What Messages from the Symposium we should Convey

Ronald McDonald House Charities hosted a symposium last month.

At the symposium, we asked the participants to fill out a questionnaire. We received favorable comments from more than 80% of the respondents. They vary in age from teens to their 70s, and also in occupations from medical personnel to office workers, students, and housewives. We are very happy to have such wide varieties of people participate in our symposium.

We received many impressive and wonderful messages through the questionnaire, and would like to introduce some of them.

●(About RMHC) I felt it is very important and reassuring to have a medical facility with pediatric services nearby. I think one of the reasons for birth rate drops is that there is no pediatric care facility and attached facilities. So I think your activities will be effective to meet such needs.

●　I think medical technology does not just have scientific aspects, but also psychological aspects. I am currently learning about special needs education, and would like to support children who are fighting diseases and their families through coordination from both sides, medical and educational. The symposium helped me broaden my view in a positive direction.

● I thought Mr. Junichi Ishida’s story was also wonderful, and would like to read his wife,. Riko’s book.

● I had been giving up on having a child, but Ms. Yoriko’s words deeply affected my thoughts. Because of her words, I thought I should give it a try.

● I liked Dr. Iwanaka’s story.  It was very easy to understand.

● Ms. Zanma was wonderful! I was glad I came!

● The symposium gave me a moment to think about something I usually don’t think about. My heart was moved by the words “adults should be the one to get a grip”.

● For premature separation of placenta, I had to go into surgery hearing the heartbeat of my son decreasing. I kept blaming myself ever since then, but today, I was saved by Ms. Yoriko’s words of “babies choose their mothers”. Now I can think that my son chose me.

● I hope the time would come for me to talk with my grandchild about a lot of things. I would like to help in some ways (like donating some money to RMHC by McDonald’s canister box).

● My grandchild has a serious illness and needs periodical checkups at the hospital. I was very reassured to know about the current situations of Ronald McDonald House, and hope that as a foundation, your fulfilling activities will expand further.

We would like to thank the participants for their comments, which were so many that we could only introduce some. We also received encouraging comments in the questionnaire, such as “wanted to hear some more in the symposium”, and “there was not enough time. These many heartwarming comments are due to Ms. Rieko’s effort in successfully leading the discussion, Mr. Junichi Ishida’s thoughts toward children, Ms.Yoriko’s strong message of “importance of life”, which she conveyed by talking about her own experience, and Dr. Iwanaka’s story on the current situations of medical services and how important for us to understand them. All of the stories have touched our hearts.

At RMHC, we will continue our efforts so that Ronald McDonald House will be well known to many people, and convey what we have learned from this symposium.