ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — First-time parents Taylor and Chris Ballard are trying to take in all that entails being the new parents of twins this holiday season.

"This Christmas is the first Christmas for us as a family with our new babies and everything, said Taylor Ballard.

"I think it’s probably our most special Christmas yet, so we’re excited to celebrate this year and can’t wait for the many more Christmases we’re going to have with both our boys.”

One of the boys is Quentin. He and his family are from Orlando but they're spending his first Christmas in the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg.

That's because it's right next to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, where his identical twin brother, Dante is being treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia or CDH.

"One baby was perfectly fine and one baby, his diaphragm just didn’t completely form and it allowed some of his stomach and his intestines up in his chest,” explained Mrs. Ballard.

Taylor and Chris have been at the house more than one-hundred days, arriving while Taylor was still pregnant.

At only 2-months-old, Dante has already had two procedures.

"He had is diaphragm repair surgery at a week old and then last week they put in a feeding tube," said Mrs. Ballard.

More are slated for 2022.

"He needs surgery, he has a hole in his heart," said Ballard. "He has some intestinal issues as well.”

The new family is figuring it all out with help from the Ronald McDonald House. The nonprofits takes care of lodging and food of families with sick kids.

"Make it feel like home away from home," said Chris Ballard. "Meals are catered. They make specialty holiday meals.”

A kitchen full of volunteers used to prepare and donate those meals but the pandemic has changed that.

"We’re having maybe about one meal group that is a group that has been to the house regularly before COVID on a monthly basis and limiting that to four people," said Joe Citro, director of development and marketing with RMHC.

Meaning most meals must be purchased instead.

The pandemic has also meant families can't gather for Christmas inside the house like they once did but they still connect.

"We can bond and share over mutual experiences," shared Mrs.Ballard. "As much as people try to understand, it’s hard unless you’ve actually gone through it, so it’s been amazing to have other families here understand what we’re going through.

"Without family, it just wouldn’t have been possible,” said Mr. Ballard.

Counting blessings and thankful for a newfound family at Christmas time.

"It’s definitely not a Christmas that we had originally planned," said Mrs. Ballard. "However I think it’s still just as special, it’s so nice to have our boys here and to be able to start our family and our Christmas traditions.”

How does RMHC help families?

RMHC has continued to serve families providing: hotel stays, a room in our homes, takeout, or a simple toothbrush for children and parents

Community support can help ease some of the stress and provide free:

• RMHC offers a place to stay for parents to be with their sick child.
• RMHC provides all the essentials such as meals, emotional and physical support to reduce the logistical burden on the family.
• RMHC saves a family nearly $ 1,000 a week in hotel, travel and food expenses, reducing their financial burden.
• With your help, we provide all of these services for free to our families.

How to help:

• rmhctampabay.org/togetherness
• Text RMHC to 44321.
• $40 can provide food for a family of four.
• $100 provides one night.

Fast Facts from RMHC:

• Paying more than $6,500 a month in meals
• Provided more than 1,500 hotel nights for families
• The houses are operating at 85% capacity.
• RMHC Tampa Bay provides food, rest, and support to more than 2,000 families whose child is receiving medical treatment nearby.
• RMHC Tampa Bay has 4 houses in the Tampa Bay area.
• RMHC offers a place to stay for parents to be with their sick child.
• RMHC provides all the essentials such as meals, emotional and physical support to reduce the logistical burden on the family.
• RMHC saves a family nearly $ 1,000 a week in hotel, travel and food expenses, reducing their financial burden.
• With your help, we provide all of these services for free to our families.