As we celebrate the completion of Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland South Brisbane with the fit-out of Level 7, we’re reflecting on the many people whose lives have been intertwined with this special place.
For Karleen, South Brisbane House represents much more than bricks and mortar. It symbolises support, community, and a journey that has come full circle.
Today, Karleen is a valued team member of the Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland team, helping families navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives. But nearly two decades ago, she was a mother desperately hoping her newborn daughter would survive.
In late 2007, Karleen’s pregnancy took an unexpected and frightening turn. What began with feeling unwell quickly escalated into a life-threatening diagnosis of HELLP syndrome, a severe form of pre-eclampsia.
Both Karleen and her daughter, Jess, faced an uncertain future. After being transferred to Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Karleen spent days in intensive care while Jess fought for her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Jess’s start to life was anything but easy. In her first months, she underwent multiple blood and platelet transfusions and battled sepsis. There were moments when the outlook was uncertain, and Karleen was faced with the unimaginable possibility of losing her baby.
During this time, Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland became a lifeline.
Despite living only a short distance away, Karleen was granted special consideration to stay close to Jess while every moment mattered.
What she found at Ronald McDonald House Mater was far more than accommodation near the hospital. It was practical support, warm meals, friendship and understanding during the hardest period of her life.
For many families, one of the most powerful aspects of a Ronald McDonald House stay is meeting others who truly understand what they’re going through.
Karleen remembers gathering with other families, sharing meals, cooking together, and supporting one another through long days and sleepless nights.
While family and friends outside the House cared deeply, there was comfort in connecting with people who were walking a similar path.
These connections became an important source of strength during a time when uncertainty and fear were constant companions.
Karleen’s connection to Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland didn’t end when Jess left hospital.
Driven by gratitude and a desire to help other families facing similar circumstances, Karleen joined the housekeeping team in 2010 and 16 years later, she still remains part of the Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland family.
Throughout her time with the organisation, Karleen has worked across multiple departments and witnessed firsthand the dedication of employees and volunteers who support families every day.
Her experience as a former House guest shapes everything she does.
For Karleen, every conversation, every act of kindness and every moment spent helping a family navigate their journey is an opportunity to pay forward the care she once received herself.
Karleen has been part of the South Brisbane House story in more ways than one.
Just over ten years ago, she and Jess were given the honour of turning the first sod at the South Brisbane House site, helping mark the beginning of a project that would go on to transform support for thousands of families.
Now, with the completion of Level 7, the vision for South Brisbane House has been fully realised.
Karleen says that the completion of the House means a lot – to her and the Chapter. It means we can accommodate more families like hers and allow them to stay together in the hardest times.
Having experienced the impact of Ronald McDonald House South East Quensland support firsthand, she knows just how important it is for families to remain close to their child’s hospital bedside.
Every family’s story is different, but the need is the same: to be near their child when they need them most.
Today, Jess is thriving. She graduated Year 12 last year and celebrated her 18th birthday earlier this year, milestones that once felt far from certain.
For Karleen, those moments are reminders of how far they’ve come and of the support that helped them through.
As South Brisbane House enters its next chapter, stories like Karleen’s reflect the lasting impact of keeping families together. Her journey, from worried mother to dedicated employee, is a powerful reminder that the care provided within these walls extends far beyond a hospital stay.
It creates communities, changes lives and inspires families to give back.
And for Karleen, that is exactly what she has spent the last 16 years doing.
