Shawcross family story

At Ronald McDonald House WA, we hold a simple belief: no family should have to choose between being there for their ill or injured child and having a place to stay. Yet, in a state as vast as Western Australia, for many families like the Shawcrosses, this choice is an all too familiar reality.

Their journey really began when their daughter, Riley, was born.

West Australians Stephanie and Henry, living in Melbourne, were planning their life in the east. Starting with a family, first came Kane, then the news of a little girl, Riley.

“A few weeks after she was born, that’s when we found out she had multi-systemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome or MSMDS for short.

They call it an ultra-rare disease, with between 60 and 80 confirmed cases worldwide.” Stephanie explains.

The incurable nature of Riley’s condition and the rarity made for a life of uncertainty. Far from loved ones, the family decided it was time to come home.

As Riley grew from a baby to a toddler, so grew the stability of her condition and their family with the arrival of baby Parker.

“For what felt like the longest while, Riley was pretty stable up until she was just over 3 years old”

That was until 2024, it was just an ordinary day for the family of 5,

“Riley woke not, not being able to lift her left arm.”

The concerned parents loaded their young family into the car, took their daughter to their local hospital, but were then told they needed to go to Perth.

So, they left.

Driving from their hometown of Margaret River, that 3.5-hour drive was riddled with the unknown.

What they knew was that their 3-year-old daughter had suffered a stroke.

What they didn’t know was where they would stay, how long they would be away or that this would be a trip they would make often.

Once on the ward, the family, stressed and highly emotional, was met with one seemingly little question: ‘ Do you guys need a room at the Ronald McDonald House?’

“And just like that, it’s just been such a game changer in the sense that we know that we can all be together, Henry can stay in the House with Kane, while I can be on the ward with Riley and Parker. Or the other way around.
With hotel rooms over $300 a night and given that I am unable to work full-time due to Riley’s condition, the financial pressure the House relieves is insane.

It’s stressful to think about.

Legitimately, we wouldn’t have been able to afford all the trips to Perth, but its so much more than that, a lot of that stress would have come from not being together or even trying to organise dinners, things for the kids to do and a place they feel safe.”

And so began their journey with Ronald McDonald House WA.

With over 100 overnight stays and counting, the family now have a home away from home that they can turn to, together as a family. A place that is safe, familiar and helps ease just one of the many challenges they face as they navigate Riley’s medical journey.

“It’s a place the kids get excited about. On the drive up, they guess who the Family Liaison Officer is for the day, or whether or not Gus will be there.

They just race in and see what the layout of the room is like, and then off they trot to play pretty much as quickly as they can in the rec room or playroom.

For Henry and me, though, it’s a place where you don’t have to pretend. Even though you’re not walking the same path or dealing with the same diagnosis, you are absolutely understood by all the people there.

Honestly, it truly has become a home away from home.”

While Shawcross’ story continues so do we.

Because when a child is ill or injured, family is not a visitor; family stays, and we stay with them.

You can help local families like Riley's with ill or injured children.

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