My name is Jeremy. My wife Bailey and I, along with our little “superman” Levi, are from Truro, Nova Scotia. One year ago, we became one of the first families to walk through the doors of the new Ronald McDonald House Maritimes when it opened at the end of April 2025. We are writing to you today because that moment, and everything that followed, was made possible by you.

Our journey began on what we thought would be an ordinary Monday morning. Within hours, Levi was airlifted by LifeFlight to the IWK Health Centre and diagnosed with an incredibly rare and life-threatening heart condition. The next morning, we watched a team of doctors and nurses wheel our tiny son away for emergency open-heart surgery.

For nine long hours, we waited, holding our breath, bracing for the unknown.

That night, when we were told Levi had made it through surgery, we felt relief we can barely put into words. But the weeks and months that followed were still filled with uncertainty, tough conversations, and long days beside a hospital bed. Through it all, one thing never changed: we stayed together.

Because of Ronald McDonald House Maritimes, our family stayed.

For 121 nights, we stayed by Levi’s side. The House was more than a place to sleep. It was our home during the hardest time of our lives. After long, exhausting days at the hospital, we returned to a warm, welcoming place just steps away.

There were home‑cooked meals, fresh-baked treats, and quiet spaces to rest. There were smiles from staff, kindness from volunteers, and comfort in meeting other families who understood exactly what we were feeling—without a word needing to be said.

When your child is critically ill, the last thing you should have to worry about is where you will stay, how you will afford meals, or whether you can keep your family together. Because of donors like you, we didn’t have to worry about any of that. We could focus entirely on Levi, on his strength, his recovery, and the simple moments that kept us going.

As the new House marks its first anniversary, it’s incredible to see how many families have already found comfort within its walls. In just one year, more families than ever before have been supported, families from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and beyond, each facing their own medical crisis, each needing a place where their family can stay close.

We were one of those families. And right now, there are many more just beginning their journey.

The impact of your generosity goes far beyond a room for the night. You give families certainty in moments filled with fear. You give siblings a place to laugh and play. You give parents the ability to be exactly where they are needed most, by their child’s side.

Most importantly, you remind families like ours that we are not alone.

As you reflect on one year of the new Ronald McDonald House Maritimes, we hope you will celebrate knowing that you helped create a place where families can stay supported, connected, and cared for when it matters most.

Please consider making a spring gift in honour of this first year and in support of the families who will walk through those doors tomorrow.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of Levi’s story, and for families like ours from across the Maritimes.

With endless gratitude,
Jeremy, Bailey, and Levi