Caring for Families So They Can Care for Their Children

When young Perla Lara required ongoing care at UCLA Children’s Hospital, her family spent weeks in hotels and Airbnbs just to remain close to her. It was an expensive and unsustainable arrangement that placed a heavy financial burden on them. By the time they walked through the doors of the Westside L.A. Ronald McDonald House (WLA House), they were physically and emotionally exhausted, but the WLA House changed everything.

“Having a home near the hospital has lifted a tremendous weight from our shoulders and made this journey so much easier,” shares Perla’s mother, Priscilla. Instead of an expensive and isolating hotel room, the Lara family found a welcoming place just steps from UCLA Children’s Hospital – a comfortable bedroom, a stocked kitchen, a laundry room down the hall, and play spaces for siblings – all at no cost to them.

Executive Director Kelly Herman describes the WLA House as “a home away from home” for families navigating life’s most difficult moments. “The quality of life changes the instant a family arrives at a Ronald McDonald House,” she explains. “They find peace, comfort, and the strength to keep going.”

That transformation is possible thanks to an extraordinary range of services. Families have access to restful private guestrooms, fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and business centers – every detail designed with care. Parents can prepare meals, continue working remotely to maintain stability, and, equally important, find connection with other families walking the same path.

Emotional well-being is also a priority. Through the Family Support Services program, licensed therapists provide weekly counseling sessions, available both by appointment and on a drop-in basis. These services continue even after families return home, supporting them as they transition to caring for a child post-hospitalization. For siblings, volunteers provide tutoring, art activities, and companionship, bringing a sense of normalcy during an otherwise uncertain time.

Every aspect of the WLA House is designed to ease the heavy burdens families face when a child is hospitalized. Located within walking distance of UCLA Children’s Hospital, it ensures parents remain close to their child’s bedside. Today, the House is serving 11 families on a temporary single floor, with a future goal to expand to 33 rooms – making it possible to welcome up to 800 families each year from UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, and St. John’s hospitals.

At its heart, the WLA House – like all Ronald McDonald Houses – is about dignity, comfort, and togetherness. As Priscilla Lara reflects: “Not having to worry about where we’ll sleep has allowed me to focus on what matters most: Perla’s health and our family.”