SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The owners of one local business gave back to an organization that helped them firsthand.

Advanced Transmission owners Marvin and Laura Wilson—grandparents of Owen Liam Pippin, 2, who was hospitalized at the University of  Alabama at Birmingham—witnessed Owen’s successful healing after five months and five surgeries.

Due to the cost of a hotel stay, the Wilsons’ daughter, Amy, temporarily lived at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a “home-away-from-home” that offers comfort and care to families of seriously ill children being treated at local hospitals and medical facilities.

Life is back to normal for the Pippin and Wilson families, who said they are “paying it forward.”

On Dec. 27, Advanced Transmission and family prepared, cooked and served a gourmet meal under the instruction of Chef Michelle Still for the families of the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile. Iced tea was donated by Mellow Mushroom in Daphne, where Amy is manager.

Advanced Transmission said in a release that it encourages a visit to the Ronald McDonald House Web site, www.rmhmobile.com, to find out how you can help the organization.