For the Segovia family of Las Cruces, New Mexico, life has been a journey of strength, love, and faith since the day their son, Jaime Jr., was born. At birth, doctors diagnosed him with bladder exstrophy, a rare condition that requires complex, specialized surgery. From that moment on, Jaime and Gloria Segovia knew their family’s path would involve long drives, countless medical appointments, and the courage to keep going for their son.
At first, they hoped treatment would be possible closer to home in El Paso. But when doctors explained that Jaime might also need orthopedic surgery, the limitations of the local team became clear. The family began searching for answers, and a second opinion brought them to Dallas. After consulting with Dr. Jacobs and learning that a full surgical team was ready and equipped to care for their son, the Segovias made the decision to come to Children’s Health Dallas. It meant leaving the familiar behind, but it also meant giving their child the best chance at healing.
What the family did not anticipate was how difficult it would feel to leave everything they knew. They did not know whether the journey would mean one surgery, two, or three. They did not know how long they would need to stay away from home. And they certainly did not know where they would live while their son recovered. For a family already carrying so much, the weight felt overwhelming.
That is when the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas stepped in. “When we knew that we were able to stay here, we felt a big load come off our shoulders,” Jaime recalls. The House, just minutes from the hospital, offered more than convenience. It offered peace of mind. “We are a two minute drive, a fifteen minute walk from the hospital. Knowing we could be close to the care team gave us relief. It meant we could focus on him and his needs, not on where to stay or what we would eat.”
Meals are served every day, prepared by volunteers with care and love. The Segovias describe this simple act as life-changing. “We don’t even have to worry about what we have to eat. It’s a big blessing because everything is taken care of.” What may sound ordinary to others feels extraordinary to families like the Segovias, who are carrying the heavy responsibility of caring for a child in crisis.
More than the meals and the shuttle rides, what stands out to the Segovias is the community. Volunteers who greet them in the morning, families who understand their struggles, and staff who make the House feel like home have all become part of their story. “The Ronald McDonald House is a blessing,” Jaime says with emotion. “Your time and your donations make a difference. I can’t even find the words sometimes. There is no price for what you do. There is no way we can repay you.”
The Segovia family has now spent more than a month in Dallas, and though the days are often filled with uncertainty, they know they are not walking this road alone. The House has provided them a safe, welcoming space where their family can find rest and strength for the days ahead. It has given them the rare gift of being able to focus on their son, knowing that everything else is cared for.
As one of approximately 400 families who have called Ronald McDonald House of Dallas home in the second quarter of 2025, the Segovias embody the heart of the mission: putting families at the center of care. Their story reminds us that families are the heroes, carrying the weight of love through every appointment and every sleepless night. What RMHD provides is the space, support, and community that allows those heroes to keep going.
For the Segovias, it has been more than a place to stay. It has been a blessing. And for every volunteer and donor who makes the House possible, their gratitude is profound. Because of you, a family from New Mexico has been able to rest, to hope, and to keep believing in the future of their son.
