Ronald McDonald House short $1.2M for expansion

Durham, N.C. — The Ronald McDonald House in Durham is still $1.2 million short of its budget for an expansion to the center.

But the nonprofit is moving ahead anyway with a construction project that will double the number of families it can help.

"We are building in faith. We aren't waiting until we have all the money to start building," Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Oie OsterKamp said Wednesday. "We have faith in the community to come together so we can finish construction."

Last year, the nonprofit provided a home away from home for 1,200 families, but had to turn away 700 families in need because of the lack of space.

The new building will "allow us to say yes to a whole lot more, which is a wonderful thing," OsterKamp said.

Matthew Pitera, 15, of New Jersey, is battling his second recurrence of brain cancer at Duke University Hospital. He and his mother, Erika Pitera, are grateful to relax and recover at the Ronald McDonald House.

"It's wonderful. It truly is a home away from home," Erika Pitera said. "I don't have to be concerned about what am I cooking for dinner. There is a beautiful meal every single night."

Erika Pitera said it gives her peace of mind to know that she has a beautiful place for her son to recover.

Following this round of treatment, Piteras will have to return to the Ronald McDonald house for another eight weeks of treatment.

"My mom is always by my side, and everyone here is too," Matthew Pitera said. "I'm never like alone."

55 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 55 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

She spent 10 days at UNC. My husband & youngest daug. were able to stay at the RMH--and it gave me a place to come get a good night's sleep, get me out of the hospital for a little while, and spend time with my youngest child, who still needed Mommy too.

The RMH is a blessing you can't imagine....until you have to stay there. They feed you, you have your own room, they have things to occupy your kids. It gives you a break--and a chance to be with others who know what you're going through.

It's been 2 months now, and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that my daughter spend 1 week in the PICU & 10 days total at UNC Children's. But fortunately we had the RMH for me & the rest of my family to be able to turn to.

lroyal10900
February 17, 2012 8:20 a.m.

Why all these negative comments on what is a very positive story??

Not a one of us knows when you may need the services of the RMH. Dec. 14th my 15 yo daughter got up and started getting ready for school. She started complaining of a headache--I gave her some pain medicine and took her to school. About 9:30am the school called me & said I needed to come get her--she had started vomiting & had passed out in the bathroom. I just chalked it up to a migraine.

When I got to school, she was VERY ill, & we even had to get a wheelchair to get her to the car, as she couldn't walk. Started towards home & she complained more & more, so I decided to go straight to Urgent Care with her. Once we got there, the PA who saw her just felt something wasn't right & sent us for a stat CT. Next thing I knew, I was told she had a brain bleed & was put on a chopper to UNC.

lroyal10900
February 17, 2012 8:18 a.m.

we2hedonists I learned most everything about love2dostuff from you. And I appreciate it more than you know. You'll never be able to make some commentors let go of their negative side. They will always wallow in it and never give anyone else the credit they deserve because they can't let go of the little green monster that lives inside them. It's too hard to give others the praise because they want to be the center of attention. love2dostuff is actually very humble in my opinion.

There are others here that made donations also and I want to give you my thanks as well. You all deserve a handshake and praise for giving to others that need it maybe more than yourselves.

Ambygirl
February 16, 2012 4:34 p.m.

Yeah, ALL he had to do was play football. That is easy right? Just show up for games and perform. No worries of having that pesky permanent injury for the rest of your life when you are only 24. You know anything about professional athletes? They train 365 days a year most of the time.

DO you know what "walk-on" means??? It means he approached the coach at college and asked to try out. No free ride. No player benefits like making up assignments or missed work, etc. You know absolutely nothing of this man yet you continue to criticize. Did you know he works 7 days a week as a Marine and has done so from one month after he chose not to renew his contract with the Chicago Bears as a linebacker?

I would love to see you say these things to his face.

we2hedonists
February 16, 2012 4:01 p.m.

"Maybe you should know the whole story before you criticize others. He is like 6'8" & 295 pounds what was he supposed to do besides playy football?? - we2hedonist

Yeah, he's a really great guy and all....but you can't deny that having a football salary makes things ALOT, and he has more time (offseason) to finish school, do charity etc. Most people don't have that luxury, nor that salary..