Jessica and Maurin (‘Tony’) Penn arrived at Ronald McDonald House Northern Nevada after the very early arrival of their baby girl, Alethia, at 28 weeks gestation. Shortly after Jessica’s discharge from the hospital, their older children, Elliot and Elijah, joined mom and dad at RMH. The boys were often seen playing around the House and completing school lessons with their parents in the kitchen and common areas.
As Alethia’s medical needs continued, Elliot and Elijah later stayed with their grandmother so Jessica and Tony could focus fully on Alethia’s care and NICU schedule.
During their stay, Jessica and Tony became a source of encouragement for other NICU families, often sharing experiences and supporting parents going through similar situations. The House team, especially Chef Olivia, got to know the Penn family well during nightly dinners and conversations in the kitchen.
After 89 nights at Ronald McDonald House Northern Nevada and 96 days in the NICU, Jessica and Tony were finally able to bring Alethia home to meet her big brothers Elliot and Elijah.
