05 Dec Meet the Cumbie Family

In December 2014, six-year-old Jace Cumbie was diagnosed with stage four Neroblastoma, an aggressive nervous system cancer. With a younger brother and living two hours south of Atlanta, commuting to the hospital each day for treatment was not an option. Fortunately for the Cumbie family, a room was available at our House.

“At the House, Jace was able to be around other kids going through similar things, kids that were sick and going through something hard, and it helped him mentally and emotionally even though he probably didn’t realize it was. He wasn’t cooped up in a hospital room all the time and could be a kid,” expressed Jace’s mom Sarah.

To provide Jace with the care he needed to recover Sarah had to quit her job.

“I could finally breathe a little bit easier once we got the Ronald McDonald House. I didn’t have to worry about paying for a hotel room or where our next meal would come from – I could focus on my child,” said Sarah.

The House has given Jace the chance to still feel like a kid while facing a life-threatening disease. Riding his bike through the House, playing in the game room, and reading books are some of his favorite things about staying here.

Together with his family, Jace found the strength to heal. Now in remission, Jace still visits the House for checkups and scans.

Though we never want families to need us, we are always grateful to be a “home-away-from-home” when they do. Please consider a gift to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities this Holiday Season so we can continue to keep families close during a critical time in their lives.