Thomas Haminishi is going to spend his Christmas undergoing chemotherapy treatments after being diagnosed with leukemia this summer.

But for the 10-year-old West Kelowna youth and his mom Alanna, they are making the best of a stressful situation helped by being tenants at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver.

The facility provides a place to stay for parents and kids from out of town needing to get medical treatment, located within easy walking distance of the hospital.

香蕉视频直播�(Ronald McDonald House) is an amazing place,香蕉视频直播� said Alanna. 香蕉视频直播淭he staff and volunteers here are just amazing.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 almost a surreal experience because everyone is so upbeat and the response of generosity is overwhelming.香蕉视频直播�

For more than 30 years, Ronald McDonald House BC/Yukon has provided accommodation for seriously ill children and their families at BC Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital.

Initially, that service was provided through a 13-bedroom home in the city香蕉视频直播檚 Shaughnessy area, but in 2014 a new 73-bedroom house located on the hospital grounds was opened which serves 2,000 families each year in spacious suites with private washrooms.

The facility includes a fitness room, arts and crafts studio, magic room, Lego lounge and comfortable indoor and outdoor lounge areas.

But perhaps its biggest asset is the relief it offers out-of-town families who don香蕉视频直播檛 have relatives in Vancouver who can put them up and can香蕉视频直播檛 afford the financial hardship of staying at a hotel while their child is undergoing lengthy medical treatment.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very hard on a family when your child goes through something like what Thomas is dealing with. Critical illness like this divides a family because of the treatment involved but you stay positive and know that hopefully by February or March, Thomas will be well enough to go back home and return on a monthly basis for treatments,香蕉视频直播� said Alanna.

Thomas香蕉视频直播� parents are divorced, and he has a 17-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister, along with a seven-year-old step-sister.

For Thomas, who would have been in Grade 5 this year at George Pringle Elementary, he is looking at three years of chemo treatment.

Besides losing his hair, the treatments have hindered his ability to walk and he香蕉视频直播檚 lost partial vision in one eye, but his mom says he香蕉视频直播檚 fared better than many for negative reactions from the chemo drugs.

香蕉视频直播淭he treatments are hard on the body and he香蕉视频直播檚 had some hiccups along the way, but we香蕉视频直播檙e grateful for how Thomas has responded compared to how other kids we香蕉视频直播檝e met who haven香蕉视频直播檛 responded as well to chemo,香蕉视频直播� Alanna said.

To help the kids and their parents get a break from the grind of medical treatment, Ronald McDonald House does its best to bring a little Christmas spirit for its cohabitants.

Those activities have included decorating a Christmas tree, visits from Santa, for Thomas being able to take music lessons to learn how to play the piano and ukulele, Christmas carol singing, making cookies, skating at the Richmond arena and a trip to Capilano Bridge in North Vancouver.

Even Ronald McDonald himself came by for a visit with treats from McDonald香蕉视频直播檚.

香蕉视频直播淚t was the first time since we香蕉视频直播檝e been here that they actually brought McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 food to the house, but Ronald McDonald came as well and I think I was more excited than Thomas was,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚t was such a cool event and then after eating, all of us were taken on a field trip to the Capilano Canyon suspension bridge to see the Christmas lights display. It was such a fun day.香蕉视频直播�

She said Thomas香蕉视频直播� spirits were definitely lifted by a visit from members of the Vancouver Canucks, as he was able to get his picture taken with his favourite player, goaltender Ryan Miller, and to also meet Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Thomas also made a point of finding a Christmas tree this year for their room because of the connection it has to his grandmother, who passed away from cancer last Christmas.

香蕉视频直播淗is grandma was in hospice care and she wanted a Christmas tree so we found one for her and the grandkids all decorated it,香蕉视频直播� Alanna explained.

香蕉视频直播淗e wanted to get a Christmas tree because it reminds him of his grandma. It is very symbolic for him personally as he feels he and his grandma are on the same journey together.香蕉视频直播�