ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ronald McDonald House Charities gave its longest-staying family a pandemic-style send off Tuesday.

The drive-thru farewell was bittersweet.

Nina Brolo and her family have spent four years at Ronald McDonald House due to her heart issue. Nina was just 2 years old when she came to St, Petersburg from Guatemala for surgery.

The average stay at the home is 13 nights.

The Ronald McDonald Houses provide a few place to stay for families of children hospitalized with serious medical issues.

"We’re happy, we’re sad, we’re thrilled, said Claudia Brolo, Nina’s mother. “We are excited but at the same time we are going to miss everyone here.”

Nina had two holes in heart and that led to pulmonary hypertension so she had to have treatment first for her lungs and then surgery.

The family has called the Ronald McDonald house home since Nina’s open heart surgery and treatment.

They will head back to Guatemala Dec. 26.

 “These guys they give it to use so much: time, resources, food, love, support," said Nina’s dad Alejandro Brolo.

Nina came to St. Petersburg for surgery in 2017 when she was just 2 years old. (Brolo family)

It's the only home Nina’s 2-year-old baby brother Italo knows.

Karen Mathews has been the house manager their entire stay.

"It’s easy to kind of have them, watch them grow up as if they were your own grandchildren so it’s been a wonderful time and we wish them all the best,” Mathews said.

Now healthy and playful, Nina is an inspiration, he father said.

"She teach us how strong a human can be,” Alejandro said. "Today, again they again they show us how they love us."