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Ronald McDonald House Detroit unveils new Family Room at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital
Respite opens for families with babies in the
Children’s Hospital of Michigan NICU at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital
Detroit – The Detroit chapter of Ronald McDonald House today unveiled a new $1 million, 2,600-square foot Family Room space at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital, to create a haven for families whose children are receiving medical care.
More than 100 former patients, families, doctors, nurses, sorority members, donors, government and community organization representatives were invited to tour the new area today, before it opens to serve families on March 27.
The new Family Room features four private napping rooms; a lactation room; shower and toilet facilities, as well as lounges to relax, connect with other families or grab complimentary snacks and beverages. Guests must have a child currently receiving medical care to access the space and be greeted by Ronald McDonald House Detroit staff.
A Ronald McDonald House Family Room is a program extending from the mission of Ronald McDonald House, giving families a quiet place to recharge, grab a bite to eat, shower, or get rest to remain strong for their child while remaining close to their child and medical teams at all times. This is the second Family Room program to open under the operations of the Ronald McDonald House Detroit chapter, who provided support to 754 families in 2025 through the original Family Room units at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
“We are thrilled to bring another comforting space to even more families at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital,” Ronald McDonald House Detroit CEO Jennifer Litomisky said. “We extend a heartfelt thanks to our donors who believe in our mission and the teams that worked tirelessly to bring this project to completion. We know this will make a lasting impact on the patients, the medical teams and the families we serve for years to come.”
About 750 babies are cared for annually in the NICU at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital, which recently became part of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and has undergone a nearly $1.9 million upgrade. Children’s Hospital of Michigan is one of only a handful of Level 4 NICUs in the state of Michigan. The NICUs care for babies who are born early or have medical conditions or illnesses that require high levels of care.
The Ronald McDonald House Detroit Family Rooms unveiling comes shortly after the December ribbon cutting for the $4.87 million renovation of the nearby Mother/Baby unit at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital. Designed like a high-end hotel with moms in mind, the Mother/Baby unit provides advanced, high-level care for moms and babies in 21 new postpartum rooms, a new Mother/Baby reception area and a new eight-room Obstetrics Emergency Department.
“We’re so excited for the new Ronald McDonald House Detroit Family Rooms at Hutzel, as well as those who helped support them,” said DMC Group CEO Brittany Lavis. “These spaces fit perfectly with what we heard from mothers and families about their needs as they start and grow their families, especially when their babies need a higher level of care.”
Built in 1868, DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital has been a referral center for physicians throughout Michigan for their high-risk patients. The Joint Commission, in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, has designated DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital as a Level IV maternal care-verified facility, the highest level awarded by the Commission for care of birthing mothers.
The projects at DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital are part of a multi-year renovation plan across the Detroit Medical Center’s Mother/Baby units at Hutzel, DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital on Detroit’s northwest side and DMC Huron Valley Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township, serving northern Oakland County.
“Each project is one more example of Detroit Medical Center’s dedication to our communities’ mothers, babies, patients and families,” CEO Lavis said.