Mt. Kisco Mom to Drop Puck at Fundraiser Close to Her Heart

When Christine Dennett began volunteering in guest services at the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley in Valhalla in 2015, never did she think she’d soon become a guest resident of the House herself.

But 15 months later, just three days after she had given birth to her son, James, what Dennett thought was a routine wellness check with the pediatrician soon spiraled into any mother’s worst nightmare.

“Upon arrival, they took his temperature, and it was 95 degrees,” recalled Dennett. “The doctor told us to go to the ER immediately and said driving would be faster than waiting for an ambulance. Scariest time of my life! When we got to the hospital, they checked his blood sugar and it was 17. He was extremely critical, hypothermic and hypoglycemic.”

The hospital immediately transferred James to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, just steps away from the Ronald McDonald House, where she volunteered.

“He coded twice during the 15-minute drive and was resuscitated in the ambulance and again at Maria Fareri,” she said.

After being brought back to life twice in one hour, James was admitted to the NICU, while Dennett understandably found herself “numb and in complete shock that my baby was so sick. Thank God for my family. They never left my side.”

And understandably, Dennett didn’t want to leave her son’s side. But she was surprised to learn that there weren’t places for parents to sleep in the NICU.

“I thought they were like regular hospital rooms. I could not physically bring myself to leave the hospital campus and would have slept on the floor or in the parking lot, if necessary,” Dennett said. “Distraught, I went outside, looked up, saw the Ronald McDonald House and rang the bell.”

She was soon greeted at the door by two of her colleagues.

“They saw the look on my face and didn’t think twice about offering me a place to stay.”

In operation since 2011, the Ronald McDonald House provides families of critically-ill and traumatically-injured children an atmosphere of comfort, hope and courage, keeping them close to the care and resources they need. In addition to offering lodging in its 12 bedrooms, the House also provides meals, laundry and respite services for families during their stay. More than 2,000 families have stayed in and been cared for by the House.

“The ambulance crew and hospital staff saved James’s life, and (Ronald McDonald House) saved mine,” said Dennett. “I stayed only a few nights during James’s 21-day stay in the NICU, but I am eternally grateful.”

Today, James is a healthy, active six-year-old who plays sports and also volunteers at Ronald McDonald House.

This Saturday, Mar. 4, Dennett and her family will attend the 26^th annual Battle of the Badges, a charity hockey game between the White Plains firefighters and White Plains police. Held at the Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains, all proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House. The family will be at center ice for the ceremonial puck drop before the start of the game.

“About 80 percent of the funds needed to deliver our mission are provided by public support, such as individual donations, foundation grants and fundraising events, while 20 percent comes from local McDonald’s franchises,” explained Christina Riley, the executive director of Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley.

Although there are other Houses. and throughout New York each chapter is operated and funded independently, the Valhalla location is the only one in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that provides physical and emotional support to children and families with a child in critical care, Riley said.

In addition to the game, the event will include a raffle and auction prizes such as autographed sports memorabilia, Yankee Stadium tours, vacation packages, toys, bikes, sporting equipment and more. A Shoot the Puck contest will be held on the ice and concessions will also be available.

Tickets for the event, scheduled for 6 p.m., can be purchased at www.bit.ly/2023BOTB and will be available at the door. The Ebersole Ice Rink is located at 110 Lake St. in White Plains.

For more information on the Battle of the Badges, visit www.rmhghv.org.