The Chappell Family - Timaru
The Chappell family live in the beautiful, tight-knit community of Timaru, roughly two hours’ south of Christchurch. Paul and Ashleigh have two cherished children: five-year-old Tyson and six-month-old Ryder, and three beloved pets Oak, Molly and Chester. They have stayed at Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch multiple times over the past five years for Tyson's cleft palate surgery and various ear/nose/throat procedures. It wasn’t until Ashleigh was pregnant with Ryder that they experienced a longer stay and really felt the impact of what we deliver for families.
Ashleigh was just 26-weeks-pregnant, with her second baby due on the 11th May 2024. Life was busy; Paul is a builder and Ashleigh a compliance manager so managing fulltime work with four-year-old Tyson kept them very occupied. However, on the 2nd of February, Ashleigh had to be flown urgently to Christchurch Hospital by emergency helicopter. “I had a scan booked at the hospital and was about to leave work for it when I had an antepartum haemorrhage (APH). It wasn't life threatening but was too much for Timaru Hospital and they decided I needed to be closer to a more specialised obstetric team and neonatal unit. I am usually pretty good at taking things as they come but this was quite terrifying – leaving Tyson behind broke my heart and I didn't see him again for 8 days."
"Little did I know I wasn't going to be home again for 3 months. Once I got to Christchurch, they gave me my second dose of steroids to help baby’s lungs and magnesium sulphate which we learnt is a neuroprotection for baby's brain if they are born early. This was all precautionary and then once I was stable, I was on bedrest in maternity until the bleeding had stopped for 48 hours which never happened. Just over a week later, baby Ryder decided that 27 weeks was enough cooking time and arrived very dramatically and quickly at 6:55am.” 
“We named him Ryder which means mounted warrior or knight, and is associated with bravery, strength, and courage” Ashleigh explains. Ryder weighed just 1044 grams (2 pounds, 5 ounces) so spent his first two days earthside on NIPPV (neonatal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation) for respiratory support, before being moved onto CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). “He had a course of antibiotics when he was born and needed three blood transfusions during his time in NICU. Other than that, his team referred to him as an over achiever and his attitude always kept the nurses on their toes!” Ashleigh explains.
While wee Ryder gained strength, the family stayed just down the road at Ronald McDonald House – all up for just over two months. Ashleigh found the “safe, warm” space felt just like home and not worrying about the pressures of everyday life took a huge weight off their shoulders. “The dinner programme was incredible, it was so nice not to think about cooking especially coming back from NICU late at night,” Ashleigh says. Being close to Ryder if they needed to be with him in a hurry was a godsend, along with giving new big brother Tyson a place to recharge with Paul away from the hospital environment during the weekends when they came up from Timaru. “Tyson often talks about Ronald McDonald House, and he can’t wait to take Ryder back there when he’s older to show him what it’s all about” Ashleigh explains.
The family stayed at the house over easter and were blown away by how special the staff and volunteers made the weekend with activities, presents and chocolate. Ashleigh says, “I will never forget the look on Tyson’s face when he opened the bedroom door.”
“The staff and volunteers make RMHC NZ what it is. Their support is invaluable, and they are always there if you need to have a chat or support you in any way you need. Our time in NICU and RMH became the start of some very special friendships for us. There was a group of about 6 NICU families staying in the house, and we basically became housemates – walking to hospital, eating, crying, and laughing together. We would debrief about our days or sit in silence together if it had been one of those days. We have come away with lifelong friends and for that we will be forever grateful.”
After 69 days in NICU, they transferred to Timaru SCBU and on the 29th of April 2024 finally got to go home as a family of four – twelve days before Ryder’s due date. Ryder is now a happy, bubbly six-month-old, weighing six kilograms and thriving. Ashleigh says, “Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch holds a very special place in our hearts, and we will make sure our boys grow up knowing that it’s a huge part of their journey and lives.”