When four-year-old Omari was airlifted to the burn unit at Brenner Children’s Hospital (now part of Atrium Health Levine Children’s) after an accident, his family was told he’d never walk again.
Today, he’s a happy + mobile 11-year-old thanks to talented doctors, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad (RMHCPT) that supported his family when they needed it most.
Omari’s grandmother and guardian, Lynzetta, rushed to be by his side from their family home in Hamlet, NC. As the family braced for a scary road to recovery in a strange place, Lynzetta was referred to RMHCPT.
During Omari’s five months of treatment and 14 life-saving surgeries, RMHCPT gave Lynzetta a comfortable place to stay, meals, a community of staff and other families, Christmas gifts, and support for Omari’s first post-accident outing. To this day, Omari has friends at RMHCPT and feels at home when he visits for follow-up care.
RMHCPT hosted its first Wine Women & Shoes fundraiser in May 2024, and the event included a Mission Moment to share Omari’s story along with a fashion show. Both Omari and Lynzetta triumphantly walked the runway, showing their resilience and strength. (Touched? Us too. Discover more of Omari and Lynzetta’s story.)
What the Ronald McDonald House does
Omari’s story with RMHCPT is one of many. The House provides lodging to families of children being treated at Winston-Salem hospitals and medical facilities. Last year, 1,103 families stayed in our local House.
In addition to a home away from home, RMHCPT offers:
- “Meals From the Heart” prepared by volunteers in the House’s kitchen 365 nights a year — apply to volunteer
- Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in three area hospitals that provide privacy, comfort, and peace
- Hospitality Carts in nine hospitals and Triad pediatric clinics
These programs all contribute to RMHCPT’s mission to offer community, comfort, and understanding when families need it.
