A smiling woman in her late 20s greets visitors from her sun-filled room’s bay window seat.
"This is where I hang out," says Lisa Grant, first-time mother-to-be of twins and monthlong resident of Bend’s Ronald McDonald House.
Surrounded by pillows, comforters, a laptop,snacks and Kleenex, Lisa is on strict "bed rest" orders from her doctor and can only leave her room with the aid of a wheelchair.
Lisa and her husband, Bill, live in Silvies Valley, about 30 miles north of Burns, and first learned they were having twins during a routine ultrasound. Carrying twins has increased risk factors, and after going into preterm labor at 29 weeks, Lisa’s doctor recommended staying at Ronald McDonald House for the final weeks of her pregnancy right next door to the Family Birthing Center at St. Charles.
Bill makes frequent trips home to put in hours at the cattle ranch where he works. The three and a half-hour drive each way is filled
with uncertainty about whether Lisa will go into labor while he’s gone. Knowing Lisa is at Ronald McDonald House makes leaving a little easier.
The Grant’s situation is typical of families who travel to Bend for medical treatment. St. Charles serves a vast rural population encompassing 10 Oregon counties, and lodging options for long- and short-term medical stays are both limited and costly.
"I have everything I need here ... and it’s so close to the hospital if anything happens," says Lisa.
"There’s no way we could’ve afforded a motel for as long as we’ve been here," says Grant. 'We’re still not real sure what we’d have done if Ronald McDonald House wasn’t available."
Lisa knows what a difference the House has made to her family and is eager to share her story.
"Bill and I didn’t know what to expect, but were immediately impressed with the facility, staff and volunteers. Everything you need,
laundry, kitchen and more, is right here at your fingertips," says Lisa. "People really need to know about this wonderful place. Ronald McDonald House makes life easier in any difficult situation where hospital stays are necessary."

UPDATE: On Monday, March 9, in the wee hours of the morning, Lisa Grant gave birth to healthy twins, a boy, Tanner, and a girl, Claire.