Thank you for being such a champion for the Ronald McDonald House in the past! You have allowed us to care for hundreds of families across Montana. That’s really our commitment: to care for the entire family, including siblings. 

Being a sibling has its challenges, from the pain of getting knocked back home while playing the board game Sorry! to having somebody “borrow” all your favorite stuff. For siblings of a sick or injured child, there can be a ton of tough changes to cope with, from worry and family stress to big changes in routine, new caregivers, sometimes even extended separations from a parent and affected sibling.

When my nephew Tate was going through cancer treatment, I witnessed his two sisters experience a variety of emotions, feeling very confused and scared, as the majority of the attention naturally goes to the sick child. My nieces, Makenna and Abby, inspired us to create the Super Siblings program to protect and care for the brothers and sisters of the patient, providing one-on-one attention, support and comfort through special experiences, activities and intentional spaces at the Ronald McDonald House in Missoula.

Support of the Super Siblings program is about creating caring, positive experiences to help offset the fear and confusion siblings naturally feel under the circumstances. We have a “Chief Storyteller” named Teresa who makes it her mission to ask siblings staying at our House: “Do you want to read a story?” Invariably, the answer is yes, and they curl up together with a book. We have volunteers who find out birthdays, special events and interests of siblings—and then plan special experiences for them.

One family stayed with us for 167 days, and when we found out a 6-year-old sister, Holly, was interested in cheerleading, the cheer squad from Big Sky High School came out and surprised her with authentic pompoms and a big hair bow. They then spent the entire evening teaching her “all the cheers” in the Ronald McDonald House backyard. It’s a memory she will always treasure.

So, when you support Super Siblings, you’re helping to create special, individual memories for children to carry forward for the rest of their lives—and beyond that, special memories for the entire family.

As we finally welcome our Super Siblings BACK to the House, your help is needed more than ever! Would you consider making a monthly donation to become a Sustainable Superhero of Super Siblings in Missoula, for kiddos like Makenna and Abby? A one-time donation would also Help our Super Siblings soar, for brave sisters like Holly! Any amount helps, because care and love are priceless—just like hugs and backseat-of-the-minivan pinches—and because of you, we spread that to the brothers and sisters of hospitalized children every day.