From Our House to Yours Aloha Newsletter of Ronald Mcdonald House Charities® of Hawaii Vol
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From Our House to Yours Aloha www.RonaldHouseHawaii.org Newsletter of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Hawaii Vol. XVII, Issue 3, October 2017 strangers, to face and Meanwhile, relatives It all worked out overcome. Because baby and friends back on wasn’t actually due until Kauai rallied. Even Zyli Cherisse and Erik Rita are home on October 2, it was a very Azay’s 10-year-old Kauai now, enjoying their new baby serious situation and brothers, rose to the and hoping to get back into a doctors did everything occasion. “I ask them comfortable routine, but it hasn’t they could to delay the to take more been easy. In fact, from the moment delivery. responsibility and they Cherisse began feeling contractions in “I had pre-term labor at did it,” Eric said about 26 weeks, and proudly. “We are so they recommended bed grateful to everyone rest, hydration and back home for their some medicine they support and kindness,” have to help stop the added Cherisse. contractions,” said Four days after giving Cherisse. “So I tried all birth, Cherisse was of that, and they released from the monitored me for hospital and checked about a week before into the nearby Ronald On their way home, Cherisse and Erik Rita deciding abruptly to McDonald House, took some 2me to talk about their experiences. medevac me to Oahu.” where she could stay July, it’s been a series of challenges Cherisse arrived at while Zyli Azay that has taken the support and Kapiolani Medical developed, and grew compassion of their family, friends, Center on Monday, stronger. “I didn’t co-workers, and even perfect July 10 and had Zyli know much about the Azay Rita, a baby girl, Ronald McDonald RMHC-HI on Saturday morning, House, but the nurses Board of Directors July 15. “By then I was said to check into it,” at 28 weeks,” she she said. “Thank Brian Takeda recalled. Eric had goodness. I can barely Chair joined her at the even put into words. Garet Azama hospital for the birth. It’s such an 1st Vice Chair unexpected, The Kalaheo couple overwhelming Russell Woo, M.D. has three other blessing. I felt like 2nd Vice Chair school-aged children, there was so much Dana Abe Aliyah, Cole and going on that was out Treasurer Tenzen, and Eric is of my control. This working as a plumber Clayton Kamida place gave me the Secretary and attending classes. feeling that I had at Their lives had been least some control Angela Ballard busy, but they pretty over my situation.” Anthony Froix, M.D. much had it under Meanwhile, Cherisse James Haruki control - until could be by Zyli Azay’s Wesley B. Hiyane everything changed. Welcome to the world Zyli Azay! Martin Lau “There were a lot of side every day and Robert Leopoldino things that got thrown into the mix able to witness the swift progress her Cecil Morton when this happened,” Cherisse new baby was making. “We’ve been Stacey Miyamoto explained. “It threw off our so fortunate that she hasn’t suffered Clyde Shiigi expectations. Everything had to from any major complications. The Tommy Silva change. Thankfully, Erik is an Army issues that require major intervention Markus Staib Vet and he’s got some hard core are so common in preemies, but we Thanh Tran training on how to be organized in didn’t encounter any of them,” she chaos.” Continued on page 2 Message from our President Last month, Kidz For she had done. But when she le#, a#er follow their passion. To be the link to A Cause launched its mee2ng the children and families, she making our community be3er, 2017 campaign to understood the impact of what she had stronger, and kinder. To be the young benefit Hawaii’s done, and what helping others really heroes and champions of our next Ronald McDonald meant. It fueled her desire to do more, genera2on of leaders. House. I am so to give back, to be a Kid For A proud and excited Cause.” that RMHC-Hawaii is Jerri Chong Nicki has worked hard to grow Kidz part of this amazing For A Cause into an amazing peer-to- journey. But what peer fundraising program that has really inspires me is how a li3le girl’s raised more than $420,000 over the first visit to the “House That Love Built” years for various Hawaii chari2es. could have such a profound and las2ng And now, Kidz for A Cause has come effect on her, and ul2mately, make a full circle, back “home” to the Ronald real difference for thousands of people McDonald House, where it all began in need. 9 years ago. In 2008, Nicki Lee, a Punahou School And what started as an 8-year-old 3rd grader who loved to sing, took her pu4ng on a simple talent show Nicki Lee and Jerri Chong, 2008 love of performing and put on a talent evolved into an incredible movement show in her living room, in front of where children of all ages create family and friends, to raise money for a FUNraising events and ac2vi2es that school community service project. She inspire leadership, teamwork, selected RMHC-Hawaii as the commitment, and most of all, a beneficiary and raised $1,100 to help desire to help others, to do the children and families of the Ronald something bigger than themselves. McDonald House! But it was what came a#er, that changed Nicki and set But the unique premise of Kidz For A her on an inspired path. Cause remains the same. It’s all about kids. Kids helping kids. Kids Her mom, Cathy Lee, says “When Nicki inspiring kids. It’s about the promise arrived at the Ronald McDonald House and the power of young people to to deliver the money she had raised, make a difference when given the she was just proud of herself for what opportunity. To dream big and Nicki and Jerri, 2017 “Aloha From Our House to Yours”, the newsletter of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii (RMHC-HI), is published three times a year. RMHC-HI, 1970 Judd Hillside Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 It all worked out connued from page 1 shared. “We are profoundly grateful.” Bank of Hawaii’s support for Ronald McDonald “Zyli Azay has overcome a lot, but we haven’t House Hawaii has been steadfast from the had to deal with half of the things that some very beginning. Over the years, BOH has HeroesOfTheHeart of the other parents I met, and now call included RMHC-HI in large-scale fundraising friends, are going through. I’m empathetic ac2vi2es within the company; provided because we have similar but different stories members for the RMHC-HI Board of Directors; and the differences are glaring to me. We have and supplied volunteers at our Houses and special become close during this shared process, and I events. Even the Bankohana, employees from feel for them,” said Cherisse. every Bank of Hawaii branch across the state, have helped hundreds of Ronald McDonald Most preemie babies are not released from House families through Live Kokua, the bank’s employee giving program. the hospital until at least their original due “Our rela2onship with the bank has always been one that extends dates, but here they were, on their way home throughout the company, to their very caring employees,” said Jerri weeks sooner. “It all worked out.” said Chong, RMHC-Hawaii President. “We are so grateful for their confidence Cherisse. “I have no idea what we would have and support.” done without Ronald McDonald House. It’s not just a bed to sleep in. It’s truly a home-away- We fondly consider Bank of Hawaii, and its many team members, special “HEROES OF THE HEART”. from-home.” 2 Kidz For A Cause 2017 - benefi+ng RMHC Hawaii Nicki Lee, founder of Kidz For A Cause addressed the crowd (right) at the Hawaii launch event on Sunday, August 27 at Sacred Hearts Academy. Hundreds of enthusias2c students and parents a3ended and le# with the energy and tools to make this year’s campaign the biggest and best to date! Join Now!! Register online at KidzForACause.org KFAC FUNraisers inspire Kidz to Nicki feels strongly that Kidz For A “What’s so empowering is that all of use their crea2vity and passion to Cause is just as enriching for the kids these kids that want to make a help kids in need. FUNraisers par2cipa2ng as it is for the charity difference are coming together and created by Kidz have included that benefits from the campaign. using what they love to do - but all for sports clinics, bake sales, dances, a “Kidz For A Cause has become so the same common goal. Being able to carnival, talent shows and more! much more than just a way to raise collaborate and inspire each other is And, earn school community money, she explained. “We are also so powerful.” service credits just by doing what able to mentor kids and to really The focus is on kids, but Nicki is also you love! teach them leadership skills and quick to acknowledge the important To become a Kid For A Cause, communica2on skills along with role that parents and other adults play register today at philanthropy and values.” in the success of Kidz For A Cause. KidzForACause.org — elementary, “It works so well because of that peer- “Kidz For A Cause isn’t due to one middle and high school students to-peer mo2va2on and peer-to-peer person.