Ava and Mary are 9-month-old twins who share a curious nature and strong-willed spirit. While they both love wiggling their fingers and toes, listening to music from “Encanto” and finding new ways to use their two new teeth, their unique personalities keep their mom and dad, Ashley and Joe, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Mary loves a schedule and any reason to stand up and explore, while Ava’s go-with-the-flow attitude pairs perfectly with her love of relaxation.
While their personalities are clearly defined today, Mary and Ava’s lives didn't start with the same level of certainty.
When Ashley first learned she was pregnant, her friends and family joked she would probably have triplets. So, when she discovered she was having twins five weeks into her pregnancy, she was somehow both relieved and excited. Her pregnancy progressed smoothly — until her blood pressure started to rise and she was hospitalized at 23 weeks. When ultrasounds were done on the twins, it was clear their blood flow levels were abnormal and the babies were receiving different amounts of blood. At 29 weeks, the baby girls were delivered through emergency C-section.
Born 11 weeks early, Ava and Mary were taken to the University of Michigan Health–Sparrow Children’s Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where they stayed for nearly four months. While in the hospital, the girls were placed in incubators and breathed using oxygen tubes until they reached a certain weight, could regulate their body temperatures and learned to breathe on their own. Ashley’s favorite memory during this time was when she got to hold Ava and Marie for the first time and witness the milestones the girls were achieving.
When they learned how long their daughters would be in the hospital, Ashley and Joe were relieved to find a comfortable, welcoming place to stay that would soon feel like a second home. The Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan was recommended to to them from hospital staff.
During their stay, Ashley and Joe had access to food, comradery and support. With the House being less than 500 steps from the hospital, it alleviated their anxiety around traveling and allowed them to get to the girls quickly if something were to happen. Ashley found comfort in meeting parents who were going through similar situations, while Joe valued the amenities the House provided including private rooms, on-site laundry and home-cooked meals that even accommodated Ashley’s dairy-free dietary restrictions.
The family also valued the sense of normalcy that came with keeping a routine. Every day, Joe would eat his breakfast in the House’s kitchen and say good morning to the staff before he left for work. These small interactions showed him there were people nearby who cared about his family and supported them throughout every step of their journey.
In March 2024, after a long-awaited four months, Ashley and Joe were able to take Ava and Mary home. While this news was filled with a combination of fear and excitement, they knew one thing for certain: the Ronald McDonald House was there for them when they needed it most. Today, Ava and Mary continue to grow bigger and stronger, and the family looks back fondly at their time at the House, remembering its welcoming environment, kind staff and endless supply of encouragement. Ashley and Joe are thankful to have their family together at home but say they will forever be grateful for the family they found along the way at the Ronald McDonald House.
