18 Mar Augie’s Story

What began as a challenging breech delivery for Chrissy Rutledge in January 2020 quickly turned into a journey filled with unexpected twists for her and her husband, Alex. Their son, Augie, was delivered via C-section, and they soon learned that he was born with Down syndrome. Due to some health complications, Augie was transferred to Topeka and later to Kansas City for additional care. Alex followed Augie to Kansas City, and after Chrissy was discharged from the hospital, she was eager to join her sweet baby boy.

When Chrissy arrived at the hospital, still recovering in a wheelchair, she and Alex were offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House, where they stayed for the night before relocating to one of their houses across the street. The convenience of the Children’s Mercy shuttle allowed Chrissy to travel back and forth as she stayed close to Augie.

“There’s no way I could have done it without the Ronald McDonald House,” Chrissy shared. “I couldn’t leave Augie’s side, and we simply couldn’t afford a hotel. I would’ve been stuck in a recliner after major surgery, but thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, I could be there for him.”

After two weeks, Chrissy and Alex were finally able to take Augie home to St. Mary’s, Kansas. But the generosity of the Ronald McDonald House stayed with them long after they left.

“We always wanted to give back. I have an in-home bakery business, so I decided to host a fundraiser for Augie’s birthday and reach out to local businesses to participate,” Chrissy explained.

For Augie’s 5th birthday, the Rutledge family is hosting a fundraiser running from Augie’s birthday to World Down Syndrome Awareness Day on March 21. With support from 13 local businesses and numerous other generous contributors, they are on track to raise $1,500 for the Ronald McDonald House.

“Ronald McDonald House is one of those organizations you truly don’t appreciate until you need them,” Chrissy reflected. “We will forever be grateful for everything they did for us.”