The birth of a child is one of the most special moments in a family’s life. It can bring unimaginable amounts of joy to a couple who is about to embark on their next chapter of life. It can also be a scary time as pregnancies don’t always go as planned. For Megan Williamson, the birth of her newborn son, Walker, gave the family quite a scare.

Megan began having complications just over halfway through her pregnancy and had to be transferred from UNC Health Southeast in Lumberton, NC to UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill. At just 25 weeks, Megan gave birth to baby Walker who weighed in at only 1 pound 14 ounces.

At that point, the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill began to provide immediate support to the family while Walker received care at the hospital. “The House has been very peaceful and quiet and allowed us to get the rest we need after long days in the hospital with Walker. When you are a new mother that needs to be up every three hours to breastfeed, you need a place that you can get adequate rest, and the House has been perfect for that.” The Williamsons also noted that the House’s proximity to the hospital, convenient shuttle service and the incredible staff with whom they have enjoyed building relationships have all been high points during their stay.

The Williamsons have spent nearly 100 days at the Ronald McDonald House and Walker is now 8 pounds 7 ounces, progressing wonderfully. Megan hopes to go home with Walker soon and we can’t wait to celebrate that day with the family!