I am Lufuno Radzilani from Thohoyandou, Limpopo. I came to Johannesburg when I was 38 weeks pregnant because in Limpopo there are no gynaecologists. My pregnancy was big, on the 28th of September 2021, on a Tuesday at Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital, I gave birth in a c section to a bouncing baby boy, I fed him and held him in my arms.

Then the nurses took him away. When I woke up, they told me that my child had a breathing problem. On Thursday they discharged me, and I left my baby in the hospital for 3 days. After 3 days, I took him and went back to Limpopo. When we were at home the breathing problem started worsen, we drove back to Gauteng on the 7th of November 2021 and went to Netcare Parklane, then on the 8th of November we were transferred to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital where the doctor said he has to go for his first operation on the 9th of November 2021. On the 9th of November 2021, they took me to the Ronald McDonald House. When I got there, I felt like I was in a hotel, I couldn’t believe my eyes; that this is the hospital room where mothers sleep compared to other hospitals.

At Ronald McDonald House they welcome us with warm arms, they treat us like family. The love that I got from RMHC was like I was home. I stayed in RMHC for 5 months I didn’t even feel like I was mistreated or felt like I wish to go home and leave my baby behind because of the treatment I was getting, instead I felt like I was home.

Now when I go for a check-up with my son, I go greet the amazing sisters at RMHC. Thank you so much to the manager and the RMHC staff for making my stay feel so stress free and I felt the warmth and the love. And to all the other mothers out there, treat each other with respect and love. Support one another, treat the staff with respect and your stay at RMHC will be amazing.

Thank you.