This year, on 20 January, our beautiful son Dylan had open-heart surgery to fix some holes in his heart. The surgery went well and we thought the worst is over and we will be able to go home in two weeks. Unfortunately he suffered from a series of complications post operation, he had three further surgeries and many other procedures but sadly left us on 8 April after 11 weeks in Yorkhill Children's Hospital, Glasgow.

It was a roller coaster ride for us all and one we never anticipated. During the 11 weeks, Phil and I stayed in Ronald McDonald House Glasgow and only managed to come back to home in Edinburgh two and three times each. The house provided us, free of charge, an en-suite room, a tidy shared kitchen, cosy lounges, a quiet library, a lovely garden, car park, and a chance to meet parents in similar situations. It's a home away from home, and a temporary harbour to shelter from an unexpected storm. 

The house is 5-minute-walk away from the hospital, and sometimes it felt far. It's so important to be close, for the children in hospital and for the sanity of parents.  We are incredibly thankful for this facility and the kind people who run and volunteer to maintain it. Please consider helping us express our gratitude by supporting Ronald McDonald House Glasgow, it will benefit many stressed parents and give them much needed relief during an unbearably difficult time.

今年年初，一月二十日，可愛的 Dylan 到格拉斯哥兒童醫院報到，進手術房修補心臟內部的幾個缺口。手術雖長但過程順利，我們開心的以為最糟的已經過去了，兩週內可以回家。然而 Dylan 的復原之路並不平坦，併發症接著併發症，他在十一個星期裡又動了三次手術，終於在四月八日離開了我們。

有如坐上雲霄飛車，被狠狠的甩來甩去，一點準備都沒有。這瘋狂的十一個禮拜，我們暫住在醫院旁邊的麥當勞叔叔之家，幾乎沒有回愛丁堡的家。這個家免費提供我們有衛浴的房間、乾淨的廚房、舒服的客廳、安靜的圖書室、寧靜的花園、停車設施、及一個能和其他處於相同困境中的父母交流的機會。這十一個禮拜，這個家就是我們的家，在狂風暴雨中提供我們暫時休憩的港口。

Yorkhill 麥當勞叔叔之家距離醫院只要步行五分鐘，有時，這五分鐘仍嫌太遠。可以住這麼近真的好重要，生病的孩子需要爸媽，爸媽也需要能隨傳隨到。我們好感謝好感謝這個家，及裡面的工作人員和義工。請幫助我們傳達我們對他們的感謝，支持他們能繼續提供這個設施，讓其他為孩子辛苦的父母們，不用擔心住宿費用，不用擔心住宿距離，在遍地憂心中有一點點安心。