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Family Story: The strongest pain reliever

Ferris, a father of three, spared no effort to get his ailing eldest daughter the best care, while tending to his younger two. The family found respite at Ronald McDonald House, where they felt the communitys warmth – strengthening Ferris and his wifes resolve to build a brighter future for their children. 

“The daughter is the father’s beloved from a past life.” When Ferris learned late last year that his eldest daughter, Esther, was suffering from acute lymphoid leukemia, his heart was pierced with anguish. 

Ferris was committed to advancing his budding career in environmental protection. At the same time, he was looking forward to welcoming his third son with his wife, Ceci, who was about to give birth. However, the eldest daughter, Esther, continued to have symptoms such as fever and cold. “Esther has always been healthy, we thought it was just a common minor illness, but how could we have thought it was leukemia so serious,” Ferris said. 

Ever since Esther entered the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital for treatment, Ferris has been by her side, and has been described by his wife as the most effective painkiller for her daughter. Because as long as she has her father by her side, Esther seemed to be able to withstand any pain. 

But for Ferris, the most heart-wrenching thing is watching Esther, who used to be well-behaved and cute, sometimes change her temperament due to drug reactions. “When her emotions hit, she would lose her temper uncontrollably, leaving us both physically and mentally exhausted.”  

As a father, Ferris has always cared for his children and established a close relationship. In order to help Esther come to terms with her condition, he deliberately asked a friend to make a short film, using the story of “Rapunzel” to tell his daughter that before she can become a princess, she must first go through the stage of hair loss. Since then, Esther has been more receptive to being hairless, and is full of hope that one day she will become a real “Rapunzel”. 

These difficult days were indeed a source of ambivalence for Ferris. He admits that Esther is the eldest daughter in the family, so it is inevitable that he will have some expectations for her and want to make arrangements for her growth. “I sometimes wonder if I should give up on these hopes,” Ferris bitterly said. “But I know very well that the most important thing at this moment is to take care of the needs of the children. Because health is not inevitable, it requires us to strive for it with all our might.”  

Meanwhile, the little brother Elliot was about to be born. Ferris had to stay in the hospital for a long time to take care of Esther, so he had to leave his wife alone in the delivery room to give birth. The remote location of their home meant that Ferris and his wife had to travel long distances to the hospital to care for Esther. Fortunately, the medical social worker identified the plight in time and referred them to the Ronald McDonald House in Kwun Tong for temporary accommodation, which eased their transportation burden.  

In addition to the medical costs, Ferris shared that the daily expenses of caring for Esther and their newborn son Elliot had also placed them under significant financial strain. In order to fully dedicate themselves to caring for their children, Ferris and his wife had to take a break from what they were doing. They feel incredibly fortunate to be staying at the House, which has undoubtedly helped them in the snow and greatly reduced their immediate financial burden. 

The most unexpected and precious gain for Ferris’ family during their stay is the compassionate care and support from the other families at the House. They admit to being physically and emotionally drained from tending to their seriously ill daughter Esther, while also caring for their other children. However, the other parents proactively stepped in to help, not only sharing the burden of childcare responsibilities, but also generously sharing their valuable experience in caring for sick children. These acts of kindness and community alleviated the urgent needs of Ferris’ family and made them deeply feel the warmth and solidarity of their fellow families. 

Esther’s unexpected health crisis undoubtedly presented significant challenges for this otherwise tranquil family. To ensure proper care for Esther and her newborn son, Elliot, Ferris and his wife had to leave their second daughter to the care of their relatives, and even parents of Emma’s classmates to temporarily look after her. This arrangement, however, stirred up feelings of guilt and unease within Emma. She began to wonder if her own behaviors were somehow responsible for her parents’ frequent absences.  

Recognizing Emma’s feelings of remorse, Ferris and his wife promptly decided to bring her to live with the family. This allowed Emma to spend more quality time with her parents and siblings. Over time, Emma’s mood gradually improved, and the sadness that had once etched her face began to fade. 

Ceci admitted feeling guilty for neglecting Emma. When she feels down, she would find a quiet corner in the House and cry openly, finding that the emotional release lifted her spirits. She now hopes to tell her children that it’s okay to cry when unhappy, and they should embrace life’s challenges after venting, for happiness will come. 

With Esther’s condition stabilizing, Ferris and Ceci were recently able to enjoy a long-awaited movie together. These small joys in life had become precious fortunes for the family. 

 

Return to Summer 2024 Newsletter

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      Sha Tin House

      Item
      Boxed Tissue Paper
      Toilet Rolls
      Alcohol Wipes
      Disinfecting Wipes
      Disinfectants or Antiseptic Liquid for Household Cleaning
      Dishwashing Detergent
      Kitchen Sponges
      Laundry Powder and Softener
      Medium Size Rubbish Bags

      Kwon Tong House

      Item
      Boxed Tissue Paper
      Toilet Rolls
      Disinfecting Wipes
      Jif Cleanser
      Kitchen Sponges (Non Scratch)
      Laundry Powder and Softener
      Rubbish Bags(51cmx51cm -white)
      Towel
      Saran Wrap / Ziploc Bag/ Aluminium foil

      Not Accepted Items

      Sha Tin House

      Item
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Kwon Tong House

      Item
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Toys

      Sha Tin House

      Item
      Switch Games
      Plush Toys (Vending Machine)
      “Lego”  Toys
      “Marvel”  Toys
      “Frozen”  Toys
      Electronic Products

      Kwon Tong House

      Item
      Switch Games
      PS5 Games
      “Lego”  Toys
      “Marvel” Toys
      “Frozen” Toys
      Electronic Products

      Application Form

      Hidden
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        IN THE KITCHEN/Food Bank

        ItemQty.Approx Monetary Value(HK)
        Organic Sunflower Cooking Oil (500ml)

        30 bottles

        $2400
        Vegetarian Rice Noodles

        30 packs

        $1800
        Soup Packets30 packs$1280

        Organic Gummy Bears (25g x 10)

        30 packs$2100
        Organic Biscuits (400g)30 packs$1200
        Enviromental Friendly Dish Washing Detergent30 pcs$1800
        Saran Wrap / Ziploc Bag/ Aluminium foil/Butter paper30 pcs$1200

        SPONSOR A HOUSE MEAL / DIRECT SERVICE

        Item Details Approx Monetary Value(HK)
        Fresh Fruits Sponsor weekly fresh fruits for 60 guests $3000/month
        Fresh Meat Sponsor weekly fresh meat for 60 guests $4000/month
        Organic Vegetables Sponsor monthly fresh vegetables for 60 guests $4000/month
        Supermarket Coupons Sponsor monthly supermarket coupons for 60 guests $4000/month
        House Meal Sponsor a House Meal for 60 guests $6000/meal

        AROUND THE HOUSE

        Item Qty. Approx Monetary Value(HK)
        Liquid laundry detergent & softener 30 sets $2100
        Facial box tissues 250 boxes $1000
        Toilet Rolls 30 packs $1200
        Garbage bags for house unit 51cmx51cm (white) (50 pcs/pack) 30 packs $750
        Trash bags for kitchen (black) (100 pcs/pack) 5 packs $650

        IN THE KITCHEN/Food Bank

        ItemQty.Approx Monetary Value(HK)
        Organic Sunflower Cooking Oil (500ml)

        30 bottles

        $2400
        Vegetarian Rice Noodles

        30 packs

        $1800
        Soup Packets30 packs$1280

        Organic Gummy Bears (25g x 10)

        30 packs$2100
        Organic Biscuits (400g)30 packs$1200
        Enviromental Friendly Dish Washing Detergent30 pcs$1800
        Saran Wrap / Ziploc Bag/ Aluminium foil/Butter paper30 pcs$1200

        Kitchen Supplies

        Sha Tin House

        Item
        Kitchen Scissors
        Kitchen Peelers for Carrots & Potatoes
        Extra Large Size Rubbish Bags (Heavy Duty)
        Kitchen Plastic Wrap with Easy Cutter (550 ft)
        Glad Aluminium Foil (75 ft)
        Cleaning Towels

        Kwon Tong House

        Item
        Kitchen Scissors
        Kitchen Peelers for Carrots & Potatoes
        Kitchen Plastic Wrap with Easy Cutter (550 ft)
        Glad Aluminium Foil (75 ft)
        Cleaning Towels

        Daily Supplies

        Sha Tin House

        Item
        Boxed Tissue Paper
        Toilet Rolls
        Alcohol Wipes
        Disinfecting Wipes
        Disinfectants or Antiseptic Liquid for Household Cleaning
        Dishwashing Detergent
        Kitchen Sponges
        Laundry Powder and Softener
        Medium Size Rubbish Bags

        Kwon Tong House

        Item
        Boxed Tissue Paper
        Toilet Rolls
        Disinfecting Wipes
        Jif Cleanser
        Kitchen Sponges (Non Scratch)
        Laundry Powder and Softener
        Rubbish Bags(51cmx51cm -white)
        Towel
        Saran Wrap / Ziploc Bag/ Aluminium foil

        Food Items

        Sha Tin House

        Item
        Cooking Oil 
        Dry Noodles or Pasta – Udon, Buckwheat Noodles, Rice Noodles, Macaroni
        Cereals–Corn Flakes, Oatmeal
        Supermarket Coupons

        Kwon Tong House

        Item
        Cooking Oil 
        Dry Noodles or Pasta – Udon, Buckwheat Noodles, Rice Noodles, Macaroni
        Cereals–Corn Flakes, Oatmeal
        Soup Packets
        Soda Crackers (Individually packed)
        Supermarket Coupons
        Eggs (10pcs./Pack)
        Fresh Fruits (weekly)

        Donor Contact Information

        Item Details

        Estimated Value *
        Drop files here or
        Max. file size: 5 MB, Max. files: 5.

          For enquiries, please contact House Team through the information below:


          Tel: (+852) 2947 8778 (Office Hour: 09:00 - 18:30)
          Fax: (+852) 2947 8780
          Email: Kwun Tong House - [email protected]; Shatin House - [email protected]