20 Jul Meet Kathy

Meet Cathy
In 2019, Cathy Kyomugisha came to Houston from Uganda for a surgery to remove a very large tumor in her back, neck and spine. Back home,Cathy was told that she had no chance to survive. Her will to live, started her long journey to Texas Children’s Hospital, where she would meet a team who would make the impossible, possible. While she was here receiving treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), her mom was able to use Ronald McDonald House inside TCH; then she and Cathy would ultimately move to Holcombe House for a longer stay, together.

Ronald McDonald House Houston’s Holcombe House was the first place Cathy stayed after being in the hospital for over a year. Cathy and her mom celebrated many holidays with us including Christmas where she helped decorate a Christmas tree. Mom participated actively in the kitchen and shared recipes with other House families, even though they didn’t speak the same language. RMH Houston staff helped Cathy obtain some important medical equipment, a laptop, and access to online classes to learn computer skills that would assist her when she returned home. Social Work staff assisted mom in accessing a COVID-19 vaccine, to be better prepared and safe when they returned home to Uganda. While at the House, Cathy met Paula, another patient and RMH Houston resident, who was also wheelchair bound. It was a great opportunity to talk and support each other. Cathy and her Mom, made RMH Houston their home away from home for 116 nights. Click here for a short film chronicling Cathy’s story.