Mateo and Hamlet: Stepping towards a brighter tomorrow, together

Hamlet Herrera will never forget the moment his son took his first steps.

It happened on the playground at Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas during one of the family’s stays in Greenville. After months of treatment, therapy and hard work, Mateo took those first steps while Hamlet watched nearby, quickly pulling out his phone to capture the milestone on video.

“It was a very nice moment,” Hamlet recalls. “I don’t forget it.”

For the Herrera family, that moment represented far more than a developmental milestone. It was the result of years of determination and a journey that began hundreds of miles away in the Dominican Republic.

Mateo was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a condition that affects the joints and muscles and requires ongoing specialized care. To access treatment at Shriners Children’s Greenville, Hamlet and Mateo travel internationally, making a journey that can take far longer than the three-hour direct flight due to layovers through cities like Atlanta or Miami.

The family first arrived at RMHCC in March 2024 after being referred by a Shriners team member who suggested the House as a supportive alternative to staying in a hotel. Since then, Hamlet and Mateo have stayed at the House three separate times, often for months at a time while Mateo receives surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy and brace adjustments.

For Hamlet, one of the biggest challenges has been being so far from home during difficult medical moments.

“This is a very hard process,” he says. “Being far away from home and dealing with surgeries, therapies and painful moments.”

But from the moment they arrived, he felt welcomed.

“My perception of the House is the same today as it was the first time,” Hamlet says. “It’s very welcoming.”

While the comfortable accommodations and proximity to the hospital have made a tremendous difference, it is the people who have had the greatest impact on the family’s experience.

Throughout their stays, Hamlet has built friendships with other guest families who understand the challenges of caring for a child with complex medical needs. Coming from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences, families find common ground in the shared hope they have for their children.

“We make family here,” Hamlet says. “A lot of other families are going through the same process as us, and we create friendships.”

The House has also made it possible for the Herrera family to remain together during Mateo’s treatment. Hamlet’s wife and daughter have been able to visit from the Dominican Republic, allowing the family to support one another through surgeries, therapies and recovery.

“This house gives us the support to stay together,” Hamlet explains. “It makes the process easier.”

Many of the people who work and volunteer at the House have become familiar faces the family looks forward to seeing each time they return. 

“Miss Mary is fantastic,” he says with a laugh. “She’s the best.”

Seeing those familiar faces upon returning brings a sense of comfort and normalcy during an otherwise stressful time.

“When Gloria confirmed that we had a space this year, we were happy,” Hamlet says. “It was a relief for us to stay here.”

While Hamlet treasures the memory of Mateo’s first steps, Mateo has plenty of favorite memories of his own. He loves spending time in the playroom, especially playing with the toy cars, and has grown increasingly excited about each visit to Greenville.

“This year he was very happy to be here,” Hamlet says. “More happy than last year.”

As Mateo grows older, Hamlet believes he will remember more of the experiences, friendships and moments that have shaped their journey.

Today, Mateo continues working hard in therapy and making progress toward future goals. Through every surgery, appointment and milestone, the Herrera family has found support in a place that feels far more like home than a temporary stop during treatment.

For Hamlet, the reason is simple.

“The main thing that I appreciate from here is the people,” he says. “People make the House home.”