When Amber and Kyle welcomed their daughter, Rheya June, into the world on June 28, 2023, they were thrilled to finally meet their “sunshine girl.” After a long pregnancy marked by high blood pressure, Amber received steroids to help prepare Rheya’s lungs and made it to 37 weeks. With that milestone reached, the couple felt optimistic. “Naïvely, we expected the best and weren’t prepared for the worst,” Amber recalled.
After 32 hours of labor, Rheya’s heart rate began to drop, and doctors moved quickly to perform a C-section. Amber and Kyle were overjoyed to finally learn they had a baby girl—they had waited through the entire pregnancy to find out her gender. But their joy quickly turned to fear when Rheya didn’t breathe after birth. Instead of being placed in her parents’ arms, she was rushed away to the nursery.
Within 24 hours, Rheya began experiencing seizures. Breathing issues worsened until she required a ventilator, and it soon became clear that the small hospital where she was born could not provide the specialized care she needed. She was transferred by ambulance to Carilion Children’s Hospital in Roanoke—a two-hour journey from her birthplace and an hour away from the family’s home. Amber, still recovering as a patient herself, couldn’t travel with her newborn.
On top of that, their one-year-old son, Finnley, was at home with grandma. He had expected to meet his new sister, not be separated from his parents while they tended to a baby in crisis. “My heart was in shambles trying to decide how we would be there for both of our babies,” Amber said.
That’s when the Ronald McDonald House became their saving grace. By the grace of God and the generosity of supporters, a room was available even though it was a holiday weekend. The House not only gave Amber and Kyle a place to stay near Rheya—it also allowed Finnley and grandma to join them, keeping the family together during an overwhelming time.
For two weeks, the House became their home away from home. While Amber and Kyle spent long hours by Rheya’s side in the NICU, they also found space to care for Finnley. He flourished in the playroom, on the playground, and with the extra love from staff and volunteers—so much so that he thought he was on vacation. The House provided family meals, snacks, and a sense of normalcy. “We were able to switch off taking time with our daughter in the hospital and spending time with him at the House and around town. We were also able to eat meals together and keep his nightly routine as stable as it could be.”
Meanwhile, Rheya fought hard in the NICU. She weaned from the ventilator to CPAP, then to high-flow oxygen. Seizures subsided. At just nine days old, Rheya showed her stubborn streak by pulling out her nasal cannula and feeding tube. The care team decided to let her try managing without them—and she did beautifully. The final hurdle was feeding and passing the all-important car seat test. After 11 days in the NICU, Rheya was finally cleared to go home.
Today, Rheya is thriving. She has never lost the radiant smile that earned her the nickname “sunshine girl.” Her big brother adores her, often announcing “my sister” to anyone who dares give her attention. The family excitedly celebrated her first birthday in June 2024 and, even more, they were preparing to welcome a new baby—child number three.
But when baby Ellora Lynn arrived in October 2024, the family once again faced an unexpected setback. Ellora needed breathing support shortly after birth, and Amber and Kyle found themselves back at the Ronald McDonald House, this time for a shorter two-night stay.
“Although it was not our hope, we were very grateful to have a comfortable place to stay while she got the help she needed,” Amber shared. With Kyle home caring for Rheya and Finnley, the House gave Amber meals, transportation to and from the hospital, and the support she needed as she faced those first days with Ellora.
Through both journeys, the Ronald McDonald House has been there—not just as a place to sleep, but as a community of comfort and care. Amber reflects with deep gratitude: “From the volunteers to the facility, and the meals and everything in between, it was so amazing and helpful. We are forever grateful for the Ronald McDonald House and everything they provided us in a really hard time.”
Now with three children under the age of three, Amber and Kyle are embracing the joys and chaos of family life. Their story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the difference Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia makes in the lives of families each and every day.