Dear Maggie and others-
During the RMH Houston crisis, we heard from parents across the country with
stories just like yours. Thankfully, I truly believe that you are
absolutely right - RMH Houston is the exception and not the rule. While it
was very disappointing that RMH Charities refused to intervene, it is clear
that the RMH Houston policy regarding breastfeeding is not part of any
national policy and many many breastfeeding families have received
unparalleled support at other RMH facilities.
For those unfamiliar with the RMH Houston incident, some of the postings
written by the moms at the time can be found at
http://www.motherverse.com/ronaldmcdonaldbreastfeed.php .
Yours,
Jake Marcus, J.D.
>
> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:58:15 EDT
> From: Maggie Payne <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: RMH
>
> Hey All You Wonderful Wise Women,
>
> I have to take the other side of this one. I have a feeling that the
> Houston
> RMH may but an exception not the rule. I have, unfortunately, stayed at
> the
> RMH twice at Children's Hospital of Milwaukee, WI. The first time was in
> 1989
> and I stayed for 156 days. I was there for the boy who is now a Marine.
> The
> staff at RMH were the ones that helped me to get a decent breast pump and
> who
> helped to find the funding for that pump for this then single Mom. They
> also
> encouraged me to BF anyplace I could to ensure the burgeoning health of
> this
> kid. The second time I was there for 25 days with my middle child who had
> a
> very rare form of cancer. The only way this kid made it through surgery
> and
> chemo was with donor milk. When the 'hot unit' ran out of space to store
> the
> donor milk RMH voluntarily made space in one of their freezers for the
> milk.
>
> I do think that RMH Houston should be held to the law but please don't
> paint
> the whole system with a red brush. For some of us this facility has been a
> real life saver and very supportive of our breastfeeding.
>
> Peace,
> Maggie Payne, LLLL
>
> Mom of Andrew (20 and at Camp Pendleton CA as a USM), Nicholas (11 and
> growing tall and strong) and Princess Gillian (9 and becoming quite the
> young lady)
> Husband Matthew (15 years and still patient TGFSM)
>
> Dream Now so that your children Learn to Dream for Tomorrow
>
>
> In a message dated 03/16/2008 9:39:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> They do so much good, how can they be so narrow minded? Of all the
> people
> who should be responsive to a family's needs, you'd think RMH would be.
> I
> am very disappointed that they are not. Guess that's what happens to
> your
> brain when all you eat is burgers and fries :-(
> I think RMH needs to hear from several thousands of us. [log in to unmask]
>
>>I did work very closely with the Ronald McDonald House moms and citing
>>the
>>law made no difference whatsoever to >RMH administration. In that case,
>>the Texas Attorney General explicitly refused to intervene, RMH Houston
>>refused to change its policy (the moms never >used the facility again
>>and
>>made alternate arrangements when they needed to return to Houston for
>>further treatment), and RMC Charities (the national organization) refused
>>to require RMH Houston to obey Texas law. One of the RMH moms not only
>>cited the law to management after the first incident but pulled a copy of
>>it up on her laptop. RMH Houston administration only agreed to a meeting
>>with the moms after an influx of e-mail in support of the moms crashed
>>their server. The meeting, however, did not result in RMH obeying Texas
>>public breastfeeding law or changing its policy concerning breastfeeding
>>in
>>common space.
>
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