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Paula Birk has spent the majority of the past two decades in the sterile confines of a hospital, supporting her twin daughters through a litany of medical conditions.

There have been cancer treatments and tumor surgeries — even a heart transplant for one of her daughters — placing a heavy financial and emotional strain on her family.

Battling bouts of joblessness and homelessness, Birk had few options until she was referred to Ronald McDonald House as a source of shelter and support. She has spent 10 years as a beneficiary of the house and was on hand Thursday morning to tell her story as Ronald McDonald House Charities announced plans to expand and more than double the capacity of its current Salt Lake City facility.

"In that situation, you have nowhere to go. With this extension, that many more families will be able to stay here and stay with their kids," Birk said.

The facility addition, expected to cost around $11 million to build, will increase capacity from 25 to 71 rooms, 115 to 323 beds and 19,645 to 57,608 square feet.

The location at 935 E. South Temple served 4,078 people in 2011, but the charity said space limitations forced it to turn away 522 families.

Carrie Romano, executive director for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain area, said the extension will help serve 500 more families per year.

"A project like this will allow us to significantly expand our mission and we hope be able to serve families we weren't able to serve last year," Romano said.

About $8.5 million in private donations has already been raised toward the $11 million cost of the project. Construction will be completed by summer 2013, Romano said.

The project also includes building a Ronald McDonald House family room at Primary Children's Medical Center to benefit families still at the hospital.

Rosa Flores and her family lived at the Salt Lake City house from November to March after Flores' grandson was born prematurely.

She said it was a blessing to receive the support from everyone at the house while her grandson underwent surgeries at Primary Children's.

"I don't know what we would have done without this place with all the needs we had."

Romano said she is honored to be able to serve families such as Flores' and Birk's, who struggle through the uncertainty and difficulty of having a sick child.

"It's a great privilege we have here to make life a little less difficult for folks who are going through a hard time," Romano said. —

Ronald McDonald House expansion

Cost • $11 million

Square footage • From 19,645 to 57,608

Rooms • From 25 to 71

Beds • From 115 to 323