19 Apr Meet the Minhas Family

Mom Jatinder is determined for her children

As a mother, I couldn’t imagine the thought of my child in the hospital alone.

My son Manjot was 9 years old. We had just returned from a family vacation and knew something was wrong. After several doctor’s appointments, we discovered he has aplastic anemia — where bone marrow doesn’t produce new cells. Without treatment, his body would be prone to bleeding and infection.

Manjot had several treatments and therapies, which worked for a few years until he relapsed. After a year of searching for a bone marrow match with no luck, my oldest daughter bravely did a half-match transplant. Soon after, my youngest daughter also became a bone marrow donor for Manjot.

Thankfully, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities gave my husband, Arvinder, and me the opportunity to stay together as a family, in a special transplant suite, while my children recovered.

During that time, I tried so hard to remain strong for my family. At the House, I was able to meet other families and get my strength from them.

As a mom, I couldn’t show my son my feelings or emotions because I needed to be strong for him. If I wasn’t strong he would lose his will.

Thankfully, I found a network of support at the House. When my son Manjot saw kids in the hospital alone, he was grateful I could be there for him every step of the way.

As a mom, I feel complete when my family is together. I will forever appreciate Atlanta RMHC for giving us togetherness when we needed it most.

With love,

Son Manjot calls his mom his anchor

How many kids get to say they grew up in the Ronald McDonald House?

I can because when I was 9, I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Over the past 10 years, I’ve spent close to 300 nights in the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House. I’ve been through countless procedures, tried new therapies and even received two bone marrow transplants from my sisters.

The House was like an oasis where all my worries would go away. There, I was able to just be a kid. My sisters would stay here on the weekends. It helped bring a sense of normalcy to play video games with them, while also giving my mom a small break.

Some patients didn’t have their families nearby. Because of Atlanta RMHC, my mom was there every step of the way.

She was the rock that I needed. She was there for me despite the cost to herself. Despite every challenge in her life, she’s always pushed through for the sake of others. She’s one of the kindest most generous people I know.

Having her there gave me the motivation to keep going, and I experienced the incredible healing power of a mother’s love and determination.

My mom would always talk about her friends at the House and, even as a child, I noticed how they kept her spirits up. They provided her with strength — both emotionally and mentally.

I am now a 19-year-old college student at the University of Georgia. I credit the love of my mom and Atlanta RMHC for how far I have come.

Thank you for supporting families like mine.

With gratitude,