For families with children in the hospital, the Goldy’s Family program provides something to cheer for

Julian and Sofia Rocheford were so excited to welcome their baby girl into the world.

But when she arrived four months early, the complications that come with having a premature child meant the family would have to wait to bring their daughter home.

Rendalisa spent the first 144 days of her life at Children’s Minnesota Minneapolis. Her parents were by her side the whole time, staying at the Ronald McDonald House – Oak Street in Minneapolis when they weren’t at the hospital.

While it wasn’t how they envisioned Rendalisa’s first few months, there were moments that provided glimpses of hope of life outside the hospital.

One of those moments came when the Rochefords had the chance to attend a Gopher Football game as part of RBC Wealth Management’s Goldy’s Family program.

“Being able to take part in the Goldy’s Family experience allowed us to take our mind off of things for a couple of days and enjoy new, fun and positive experiences,” the Rocheford family said.

When game day is a source of inspiration

“Goldy’s Family is truly one of the most authentic, thoughtful and impactful platforms we have here,” said Greg Gerlach, vice president and general manager of Gopher Sports Properties.” We have met some amazing families with such courage and resiliency with this program and are so thankful that Coach Fleck and his team embrace these families at their practices, and we can host the family for a Gopher Football gameday to bring them some joy on their health journey.”

Not only did the Rochefords attend a football game as part of the program, they got the entire gameday experience, complete with a tailgate party, a tour of the facility and a chance to meet Coach P.J. Fleck and the team.

Meeting Coach Fleck, who lost his newborn son to a heart condition in 2011, provided an inspiring perspective for the family as they faced their own challenges, Sofia Rocheford said.

“Having read his book prior to the tour, we knew his story was one of loss and perseverance, so getting to have a conversation with him was invaluable,” she said. “The experience we had on game day was amazing.”

Hope at the Homecoming game

The family’s 5-year-old daughter Sofia was hospitalized after she suffered a severe anoxic brain injury when she accidentally ingested dairy, to which she is severely allergic.

During Sofia’s hospitalization at Gilette Children’s Hospital, the whole family – including her 7-year-old-sister were invited to the Gophers’ Homecoming Game against Purdue, where Sofia’s story was shared at halftime and the family was shown on the Jumbotron

“Being chosen as Goldy’s Feature Family was such a bright light for us during one of the hardest chapters of our lives. Seeing Sofia’s story shared during the game and more prayer warriors added to her army of soldiers filled our hearts with gratitude and hope,” the Fraboni family said.

“For 15 seasons, RBC Wealth Management has been honored to support Ronald McDonald House families, helping to shine a light on the immense challenges they face when a child is ill. We’re proud to bring these families together with Gopher Sports for an unforgettable game day experience,” said Wally Chapman, co-head of RBC Wealth Management’s Private Client Group.

“As a former Gophers hockey player, I know firsthand the power of teamwork and the strength that comes from a community rallying together. It’s meaningful to provide that support to families when they need it most.”