09 May Meet the Duckett Family

The Ducketts were no strangers to Ronald McDonald House Charities. They had been volunteers for years at the Mid-Michigan chapter near their home in Lansing. So, when their son, X, was born with a serious heart condition two years ago, they were relieved to know that there was an RMHC chapter in Ann Arbor where they could stay close to him.

When X was born at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, he was being cared for in an open “bay” area with other babies nearby. RMHCAA was able to provide a quiet room with a private bath for the Ducketts at our Mott House which is located on the same critical care floor where X was being treated.

“If it weren’t for the close proximity of the Mott House, I would have just stayed in a chair at X’s bedside in the bay during those early days of his life. I just did not want to be far away from him,” said X’s mom, Sara.

Sara continues, “The Mott House was vital in my healing after my c-section and a place where I could quietly regroup allowing me to better care for X during his time of need.”

With X now at home and doing well, Sara and Todd Duckett continue to be RMHC Ambassadors. They were the inspiration for our “Battle for the Houses” event around the Michigan vs. Michigan State football rivalry, (Todd played for MSU before joining the NFL). They were also our featured family at our most recent Red Shoe Affair sharing their inspiring story with our guests.

“RMHC Ann Arbor was such a gift to our family with just the simple fact of knowing where we could lay our heads to rest amid a complicated situation,” said Sara.

We may bleed different colors, green and blue, but when it comes to the mission of RMHC we are all ONE,” says Todd Duckett. Watch the Ducketts speak at our latest Red Shoe Affair by scanning the code below.

To watch more about the Ducketts, click the video to see their story as shared at our 12th annual Red Shoe Affair. CLICK HERE