By Stephanie Agosta, mother of Hunter Vineyard
When your child is fighting for their life, the world around you becomes a blur. That was our reality as we stood by our 15-year-old son, Hunter Vineyard, during his battle with cancer. As his mother and stepfather—my husband William Agosta and I—there was never a moment we wanted to leave his side. Every night was spent sleeping in chairs and on couches in his hospital room, just to make sure he never felt alone. Our family is from Crooksville, Ohio, more than an hour away from the hospital, and commuting back and forth simply wasn’t an option when Hunter needed us so much.
That’s when my aunt, Toni Wilson, who works for McDonald’s in New Lexington, stepped in with a gesture of compassion we’ll never forget. She told us we should stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. So we asked a member of our son’s team at the hospital to request a room for us.
We felt fortunate to be offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House, and while Hunter couldn’t be there with us—he was undergoing chemo during our entire stay—it provided us a brief but meaningful place of rest. We stayed for a week, and though we ultimately had to return to the hospital to be closer to Hunter and speak with his doctors more frequently, that short time gave us something we hadn’t had in a while: a moment to breathe.
The Ronald McDonald House was a peaceful escape from the chaos of the hospital. It allowed us to shower, eat a hot meal, and gather our thoughts—luxuries that become rare when you’re living in a constant state of worry. The House itself was beautifully kept, with unique themes in each area that gave it a sense of warmth and welcome. It was clean, calming, and filled with thoughtful details that made us feel cared for, even when we couldn’t stay long.
Though we didn’t have much time to meet other families because we were coming and going at odd hours to be with our son, the kindness of the staff and volunteers stood out. Everyone we encountered was compassionate and supportive. It’s not often you come across people who are genuinely that caring, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
When we arrived, we were given a tote bag filled with comforting items for Hunter. He absolutely loved it. We don’t know who made the blanket or gathered the gifts, but we want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to them. In a time filled with so much pain and uncertainty, small acts of kindness can shine the brightest—and this one truly did.
Hunter is doing fine now. At the end of June, after finishing chemotherapy, he had scans completed and we got the results we were hoping for – Hunter is now cancer free! He will still need monitored for the next year, but, of course, we hope not to need the Ronald McDonald House ever again.
To everyone at the Ronald McDonald House: thank you. Thank you for offering us a place to rest, to regroup, and to feel supported. You made a difficult time a little more bearable, and we will always be grateful for the comfort and care you gave us, even in such a short stay.
With love and appreciation,
Stephani and William Agosta
Crooksville, Ohio
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