20 Mar Meet the Householder Family

While five-year-old Landin Householder runs and jumps around the Gatewood Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, he also battles a rare blood disease, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). When Landin was just 12months old, a severe rash developed across his back. Landin’s mom, Nicole, took him to the doctor and they told her it was eczema. However, Landin started to develop other symptoms, including large bruises that appeared when Nicole would hold or hug him.  Mother’s instinct kicked in, and Nicole started searching for different doctors’ opinions from around the country.

After many appointments and tests, Landin was diagnosed with LCH, a blood disease that affects one out of 200,000 children every year. With treatments, Landin seemed to be doing well, until the disease began disturbing his bowel movements. Doctors recommended chemotherapy and Nicole nervously consented. Every Monday night, Nicole and Landin drive from their home in Aiken, South Carolina, to stay at the Gatewood House for the week while Landin receives chemotherapy.

Nicole lost her job when Landin started treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Hospital and without the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC) she doesn’t know what the family would do during this time.  “When you think of your child growing up,” Nicole says, “You dream of him playing sports, and going to friends’ houses.  But, when the unthinkable happened to our family, ARMHC provided stability and security. Landin always asks if we get to stay at the “Ra-Donald House”, and seeing him so happy during such a difficult treatment gives me peace.”