Giving back to Ronald McDonald House

A Masterton couple who went through a three-month ordeal as medical staff battled for their premature firstborn son Jonty's life say they are forever indebted to Wellington's Ronald McDonald House.
Glenn and Steph Bunny say appearing as one of the faces of the charity's fundraising drive is the least they can do after the Riddiford Street home away from home for the families of sick children saved them from a draining commute to Wellington when their only other option was to sell up their Masterton home.
Jonty is now 10 months old but was born at Wairarapa Hospital last August 13 weeks premature, weighing just 905gm under 2lb.
"He just decided he was ready to come," his father said.
Because the weather was bad Jonty was transported by LifeFlight Trust plane (rather than helicopter) to Wellington Hospital's neonatal unit. "It was pretty rough he was fighting for his life."
When Jonty was admitted to the maternity ward on a Friday night Glenn wearing just a T-shirt, shorts and jandals had to plead with maternity ward staff at Wellington Hospital just to be allowed to sleep on the floor next to his wife and son.
After a traumatic weekend the family were offered a room at Ronald McDonald House and "basically lived there for three months while Jonty was doing his thing".
After two weeks, Jonty had surgery for a hole in his heart. He also suffered through eight blood transfusions and a raft of other invasive tests and procedures including multiple intubations.
"There were times he had a line in both arms, both legs, something in his mouth and something up his nose.
"Without Ronald McDonald House I don't know what we would have done. It was a home away from home and didn't cost us a cent. Without it we would have been forced to commute from Masterton or sell our house.
"We're forever in their debt they allowed us to be with Jonty while he was fighting for his life. I don't know how you can repay that so being part of this appeal is the least we can do," Glenn said.