23 Dec Giving Back from the Heart

Brett and Brittney Butcher Give Back from the Heart

In November 2008, 10-year-old Brittney Butcher fell ill during class. Her parents took her to the doctor, expecting a routine check for pneumonia. However, the results of her chest X-ray revealed something far more serious: Brittney’s heart was enlarged to three times its normal size.

Following concerning results from her echocardiogram, Brittney was urgently transferred to Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in the midst of a severe ice storm—a moment her father, Brett, vividly recalls.

At Mott, Brittney was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that left her family in shock. Until then, Brittney had been a healthy and active child with no prior symptoms or warning signs.

By December 9, Brittney’s medical team placed her on the heart transplant list. Her family braced themselves for what could have been a long and uncertain wait. Miraculously, just a few days later, on December 16, they received the life-changing call that a donor heart was available.

This life-altering journey unfolded during the holiday season, a time already filled with emotions and expectations. Amid their uncertainty and stress, Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor (RMHCAA) became a vital support system for Brittney’s family.

Brett describes RMHCAA as “a sanctuary.” After long and exhausting days at the hospital, he found solace at the House, where he could unwind with a warm meal and a peaceful place to rest. “The Ronald McDonald House was our home away from home for a few hundred nights throughout Brittney’s treatments,” Brett recalls. The Butcher family relied on RMHCAA in 2008, 2010, and 2014—when Brittney needed a second heart transplant.

“It was truly a piece of home,” Brett says. “The staff and volunteers who supported us felt like family. Everyone at RMHCAA has been so good to us.”

One vivid memory stands out for Brett: the family’s first Christmas at RMHCAA after Brittney’s transplant. “We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community,” he recalls. “The Holiday Shop gifts were a lifesaver. We didn’t have time to shop for Christmas, but RMHCAA made it so easy by providing gifts and wrapping supplies—all free of charge!”

Today, Brittney is doing well despite a few challenges along the way. In gratitude for the care and support they received, the Butcher family has made it a tradition to give back. Every December 16—Brittney’s heart transplant anniversary—Brett, Brittney, and their loved ones return to RMHCAA to cook a homemade meal for families staying at the House during the holidays.

This year, the Butchers prepared a feast of ham, cheesy potatoes, corn casserole, baked beans, and red velvet cake pops to bring a sense of comfort and warmth to the families at RMHCAA.

Thank you, Butcher family, for sharing your story and your time. We can’t wait to see you again next December 16!