"Donald's House" - The Banman Family Story

"Donald's House"

The Banman Family Story

Carson John Henry Banman came into the world on September 30, 2002, bringing immeasurable joy to his parents.

Less than two years later, baby brother Tanner arrived three months early, and the family came to Calgary from Creston, BC, for care. When mom, Shauna, was offered a room at Ronald McDonald House, she shied away, imagining an impersonal, dorm-like facility. She never imagined that her family would come to see the House as a respite only a few months later.

Little Tanner was a trooper and the Banman family headed back to Creston as a fulfilled family of four. But, their world changed drastically in a single moment, when the call came with a diagnosis that Carson had leukemia. Their lives would never be the same.

At the tender age of two and a half, Carson checked into the Alberta Children's Hospital for three weeks in 2005. Again, the family was offered a room at Ronald McDonald House^®Southern Alberta and this time they decided to look into it.

"I remember walking through the front door and feeling a huge sense of relief," says Shauna. "It wasn't at all what I had in my head - it felt welcoming and everyone was so understanding. You could sit on the couch and put your feet up on the coffee table, and cook your own food. In a funny way, it offered so many of the things you come to loathe as a housewife, but you realize how nice it is to be able to do those simple things."

The Banmans stayed at the House on and off from February until June 2005. Carson was able to join them at times, and it became his second home.

"When Carson relapsed in 2008, we were being airlifted to Calgary and I remember him looking at me and asking, 'Does this mean we get to go back to Donald's House?'" explains Shauan. "I told him it did, and he said, 'it's okay, it won't be so bad Mom.'"

Ronald McDonald House^® Southern Alberta, or "Donald's House" as it's known to the Banman family, offered Carson a place where he could be free to run, play and just be a kid. It also offered the rest of the family friendship and camaraderie that they haven't lost to this day.

"You're live a different life when your child is sick. All of the families were united and we were all really protectice of each others' kids. There were times when Carson's dad had to stay in Creston to work, but there were other fathers there that could offer a much needed dad-hug to him. We still keep in touch with many of the families we met in 2002."

And while their time in Calgary focused on Carson's treatment, the family was able to create many fond memories, many of which were at the House. "We celebrated Tanner's first birthday there. Carson sat next to Ronald McDonald for a story - his eyes were hurting so much from his chemo treatment, but he sat there holding a cold cloth over his face enjoying every minute of it. And, Carson taught Tanner how to do the monkey bars. It was only a month before he passed away, and I'll never forget Tanner making it across and yelling triumphantly that 'Carson showed me how!'"

Tragically, Carson passed away in June 2008.

The Banman family has made a point of maintaining a connection with the House. An award in Carson's honour has been created and willl be awarded to a deserving Ronald McDonald House^® Southern Alberta volunteer on April 20^th, 2010.

"I don't know what we would have done without Ronald McDonald House," adds Shauna fondly. "I truly cannot imagine."