and the blessings that it brings, even in the most tragic of circumstances.”
Support Us
The Heart of the House is our Volunteer program. The volunteers serve in many ways, helping to make the House a comfortable and supportive place for our families. The caring volunteers of the PRMH make this House a home.
