Nicole Irwin is thankful for her 6-year-old son, Dawson. Just a few days after undergoing brain surgery to remove the front half of his left temporal lobe, Dawson is playing with other children in the game room of the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House. Dawson and Nicole have been guests at the Gatewood House since August 2011 after Dawson was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a rare genetic disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow in the brain and other vital organs.

Dawson has suffered from multiple seizures daily since he was 6 months old. The cause of Dawson’s seizures was unexplained until last year when he underwent a surgery evaluation for epileptic seizures. At the time of his TSC diagnosis, numerous tumors were found in Dawson’s brain and heart. However, since Dawson’s brain surgery in January he has not suffered from a seizure, which Nicole describes as a miracle. Dawson still has five tumors in his heart which are continuously monitored.

Dawson and Nicole find comfort in staying at the Ronald McDonald House. “It is the perfect place to rest and recuperate after a tough day at the hospital,” Nicole describes. Prior to staying at the Gatewood House, Nicole and Dawson traveled hours from South Georgia to Atlanta for doctor’s appointments, which was strenuous on Dawson. Nicole says, “The House is a blessing. It provides us with what Dawson needs most during this time—a home.”