The Patriot Magazine Volume 11 Issue 1 by Fisher House Foundation

2020 VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION, INC. TM

www.fisherhouse.org

A Former Pilot Becomes a Veteran Advocate COVER STORY

(Featured on page 16)

IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE — ZACHARY FISHER'S DREAM (Story featured on page 6)

FORMER ARMY MEDIC DONATES $10,000 AWARD

(Story featured on page 7)

COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN CLIMBS SEVEN SUMMITS (Story featured on page 11)

Contents Social Media Support

Soldier, His Family, and His Dog Find Healing After Fisher House Stay

Guest FamilyProfile: The Cutchins Family

It All Started with One

Former Army Medic Donates $10,000 Award

A Miracle Baby Celebrates His First Birthday

Madison's Lemonade Stand

Jennifer Koget, National Program Manager for the VA Fisher House

Combat Wounded Veteran Climbs Seven Summits

Documentary Film Captures Lives of Military Caregivers Sky Blossoms: Growing Up A Caregiver 12 Meet the Manager

Letters to Fisher House Foundation

Meet the Staff

COVER STORY: After Finding Fisher House and Adaptive Sports, A Former Pilot Becomes Veteran Advocate 16 Fisher House Salutes

Newman's Own Award Recipients

Hearts in the Community

Rerun Article in Honor of Kerri Childress: The Gross and Reiff Families Healing Beyond the Hospital 22 House Round Up

Team Fisher House

Facebook Fundraising

Community Groups in Action

Openings & Groundbreakings

Down Range

About Fisher House Foundation, Inc. Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since its inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $500 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation. Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles and funds to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members, as well as the Hotels for Heroes program, using donated hotel points and dollars to allow family members to stay without charge at hotels near medical centers. The Foundation also manages a grant program that helps other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses, and children of fallen and disabled veterans. Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Donations to Fisher House Foundation or individual Fisher Houses are tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Fisher House Program by the

Numbers

$500 Million Savings for families in lodging and transportation cost

FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN AND CEO Kenneth Fisher PRESIDENT David A. Coker CHIEF OF STAFF Mary Considine EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michelle Baldanza MANAGING EDITOR David Nye LAYOUT AND ART DIRECTION Gifted Eye Designs giftedeyedesigns.com Address all correspondence to: The Patriot Fisher House Foundation 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 410 Rockville, MD 20852 Phone: (301) 294-8560 Fax: (301) 294-8562 Email: info@fisherhouse.org

9.5 Million Days of lodging offered

400,000 Families served

86 Fisher Houses in operation The statistics in this graphic reflect the Fisher House program’s impact since inception. At Fisher House Foundation, our magazine, much like the work we do, is about teamwork. The Patriot is created in-house by our communications staff. Our graphic designers at Gifted Eye Designs donate services toward the design of each issue, and our printing partners help ensure we are getting the best rates possible. The Patriot magazine is one of our best resources to educate audiences about the Foundation’s work, and we are proud of the product we create. We are grateful to provide this resource at a very minimal cost, thanks to the work of everyone involved. At Fisher House, we always strive to be good stewards of your donation to the Foundation.

www.fisherhouse.org Cover Photo: Cover photo by Craig Orsini orinistudio.com

LETTER FROM KEN FISHER Dear Friends, Like many of you, I have watched the progress of COVID-19 across our country and our world with a heavy heart. We do not get to choose the great trials of our time; we can only rise to meet them. In my own efforts, I have found inspiration in my great-uncle, Zachary Fisher. In 1990, my great-uncle Zachary and his wife, Elizabeth, decided they wanted to do something for the men and women who have dedicated themselves to the service of our country. Nearly 30 years later, the Fisher House program has grown to a network of 86 houses throughout the Department of Defense and VA that is bolstered by additional family support programs. Those homes continue to serve military and veteran families in this hour of need. Where safe, Fisher Houses are still housing those family members deemed essential to a loved one’s health, including caregivers to the wounded and sick. In other houses, the Department of Veterans Affairs has asked family members to stay away to prevent infection, and healthy medical staff have been allowed in to make the most of their limited rests while conducting lifesaving work. Fisher Houses have been proud to host veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. We have hosted veterans who have served in floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. We are prepared to proudly serve those who serve us in this pandemic. We honor Zach’s legacy and will ensure that it continues for many years to come. We will be there and adapt to the needs of our greatest national treasure — our military men and women and their families, no matter where they are called to serve. Sincerely,

Kenneth Fisher Chairman and CEO, Fisher House Foundation @kenfisherfhf

MESSAGE ABOUT COVID-19: As of the date of final layout for the Patriot, we want to share this message. The status of each Fisher House is based on the guidance from the local hospital where they are located. If you have a loved one receiving treatment at a DoD or VA medical center, please reach out directly to the local Fisher House to learn the status at that location. Contact information can be found at our House Directory. We will process all website donations immediately. There will be a delay in processing mailed donations because our physical office is closed in compliance with COVID-19 guidance and restrictions. Thank you for your support as we navigate this challenge.

Charity Ratings: A+ Fisher House Foundation works hard to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to us. It is a privilege to do the work we do, and we are proud to hold the highest ratings awarded by the top national charity watchdog organizations. Once again, in late 2019, Fisher House Foundation received an A+ from CharityWatch in its veterans and military category for the 16th year. Out of 56 charities rated, only two received this distinctive A+ rating. Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation its coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management for the 15th consecutive year, a rating achieved by less than 1% of the charities in the country that it monitors.

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SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT FACEBOOK FEEDBACK www.facebook.com/fisherhouse “Ken Fisher is a very honorable and caring man. Thank you, Mr. Fisher, for keeping Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher’s dreams and visions alive! It helped me and my family for years. Without the Fisher House Foundation, I would have lost my farm and everything. I had to take care of my only son, Sgt. Michael Nathan Twining, and the Fisher House allowed me to be with my son until the end. The Fisher House allowed us to live life to its fullest! And we did! And the home gave us a new life-long family. The Fisher house family. I'm forever grateful!” — Mel Twining “My husband and I stayed for eight weeks in the Albany Fisher House while he had chemo and radiation. I don't think the Fishers realized when they started this what a wonderful thing they were doing. We all laughed, cried, and prayed together for each other’s family. What an awesome way to be with people who were going through the same thing you are. If you ever wanted to donate to an organization this is the one . Don’t know what we would have done without Fisher House!”

TWITTER LOVE www.twitter.com/fisherhousefdtn Kayla Strayer @kaylastrayer Met the sweetest people at the Fort Bragg Fisher House Found my favorite room — the kitchen of course. Military members and their families can stay here for free while getting medical care. National Beta @nationalbeta These Betas cooked dinner for families of hospitalized veterans at Fisher House of Charleston. Our hearts are full! #ServiceSaturday Teresa S Copeland @tscintx Had an awesome tour at Audie Murphy VA and Fisher House in San Antonio. Thank you Assistant Chief, Harry Robinson for taking such good care of us. We enjoyed the very informative meeting with the director — at Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital.

— Celia Hall Scoville “The Fisher House on Fort Gordon saved the day. I was instantly provided with a safe and comfortable room. The staff went out of their way to make sure I was taken care of in every way while I was going through a terrible time. They asked how my spouse was doing every time we saw each other. On days when my spouse wasn't doing well, they'd make me tea and listen to my fears. I came "home" from visiting my spouse to a house full of people who really cared. I cannot say enough good things about this foundation and the people who work and volunteer for them.” — Stephani Brown

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram, too! Instagram.com/fisherhousefdtn and share your story with us using the hashtag #FisherHouse!

Soldier, his family, and his dog find healing after Fisher House stay Story by David Nye Photos by Craig Orsini

Photos Below: Spc. (Ret.) Alec Alcoser sits outside the Brooke Army Medical Center Fisher House with Alex's collar. Alex is staying with Alec's mom while Alec studies.

When Spc. (Ret.) Alec Alcoser reported to Fort Drum, New York, he was worried that he was too late to take an active role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The young working dog handler was told by multiple leaders that the wars had slowed down; he might not get a chance to go outside the wire when he deployed.

On August 5, 2018 the men went on an early morning patrol. Just 200 meters from the end of the patrol, about a tenth of a mile, Alec spotted a man on the path and suggested that the Afghan National Army search him. It turned out to be good call. The man was a suicide bomber. The initial explosion killed three soldiers and knocked Alec down. It also pelted Alec and Alex with shrapnel that nearly killed Alec and later cost Alex a leg. A firefight erupted moments later.

Sgt. 1st Class David Harrison warned him to still be prepared for anything before he deployed. “He got into my head that if I do leave the wire,” Alec said, referring to leaving the base on a patrol, “that things could get really, really serious really, really quick.” One piece of advice David gave Alec was, “If you’re going to get hit, get hit cheating,” by which he meant that Alec should always work hard to have the advantage if a fight broke out. David’s warnings proved valid. While U.S. involvement in Afghanistan was reduced by 2018 when Alec deployed, plenty of our troops were still conducting daily operations. As a dog team, Alec and his dog Alex were in high demand. They were the “cheat” David was referring to. Many working dogs are selected for their ability to smell explosives, so they can literally sense hidden bombs. And Alec wanted to do everything he could to get back home. “The night that I actually arrived in Afghanistan, that’s when my son was born.” After a few other missions, Alec and Alex were assigned to support a unit from the Czech Republic. He was almost always the only American on the patrol, but the Czechs valued him and Alex and made them feel like part of the team.

Both the man and his dog survived the firefight, but Alec was too badly injured to return to base on his own. He was medically evacuated and given ketamine in the ambulance. He woke up briefly at Bagram Air Base, but his memories are mostly blank until he woke up in Germany. He had a broken femur and a number of cuts, but he would survive. And Alex had been evacuated with him. Alec went into a months-long recovery process. While he was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center starting his recovery, visitors from the Pentagon would come to check on the troops. Every time, Alec asked them about Alex. He was promised that he would be re-united with his dog as soon as Alex was retired from service. In early October, only two months after the attack, that happened. Alec attempted to stay on active duty and deploy, but the damage to his tendons was too much and he was medically retired. As Alec navigated the recovery process and began his path to medical retirement, his mom was able to stay with him thanks to Fisher House. “My mom came to my aid and stuck with me throughout the whole recovery while I was in the hospital.” Alec is now studying marketing in Texas where he lives just a few hours from his mom. Alex splits his time between his former handler and his mother.

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GUEST FAMILY

PROFILE: The Cutchins Family Story and photos by David Nye

NAME: Lorenzo & Nadine Cutchins HOUSE: Washington DC VA Medical Center Fisher House, Washington, DC HOME STATE: Newport News, Virginia MILITARY BRANCH: Army

It was when Lorenzo Cutchins returned to Virginia that he met Nadine, triggering a romance that has lasted for 37 years. That lasting love wasn’t because life was easy for the Cutchins, though. They’ve dealt with a number of illnesses in their family, including Lorenzo’s battle with cancer and a back injury that’s required multiple surgeries. The two met after Lorenzo returned from a three-year enlistment, 1973 to 1976, that Lorenzo spent in Germany as an armor crewmember. They spent the first seven years of married life in Newport News, Virginia and then moved to Washington, D.C. where Lorenzo worked for Colonial Parking. He was hurt while trying to protect an older worker from harm a few years into his career at Colonial. “We had this older man and we would always look out for him,” Lorenzo said. “He was trying to lift something heavy...so I jumped out the truck because, you know, he’s like my father.” Unfortunately, the bumper block that the man was trying to move was too heavy for Lorenzo, as well, and he hurt his back. Still, there was no time to rest. Lorenzo’s back troubles were just one issue as his mother became ill, first with diabetes and then with a series of mini strokes that built to a major stroke that robbed her of her voice. Nadine helped her communicate with the rest of the family as Lorenzo kept working. “She had to be tube fed,” Nadine said. “So, Lorenzo and I and his sister, we were always the one taking her to the doctor. After I learned how to tube feed, I had to teach the rest of the family how to do it.” Photo on the right: Lorenzo Cutchins watches TV in the Washington DC VA Fisher House in January. Photos from the top down: Nadine and Lorenzo Cutchins watch TV in the Washington DC VA Fisher House in December. Nadine prepares hamburgers for herself and other Fisher House guests. Lorenzo talks to another Fisher House guest in the dining room of the Fisher House. 4

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Another problem reared its head. Nadine heard Lorenzo urinating, and she was worried at his frequent pauses. She urged him to see a doctor at the VA hospital, and the doctor diagnosed prostate cancer. Before he knew about the Fisher House at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, Lorenzo was getting up at 3 or 4 a.m. to drive to the hospital, attend appointments, and then drive back home, sometimes arriving after 7 p.m. This was grueling on the best days, but especially challenging when he was undergoing radiation therapy for his cancer. A surgery and radiation therapy thankfully eradicated the cancer, and two surgeries to remove damaged discs have alleviated Lorenzo’s back pain. It was during one of those surgeries that the Cutchins learned about the Fisher House. “His sisters had come to support me with him,” Nadine said, “and we were talking, and I said, ‘Well, I can take y’all to a hotel, I know a couple hotels.’”

A hospital employee overheard the conversation and urged the women to wait. He jumped on the phone and, 30 minutes later, the Cutchins had a room in the Washington DC VA Fisher House across the street where the manager and staff helped the Cutchins feel welcome and supported at their “home away from home.” Now, when Lorenzo needs to go to Washington for medical care or appointments, he talks with his doctor ahead of time to see if he needs to stay at the Fisher House. And Nadine is usually alongside to support him. When she’s in the house, Nadine likes to cook larger meals so that other families can enjoy the food, too. “I prayed to God every day to thank him for allowing us to be here.” They’re hoping that their December trip to the Fisher House will be the last for a while.

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It All Started with One Story by Chelsea Davis

It all started with one. One man and one idea that was sparked by one conversation. One idea grew to the first Fisher House, which has grown to 86 Fisher Houses and supported hundreds of thousands of families. This network of comfort homes was created to provide a sense of normalcy during medical crisis and it all started with just…one.

She mentioned it to her husband, who in turn told Zachary. “I’m a builder. That’s what I do for a living. I can do this.” Zach and Elizabeth Fisher dedicated more than $20 million to the construction of comfort homes for families of hospitalized military personnel to stay free of charge in support of their loved ones when they need it most.

Zachary Fisher was a builder, philanthropist, and patriot. He began working in construction at the age of 16 to help support his immigrant parents. He and his two brothers formed Fisher Brothers and eventually became one of the real estate industry’s premier residential and commercial developers.

Brick by brick, these houses were built, and a Foundation was created for life-changing experiences for those who walk through Fisher House doors.

Zachary was already committed to supporting the U.S. armed forces, but one phone call changed the trajectory of his incredible legacy. Pauline Trost, the wife of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1986, had watched a family exit a helicopter with their luggage at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda and wondered where they would stay. Knowing the hotels in the area are costly, she knew this would be a significant burden on families facing a medical crisis.

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One may seem like a small number, but Zachary Fisher is the example of how important one can be. One dollar, one supporter, one fundraiser — all part of the legacy that has changed the lives of our military, veterans, and their families.

Former Army Medic Donates $10,000 Award to Fisher House Foundation Story by Kerri Childress Photos courtesy Terri Jordan

“I will never forget being in Iraq and they started bringing in injured soldiers from an IED blast,” said Maj. Terri Jordan, USA (Ret.), who was an Army medic at the time. “I couldn’t believe that one of the soldiers had lost almost half his head and was still conscious. I held him in my arms, putting pressure on his wounds to stop the bleeding, all the while gently telling him, he was going to be okay. I know I played a role in saving the soldier’s life that day.” There are a lot of unsung heroes in war, not the least of which are the medics and doctors who put their own lives on the line to save others. Terri Jordan was one of them. As such, she was recently chosen from among 5,500 applicants for one of 2019’s Evan Williams American-Made Hero award. Her picture and story are the label of one of their Bourbon bottles and they awarded her $10,000, which she chose to donate to Fisher House Foundation. “The soldier I told you about, he was sent to a polytrauma center at the VA in Palo Alto for months of rehabilitation. His wife and young baby stayed at the Fisher House,” said Jordon. “I think Fisher House is an unsung hero. People just don’t understand the incredible role Fisher House plays in the lives of our injured and ill military, veterans, and their families. But I sure do.” Jordan’s 31-year decorated military career included two combat tours, working in numerous ERs, running the largest medical clinic on the Korean Peninsula, and ultimately becoming the first non-physician to be appointed Chief of Emergency Medicine at Fort Benning, Georgia. Today, she owns and operates an urgent care clinic where veterans can meet and share their experiences with PTSD. The clinic also runs a voucher program that donates 100% of proceeds from student physicals back to local schools. “I want to be able to touch lives,” Jordan said. “That’s why Fisher House is so important to me. Fisher Houses touch thousands of lives every day of the year. It makes me cry to think I can give this much money to so important an organization.” Photo on the right from the top down: Terri Jordan, a retired Army medic, poses with a bottle of Evan Williams Bourbon that features her photo and story. Terri Jordan and Kerri Childress pose with a check from Evan Williams to the Fisher House Foundation for $10,000. A display tells Terri Jordan's story and highlights the Evan Williams bourbon bottles that bear her face and story. Terri Jordan poses with her family and a bottle of bourbon which features her face and story. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

A miracle baby celebrat his first birthday Story by David Nye Photos courtesy of the Spencer Family

On December 11, 2018, a storm was wracking the city of Kodiak, Alaska as a mom-to-be underwent an ultrasound that revealed her cervix had opened at just 17 weeks, three days of pregnancy, over four weeks earlier than any baby has survived childbirth. Thanks to amazing doctors and the staff and volunteers of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Fisher House, the family was able to hold off on having their baby boy for almost five weeks, giving him a chance. He’s now 1 year old. “I’m one of multiple kids,” Courtney Spencer said. “My husband has multiple siblings, so it was very important. It was one of those things. I was mid-twenties and I’m like, ‘Okay, I want to do the family thing.’” Courtney and Colin started trying to have a child after Colin was already an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. But four years and a miscarriage later, fertility treatments were needed to conceive baby Percival, the micro preemie. The troubled pregnancy required three early emergency room visits, one that took place before Percival even had a heartbeat. Then, on December 11, an ultrasound appointment during a storm revealed that Courtney’s body was very close to going into labor, a process that almost certainly would have doomed baby Percival. The wind was driving winter snow at 70 miles per hour on the little island of Kodiak as medical staff figured out how to get Courtney to JBER Hospital. “At the time, I’m thinking, ‘We’re being medevacced to save the baby,’ but I learned later that no, they didn’t expect the baby to survive. They were just trying to save me,” Courtney said. A harrowing flight and ambulance ride later, a surgeon was able to protect the pregnancy with a “cervical stitch.” But that made it crucial that neither mom nor baby move too much, or else her water could still break or labor could start. For almost five weeks, the Spencers lived at the JBER Fisher House as volunteers, staff, and other guests

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learned of their risky position and took steps to protect mom and baby. “In Alaska, in winter, if you end up in the Fisher House, it’s not little stuff,” Courtney said. Other families in the house had lasting issues, like a couple that was learning to do clean dialysis for when they returned to their home “in the bush.” The Spencers grew close to these other families while Courtney was confined to bed. “We spent Christmas there. We spent New Year’s. The whole house kind of did a big New Year’s Dinner. We all cooked.” “Well, I didn’t, but everyone else did.” Courtney directed her husband’s cooking from her bed via text and photo messages. Colin helped cook a donated ham that they shared with other guests. This whole time, the family was rushing to the emergency room for different issues about once a week, except for New Year's. “We had two days in a row we went and one of them was on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We rushed to the ER for different reasons.” By that point, the other guests were deeply invested in little Percival. “You know, they were like aunts and uncles at that point. I don’t know how to describe it because they were older and retired, but they’re also former service members and they were who we lived with.” Percival came almost two weeks later on January 13 at 22 weeks, 2 days at 1 pound, 3 ounces. Colin waited at the neonatal intensive care unit to see his son and then rushed to his wife’s side as she awoke to tell her, “He’s okay. He’s alive.” It was still much more likely than not that Percival wouldn’t make it. So, Colin spent as much time as he could in the hospital visiting his wife and son, only returning to the Fisher House when he was kicked out. But the days ticked by as the parents and their “aunts and uncles” at the Fisher House waited with bated breath. Percival kept fighting, kept surviving, until, on July 1, it was safe to send the whole family to the Fisher House, and

tes

then to send the whole family home. On January 13, 2020, Percival turned one. The family now lives in Boston but keeps in touch with those other Fisher House families who helped them welcome their little boy.

s ' n o s i d a M

Stand

Support from Chantilly, Virginia

Madison Bryson, 11, and her mom, Christine, stopped by Fisher House Foundation's office to drop off $1,597.42 that she raised on Memorial Day 2019 from her Lemonade Stand in Chantilly, Virginia. 2019 was Madison’s seventh year conducting the fundraiser.

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Jennifer Koget

National Program Manager for

the VA Fisher House

and Family Hospitality Program

Story by Michelle Baldanza

The original Fisher Houses were built to support active duty service members and their families, but the need for care continues long after military service. In 1994, the first Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) house opened in Albany, New York and, by 2010, there were 44 VA houses with four more under construction for veterans and their families. With the growth of the program, the VA determined that it needed someone to directly oversee VA’s Fisher House program to ensure continuity of care for veterans and their families. That’s when VA created a dedicated position to support the development of VA Fisher Houses and the families who will use them. Jennifer Koget found her calling as the Program Manager for the Fisher House & Family Hospitality Program. In the 10 years since, the VA Fisher House program has grown to 46 houses and, for the first time in the Foundation’s history, the number of VA houses outnumbers the Department of Defense houses. Jennifer has been instrumental to this growth over the decade, working with individual medical centers, local communities, and state and federal offices on behalf of the VA to bring Fisher Houses to veterans and their families. When she was first stepping into the role, the VA clinical social worker saw the position of National Program Manager as an opportunity to address an unmet need. She knew first-hand the challenges caregivers face, having been a primary caregiver for a chronically ill family member. She had slept in hospital rooms and ICU waiting rooms so that she could be near her own ill loved one. “I remember how difficult that situation was and think now how a resource like Fisher House would have made such a difference to me,” said Jennifer. “I empathize with the need for a place to rest and recharge and I’m privileged to be the link between VA and Fisher House Foundation that makes that possible for our veterans and their families.”

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Jennifer has faced some interesting challenges. “Building a Fisher House on a VA campus is unlike any other construction project we have,” she said. Each medical center has its own requirements and community needs. Jennifer’s job is critical to the public-private partnership. She believes flexibility and adaptability of the Foundation and contractors have been important to successful construction. She cited the Charleston Fisher House as an example of how everyone must work together. The collaboration between the local community, local, state, and federal government, the National Historic Preservation office, and Fisher House Foundation allowed the house to be built near the hospital — in the middle of a national historic district. “It was a huge accomplishment and a testament to the level of dedication of all parties involved.” said Jennifer. “Veterans tell me that Fisher House was the reason they were able to receive VA care,” said Jennifer. “That’s really the fuel that moves me forward as I deal with really complicated projects.” “Every time a veteran’s family talks about how Fisher House has provided the support they need, it’s a real joy to me,” she said.

From Surviving a Roadside Bomb to Conquering the Summits of Seven Continents Story by Benjamin Breckheimer Photos courtesy of Benjamin Breckheimer

I had my first Fisher House experience in 2005 when I was assigned to the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), now San Antonio Military Medical Center, in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

I screamed. Not from pain, because the adrenaline took care of that, but to let everyone else in the vehicle know I was still alive. My lower body felt like it was trapped in a vice and gradually being squeezed to the bursting point.

As an Operating Room Specialist, my job was to assist medical staff and prepare patients and operating room environments for surgery as well as assist medical staff during surgery. In a nutshell: the doctor takes care of you; I take care of the tools and the sterile environment.

I know all of this is an unpleasant thought, but I want to share how I felt. The pain came when a medic applied tourniquets to both thighs. I fought to stay awake. There’s that cliché in the movies: once you close your eyes you’re not coming back. I was able to keep myself awake until I entered triage and then emergency surgery at Kandahar Airfield. I had gotten to feel what it was like for my patients when I was an operating room technician, and I will never forget the fear.

We treated service men and women who were coming back wounded, often missing limbs or suffering from significant burns over portions of their bodies. I visited a patient who was from my own hometown of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. He told me about the Fisher House and how it provided a safe place for his family to stay. I didn’t know much more than that, and I didn’t imagine that I would be there years later. I soon deployed to Iraq with the 10th Combat Support Hospital out of Fort Carson, Colorado. I spent a year at Ibn Sina Hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad. It was one of the most rewarding years of my life, but also the most draining. I was 20 years old and had never seen an individual leave this world until Baghdad. I will never forget my first casualty, one of our own uniformed members. I couldn’t help but think how unfair it was that these service members were out on the front lines while I was safe in the Green Zone. I felt I had to do more, and I made the decision to change jobs to Cavalry Scout. That job would put me in the Army's 16.5-ton armored vehicle, the Stryker. You know that saying be careful what you wish for? Well, I am a firm believer in it. In July 2009, I deployed with a Stryker Brigade, and on September 13th, I was driving a Stryker and hit a pressure-plate improvised explosive device. I suffered a concussion, a perforated eardrum, and multiple bone breaks including vertebrae and both femurs. My lower right leg was partially severed. I tell people now that I am grateful for what had happened to me and that I remembered most everything. But that’s not how I felt in the moment. Imagine driving and hitting a brick wall and blacking out. As you come to, you choke on dirt, debris, oil, and gas thrown up by the bomb. On top of that, things are blurry, hazy. Everything is confusing.

Five days later, I was back at Brooke Army Medical Center and saw familiar faces from years before. The naive part of me didn’t know exactly what I was in for or how serious my wounds were until Dr. Joseph Hsu, my physician and a friend from my Iraq deployment, gave me the harsh reality of what had happened to me. I wasn’t returning back to Afghanistan to be with my brothers. I spent four long years at the Warrior Transition Battalion at BAMC. The first few months were spent in a hospital bed, but then I was ready to leave the hospital and go to Fisher House which was much more comfortable. I spent November 2009 until Summer 2010 in Fisher House with various family members. Sadly, my wife and I split during this period. It’s a painful but common occurrence at Warrior Transition Battalions, and it makes the rest of our support network that much more important. The Fisher House is a magical place. It provided my family and me a place to stay in our time of need. By providing my family a place to stay, Fisher House Foundation eased the burden that my family faced after our unexpected trauma. While staying at the Fisher House, I had an immediate support system during the most difficult time of my life, and so did my family. The environment provided by the Fisher House makes it a place where you gain new friendships and even additional members to your family. This support system, provided by the Fisher House, helps us mend and look forward. I am proud to say that I am just one mountain shy of becoming the first Combat Wounded Veteran to successfully climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents thanks to family, friends, and Fisher House.

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Documentary Film Captures Lives ives of of Military ilitary Caregivers aregivers Documentary Film Captures SKY BLOSSOM, diaries of the next greatest generation Story and photos by David Nye

A journalist and filmmaker invited four military families to Washington, D.C. for an early, November 18 screening of his upcoming documentary Sky Blossom which tells the stories of children growing up as military caregivers across the U.S. The four families, all featured in the documentary, were the Bushatz who work together to live with the symptoms of PTSD and TBI, the Alvarados who face a rare type of cancer due to burn pit exposure, the Griers who struggle against conditions associated with old age, and the Allens who deal daily with the amputations and other injuries caused by an IED. The journalist behind the film, which is expected to be released later this year, is Richard Lui who anchors Early Today on NBC. He is a caregiver himself, caring for his father with Alzheimer's disease.

Jessica Allen, wife and caregiver of Afghanistan War veteran Chaz Allen, spoke at a panel the day after the screening about how Fisher House first stepped in when her husband was injured in early 2011. Tish Stropes, Fisher House VP of Strategic Initiatives, had reached out to her to offer “Hero Miles” to get airline tickets for her to meet Chaz at the hospital at no cost to the family. “I remember that phone call like it was yesterday,” Jessica said, “because I was standing right next to Chaz and I just started crying and he looks at me like, ‘Oh Lord, here we go.’ And I said, 'This wonderful woman just told me they're going to take care of my plane tickets and we're going to make this work.’”

The Allen Family has been close to Fisher House Foundation ever since, staying at Fisher Houses when One of the families featured in the documentary, the Allen necessary for Chaz’s recovery and helping to tell their family, stayed at Fisher House and benefited from Fisher story to thousands of people. House’s Hero Miles program during their loved one’s Now, Sky Blossom will help spread their story and the medical treatment. stories of many other families caring for military veterans across the U.S.

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Meet the Manager Fisher House Foundation is privileged to have amazing managers at our Fisher Houses. These professionals do a wonderful job taking care of the families that call Fisher House “a home away from home.” By David Nye

Inge Godfrey

Brooke Army Medical Center Fisher Houses, TX Inge Godfrey didn’t know what Fisher House was when she was first asked if she could help at her local house on the weekends. She was a Department of Veterans Affairs nurse at the time, and she accepted a “flex” position where she would be paid for the hours she worked at the Fisher House but receive no other benefits. That was over 27 years ago. Inge was quickly certified as a manager and is one of the longest serving Fisher House managers. She currently runs the four houses at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Inge grew up in East Germany and left that country just months before the Iron Curtain fell. She emigrated to America and married a member of the U.S. military. The couple worked hard to give back to the U.S., working and volunteering at Fisher Houses and raising children who similarly felt called to serve, both in their local communities and in the U.S. military. When it comes to serving the guests at her Fisher Houses, Inge concentrates on what will please them and make them happy. “Our attitude toward pleasing our residents is giving them things so they don’t miss out,” she said. “The very first Christmas, the volunteers and I, we had the whole house decorated. So, the patients felt like they were walking in a wonderland. And we appreciate them by making them comfortable, having breakfasts on Saturdays. If somebody has a birthday, we make sure they don’t miss it. We have little parties and everything.” Inge is confident in how to run her house and keep the guests happy. “I go strictly by the rules Mr. Fisher told us: ‘A home away from home,’ and ‘Love is the best medicine.’ Those are the two rules we live by.” Inge tries to keep a low profile, insisting that she’s just doing her bit. But she keeps an eye out for small gifts, whether from Texas or Germany or anywhere else, that may make her guests or her fellow managers happy. And she has some major accomplishments that she could brag about if she wanted, from canoeing the Danube from Germany to Bulgaria as a young woman to working for veterans and their families for so long to emigrating across the Atlantic all those years ago. Hopefully, Fisher House will continue to benefit from her wisdom, grace, and generosity for many years to come. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

Letters to Fisher House Foundation To Whom It May Concern, I just want to say what a wonderful place you have in Denver. I was a beneficiary of your hospitality from 1999 to 2012. During this time my husband had two open heart surgeries and I would not have been able to be there for him without the Fisher House. Dear Fisher House, On Christmas Day, members of my family collected money rather than giving personal gifts. This gift is given on behalf of, and to honor, my son.... He is a retired Army vet who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While he was in Iraq, he required surgery and was sent to Landstuhl Medical Center. After surgery, he was sent to the Fisher House to recover. His wife was able to be with him, and we will be forever grateful to y’all at the Fisher House.

To the F isher House Foundation: Thank you so much for allowing us to stay at the F isher House during our son’s two brain surgeries in the Fall of 1997 to Fall of 1998. [He] was hospitalized for 90 days at Walter Reed. [He] turns 50 years old in November. He’s an a mazing man — a wonderful person who never complains. He continues to make us so proud. We are so grateful to all involved with the F isher House and Walter Reed Medical Center. Dear Fisher House, While my partner was hospitalized at the VA hospital in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, I stayed at the Fisher House from September 15-20. There are no words to express my/our thanks for such a beautiful, warm, and welcoming home away from home.

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Nickoy j Pope am Progr s e l i M tor Hero nistra land Admi ary ville,

Rock

MEET The Staff

Fisher House Foundation is comprised of many passionate and talented people. Each issue, you’ll meet someone who helps contribute to our mission of supporting our military, veterans, and their families.

Nick Popejoy

Hero Miles Program Administrator I come from a typical military family. My dad served in the Army and my mom has been working in the Department of Defense for as long as I can remember. Our family is extremely patriotic, and the most important days of the year growing up were Christmas, the Super Bowl, and July 4th. We moved from place to place, all over the country. The Popejoys made sacrifices for Uncle Sam, but I will never forget the weeks where Uncle Sam made a sacrifice for our family in return. We finally settled down in Virginia Beach. It was hard at first, but I learned to love the city as my home. It had everything I could ever want, from spending summer days at the beach or going to the arcade at Pungo Pizza. The only thing missing from Virginia Beach was my dad. My father deployed to the Middle East after 9/11. We knew what he had to do for our country, and we were proud of what he was doing. That was the first adversity our family faced that I could remember, and we were not ready for the second. Hurricane Isabel did not seem like a big threat at first. My dad’s side of the family is from Florida and we had experienced hurricanes and tropical storms before. I didn’t realize yet that Virginia Beach was not as equipped to handle major storms. My mom discussed with other family members whether to evacuate ahead of the storm. It was a decision my dad would typically have made. My sister and I were at our neighbor’s house after school a few days before Isabel was set to arrive. Our neighbor, Mrs. Angela, told us that morning we were going to have a surprise for us after school. I honestly guessed it was watermelon. After school, my sister and I got to Mrs. Angela’s house and were told we had to wait. I thought

to myself, “I’ve already been waiting all day for this watermelon.” I was never happier to be wrong. My dad was waiting for us downstairs. We rushed down and gave him a big hug. I knew my family was going to be safe. Hurricane Isabel came and flooded Virginia Beach. Trees were everywhere and the winds looked unstoppable. Our house had a generator, but power was out everywhere in the neighborhood. Regular power didn’t return for almost two weeks which seemed like forever. I was happy though because school was out for longer and I got to spend that time with my dad, mom, and sister. As a family, we made it through Hurricane Isabel. I am proud to work for Fisher House Foundation. It’s a place that values service members, veterans, and their families above all else. With our families by our side, we can accomplish anything. As a military brat, I am glad I can play a small part in this organization to do whatever we can to help military families.

Nick Popejoy celebrates with friends in Virginia Beach, Virginia as a young man. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

COVER STORY: AFTER FINDING FISHER HOUSE AND ADAPTIVE SPORTS, A FORMER PILOT BECOMES VETERAN ADVOCATE Story by David Nye Photos by Craig Orsini

David Ortiz was never afraid of a challenge. He was an avid outdoorsman before he joined the Army and became a Kiowa helicopter pilot in the 82nd Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade. In Eastern Afghanistan, Kiowa pilots took a lot of risk to protect the guys on the ground, and, in February 2012, David suffered a hard landing that destroyed his aircraft, broke his legs, and inflicted extreme trauma on his spine, throat, and lungs. David’s memories are spotty from just before the crash until he arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, however he does remember another pilot, a fellow Texan, pulling him from the crash. “So, you know, it was intense. When you go from being a hardcharging, over-achieving aviator with the 82nd to not being able to sit up on your own, that’s a bad day. That’s a game changer. So, if it wasn’t for the community that rallied around me, I don’t think I would have made it.” That community largely centered on other patients in the hospital and Fisher House at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In an amazing coincidence, one of the other residents at the Fisher House was a soldier that David had guarded from the air on the day the other soldier was injured in an ambush. “I remember pulling security that day,” he said. “I know exactly what ambush it was, you know, in Khost, [Afghanistan] specifically. We were just chatting and realized we were on the exact same deployment, working out of [Forward Operating Base] Salerno, so it was an intense, small-world-type moment.” David’s rehabilitation needs were long, and some of his injuries will likely never heal. He’s very open that he had days where he felt despondent, but that soldier and others who were injured before David helped show the way to recovery. “To have a community that [we] can lean on and depend on and share that burden is huge,” he said. David’s rehabilitation took him from Texas to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. Craig Hospital specializes in rehabilitation from spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. The specialists there helped get David walking.

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Looking forward to partnership with VFW Photo on the top: David Ortiz and Denver City Council member Chris Hinds pose together before a January 8 session at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver where David was pushing for new legislation to help veterans better transition into the civilian workforce. Photos on the left: David Ortiz reads before a January 8 session at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. David Ortiz skis in Breckenridge, Colorado.

David Coker, Fisher House Foundation, President, and Michelle Baldanza, Fisher House Foundation, Vice President of Communications, met with Anthony Lowe, VFW Director of Operations, and Terrence Hayes, Director of Communications, in February to discuss the planned groundbreaking of the Fisher House in Kansas City in July.

“They were able to use orthotics to get me on my feet and they lock out at the knee and ankle.” But Craig Hospital didn’t stop there. That area of Colorado has a large number of adaptive sports specialists, and David says that staff and therapists started asking him, “’Did you know you can downhill ski, you can cross country ski, you can mountain bike, you can camp?’” “I was an active guy before I got hurt. I wanted to stay active. I knew Colorado was my future.” David soon changed his medical retirement plan to Colorado and left active duty. Now, he lives in Colorado and pays forward the assistance he received from Fisher House and other nonprofits. He serves at veteran service organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars and Adaptive Adventures. In his role at the VFW, he helps lobby for nonpartisan and bipartisan legislation designed to help veterans in Colorado. Some of his biggest accomplishments are getting veteran treatment courts in place to help PTSD sufferers as well as a bill that gives more college credit to veterans in Colorado public colleges for military training and experience. He’s currently promoting additional legislation to help veterans that he says can be summed up as bills that “facilitate and empower service members transitioning to civilian life.”

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FISHER HOUSE

SALUTES

Military service members, veterans, and their families are supported by countless organizations that acknowledge their sacrifices. We feature a top-tier organization each issue. Story by Michelle Baldanza

WE SALUTE:

Building the Next Generation of Military Business Leaders Make difficult decisions; adapt to changing dynamics; develop a plan and see it through. These are just some of the characteristics military members have because of their training and experience, but they’re also characteristics of their spouses who have dealt with the challenges of family life in the military. These very same characteristics are what make veterans and military spouses strong entrepreneurs and leaders outside of the military. The Rosie Network, a 2019 winner of a Newman’s Own Award, helps veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members launch and grow their businesses. The nonprofit’s goal is to “build the next generation of military business owners and community leaders around the country.” “Veteran and military spouse business owners are 10 times more likely to hire fellow veterans and spouses,” said Stephanie Brown, military spouse and founder of the Rosie Network. “By empowering these individuals with meaningful training and mentorship, we are impacting their families, their communities, and our nation’s economy.” The Rosie Network provides several tools for military entrepreneurs. The Service2CEO program is a 16-week course that provides mentorship and a combination of on-line and classroom guidance to empower new entrepreneurs. Rosie’s List is a nationwide search tool for verified veteran-owned businesses. The network also publishes Military Entrepreneur Magazine (M.E.Mag) and sponsors Rosie Chapters throughout the country that provide local support to their members. To learn more, visit www.therosienetwork.org/

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Our Other 2019

Award Recipients

The Rosie Network earned one Newman’s Own Award in 2019 for its work helping service members and spouses become entrepreneurs. But these four other nonprofits are also doing great work in the military and veteran communities and received Newman’s Own Awards as well, starting with Quality of Life Plus which took the top spot:

QUALITY OF LIFE PLUS (QL+) Quality of Life Plus Program, McLean, VA

The Quality of Life Plus Program provides America’s injured patriots with individualized, functional, and affordable assistive technologies to increase their mobility beyond what is provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS Drive for Hope, Springfield, VA

In collaboration with the Driver Rehabilitation Center of Excellence, the Drive for Hope program supports comprehensive driving rehabilitation services designed to help service members and veterans regain the independence that was lost as a result of injury or illness.

STACK UP

Stack Up Overwatch Program (StOP), Sylmar, CA The Stack Up Overwatch Program (StOP) is an innovative suicide prevention and crisis intervention initiative that uses online gaming to connect veterans with trained, certified StOP members via Stack Up’s Discord channel — a popular tool that allows online gamers to communicate in real time.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER

Military Family Wellness Center (MFWC), New York, NY

Military caregivers and spouses are more likely than civilians to experience mental health problems such as depression. The MFWC provides mental health assessment and treatment to those who do not qualify for, do not benefit from, or feel reluctant to use traditional providers.

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Hearts in Hearts in the Community

the Community

Proud Supporters Money Shot Golf Tournaments The Edens family knows the real meaning of patriotism, the pain of sacrifice, and the love of Fisher Houses. For the 6th year, their Money Shot Golf Tournament is paying it forward as a major contributor to the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation. The Edens were the first family helped by the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation Board, even before the house was built. Jason, their son, was an Army infantryman known for his skill with a rifle. But in 2012, he was severely wounded during an attack. He was evacuated through Germany to Bethesda, Maryland, where he passed away. The Fisher Houses in Germany and Maryland provided rest and comfort for the Edens along the way. Members of the Tennessee Board traveled to the funeral home to witness the unloading of the casket and to comfort the family. Later, dinner was delivered to the home. Jan, Jason’s stepmom, has served on the board of the TFHF and looked for a way to share the love she felt from Fisher Houses with new generations of guests. The Edens organized the Money Shot Golf Tournament to honor Jason’s memory and have donated over $100,000 of the proceeds to Fisher Houses.

Charleston Day School Read-A-Thon Third graders at the Charleston Day School in Charleston, South Carolina engaged in their annual Read-A-Thon for the 2019-2020 school year and collected $7,400 for charities and nonprofits. Some of the children read for more than 500 minutes during the event. The children were allowed to choose charities that matched their monthly “watchwords.” In November, with the watchword of “gratitude,” they chose their local Fisher House at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center to receive one of the eight $927 checks that their reading enabled. The December charity donation was Toys for Tots, the famous program started by Marine Corps Reservist Maj. Bill Hendricks.

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Corporate and Foundation Giving Fisher House Foundation is the beneficiary of many generous gifts. Here, we highlight companies that continue to support the Fisher House program.

United Airlines connects military families to Fisher Houses across the nation Story by David Nye

United Airlines has been supporting Fisher House Foundation for 16 years with what Tish Stropes, the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, calls "360 degrees of giving.” “United Airlines is a phenomenal partner that provides the Three Ts of giving: time, treasure, and talent,” she said. “They give us their time as their staff volunteer at events and local Fisher Houses, treasure as they donate money towards the construction of Fisher Houses, and talent as they help us get families where they need to be.”

The airline encourages its staff to volunteer at Fisher House events such as when the company’s staff comes to Warrior Games and other events to barbecue food for families. The barbecue team helps feed military and veteran families more directly by providing food for those barbecues and at other events. Finally, United Airlines is always quick to answer the phone and help amend flight itineraries when families are traveling through Fisher House programs.

The heart of United Airlines’ support is through generous donations to the Foundation’s core mission: the construction of Fisher Houses such as those in Houston, Texas, and Palo Alto, California. But United Airlines didn’t stop there. Since the 2004 inception of the Hero Miles program, the airline has supported with 15,000 tickets — more than 20 percent of the tickets issued under the program — to military and veteran families, saving those families more than an estimated $20 million. United Airlines allows its customers to donate their miles to Fisher House’s Hero Miles program to keep families together during medical care because “a family’s love is good medicine.”

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Kerri Childress served as our Vice President of Communications for five years. Sadly, she lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in October 2019. Kerri was an amazing lady who brought sincerity, honesty, and love to everything she did... and every story she told. Her contributions, and her life, are an important part of the Fisher House story. We loved her and miss her presence in the Fisher House family. —Ken Fisher This story originally ran in September 2016. It was a favorite of Kerri's. A final story by her, “Former Army Medic Donates $10,000 Award to Fisher House Foundation,” can be found on page 7.

Healing

The Gross and Reiff Families

Beyond

the

Hospital Story by Kerri Childress Photos by Craig Orsini

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Kerri Childress Late Vice President of Communications

Photo at left: Daniel Reiff fondly remembers his friendship with Frank Gross (Gross family photo at lower right). Above left to right: Frankies’ Patriot BBQ and Daniel and his mother at the Fisher House. Daniel signing Frank Gross’ yearbook. Second row: Toni Gross and Daniel enjoy reminiscing about Daniel’s high school days with Frankie. Toni Gross helping out as a volunteer at the Tampa VA Fisher House. Lannay Reiff, Daniels’ mom, joins hands in prayer with Toni Gross and Daniel. Below: Portrait of Frankie Gross that hangs in his father’s restaurant.

It is dinner time and Craig Gross is serving his fabulous BBQ to the families at the Tampa VA Fisher House. Lannay Reiff is there with her son, Air Force Veteran Daniel Reiff, who was very seriously injured in a motorcycle accident five months before, losing a leg, suffering multiple bone fractures and incurring a serious traumatic brain injury. It was his first trip off the hospital floor. Daniel overhears that the BBQ he’s eating came from a place called Frankie’s and that it was named after the owner’s son who was killed in Afghanistan. With much agitation, Daniel insists his mom go into the kitchen and ask about Frankie’s last name. His mother returns and says, “His last name was Gross.”

Toni and Craig, Frankie’s parents, were asked to come to Dover Air Force Base to be part of what the military calls “the dignified transfer of remains.” Toni remembers it like a “beautiful ballet that touched her heart.” Her daughter was there. Her sister and brother-in-law also came. All of them stayed at the new Fisher House at Dover.

It was the first time since his injury that Daniel’s mom realized that her son’s longterm memory was still there. Both boys had been athletes and good students; both had joined the military. Now, here they were, reunited in spirit at dinner in a Fisher House.

It was the first time since his injury that Daniel’s mom realized that her son’s long-term memory was still there.

A few weeks later, Toni brought Frankie’s year book to the Fisher House where she and Daniel reminisced about experiences the two boys had shared and people they both knew. She gave Daniel a dog tag with a picture of Frank on it.

Some years later, to overcome the grief For Daniel, this was inspiration to continue of losing his son, Craig quit his job and getting better. He had to. For Frankie. opened the BBQ restaurant called “Frankie’s Patriot BBQ,” filled with military and Veteran keepsakes, the most important of which were photos of Frankie in uniform. Additionally, Frankie’s BBQ provided Frank Gross was in Afghanistan at a dinners at the Tampa Fisher House where forward operating base when an improvised Toni had been volunteering for four years, explosive device (IED) exploded under his as a way to give back. vehicle. He died July 16, 2011. He was 25.

Back to the dinner. It turned out Daniel and Frankie had been good friends at a small, Christian high school in Tampa. They even spent the night at each other’s homes. As this resonated with all concerned, it brought fresh tears.

Toni Gross, who volunteers at the Tampa VA Fisher House, and Lannay Reiff, mother of Daniel Reiff, have become great friends since they met at the Fisher House.

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HOUSEROUNDUP The Patriot always loves to check in and see what our Fisher Houses have been up to. Here, we outline a few highlights from houses around the world, submitted by our managers. ALASKA

CALIFORNIA

JBER HOSPITAL

CAMP PENDLETON

Elmendorf AFB

Camp Pendleton

From a life being in the balance to a remarkable and miraculous recovery, the benefits of the FH came full circle for Cody, a member of the Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club in Anchorage. The Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club, a rider mentorship club, is a faithful supporter of the mission of the Alaska Fisher House. They annually host a Chili Burn and Fundraiser and throughout the year consistently answer the call to support the Alaska Fisher House through in-kind donations. This year’s Chili Burn event looked a little different, as it was also in honor of Cody. There was a special presentation of a ‘Hands of Love’ Rocking Horse from Heroes Rock along with an appearance from Senator Lisa Murkowski. Cody, experienced a life-altering motorcycle accident while returning to work, and the Fisher House was able to come alongside his family. Not only in Alaska but the local Fisher House near Cody’s hometown supported him and his family when he was transferred closer to his family’s home. He and his family continually praise the resources provided by the Fisher House, as they would not have been able to be bedside during his recovery to provide ‘Hands of Love’ every step of the way.

Over the years, Beazer Homes has provided support to the Fisher House Program. Volunteers from Beazer Homes — Southern California, spent a rainy winter morning providing the Fisher House Camp Pendleton with some “TLC”. The volunteers spruced up the interior of the house by cleaning baseboards, dusting cabinets and crown molding, providing touch up paint in the guest rooms and re-caulking showers. We appreciate the Beazer Team taking time out of their busy schedule to support the Fisher House Camp Pendleton.

Travis AFB Comfort and Joy Ministry donates these beautifully hand made Veteran pillows to bring joy and comfort to our families. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

F LO R I DA

ALCOM RANDALL M VA MEDICAL CENTER Gainesville For years the Quilters of Alachua County Day Guild, Patriotic Bee, Gainesville, Florida has provided quilts for our guests. We have given them to our families at Christmas, Veterans Day, or other special holidays or events. The quilts are so special and specifically crafted to share their appreciation for the veteran and the secret sacrifice of the family members who support them. Recently, we decided to provide them to our families who lose their veteran while they are staying with us. It is such an act of love from the quilters and a reminder that the veteran is not forgotten.

AVID GRANT D USAF MEDICAL CENTER

They have donated hundreds of pillows and continue to be one of our main supporters. We always look forward to seeing their warm, heart-filled smiles along with what designs they have created next!

When our Fisher House received our patriotic pony, we were fortunate to have the Gold Star mother join us. We provided a quilt to her and when we were talking about her son, she mentioned that she worried he would be forgotten. He was a very young man and didn’t have a family of his own yet and she felt that she would be the only one to carry on his story. We hoped that this small token would reassure her that he would not be forgotten.

A recent donation was a “Morse Code” quilt. It was such a unique gift and the quilter included a cheat sheet so we would know the codes for each letter. We will find the right home for this one and all the quilts donated to our families.

MIAMI VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

The Fishers were greeted by the Miami VA Executive Leadership team, who also took time to join the Fishers in meeting and greeting each guest. Ms. Kalautie JangDhari, Director, Miami VA Healthcare System, also presented Ken and Tammy Fisher with a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing them as national leaders in supporting veteran’s and their families in times of need and their hard work; ensuring that these families have a safe, comfortable place to rest while supporting their hospitalized veteran. The Miami Fisher House is truly appreciative of the act of kindness, caring, and serving the Fisher family extended to our guests and staff during their visit.

Miami The Miami Fisher House was very fortunate to have had Ken and Tammy Fisher visit the house on December 19, 2019, for an evening of volunteering and service. The Fishers, along with additional family members, provided a catered meal and home cooked dishes. They visited the house for well over two hours and personally catered to our house guests by serving them meals and refreshments. The Fisher family was very hospitable and made it a point to speak with each guest and truly interact with them on a personal level. Guests commented on “how amazed they were that the Fishers shared similar life experiences as them” and how “downto-earth” the Fisher Family is. They were truly amazed that the Fishers took time out of their holiday schedule to spend time with them. Guests shared their sincere gratitude with the Fishers for having a “home away from home” during their loved one’s hospitalization.

ILLINOIS

EDWARD HINES VA HOSPITAL Hines Hines Fisher House celebrated 10 years on March 1, 2020. The house has provided accommodations to over 10,000 veteran families since opening our doors. Although most of our families come from the Midwest, we have had people from destinations as far as Hawaii, Alaska, and the Philippines. The house has been undergoing renovations and recently replaced all the carpet in the bedrooms, replaced bedroom furniture, and upgraded the HVAC system. There will be more updates throughout the year to make sure Hines Fisher House remains a beautiful, safe home for our veterans and their families. Hines Fisher House is grateful to have the support of Friends of Fisher House — Illinois and the State of Illinois American Legion Auxiliary who funded many of these projects. Looking forward to another great year!

GEORGIA

CHARLIE NORWOOD VA MEDICAL CENTER Augusta Ms. Nicole Clapp, National President of American Legion Auxiliary visited and toured the Augusta Fisher House on December 11, 2019. She was accompanied by local and state American Legion Auxiliary members, American Legion members, and American Legion Riders.

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HOUSEROUNDUP KENTUCKY

MISSOURI

BLANCHFIELD ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

VA ST. LOUIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Fort Campbell

St. Louis

Hails & Farewells are part of the military life as families rotate through. Because of this, we have been blessed to have many wonderful volunteers on our team over the years. However, we have also been blessed with a few steadfast volunteers. These ladies have been part of our angel team for about a decade and we are so very fortunate they have chosen to stick with us all these years. Mrs. Rebecca Ponder, has been one of our amazing bakers since 2009 and was selected as our 2019 Volunteer of the Year. Army Maj. (Ret.) Armi Rhodes has been part of our lunch crew since 2011. Mrs. Lisa Gray has also been part of our lunch crew since 2010, and it is with great pride that we announce she has been selected as our 2020 Volunteer of the Year! Of course, we believe all of our volunteers are the best, but we wanted to give a special shout out to these wonderful ladies and thank them for being a steadfast part of our family.

We used to dance every weekend after we met in 1987. Over the years we continued to do this whenever a band played. As David's lung disease increased and limited his ability to dance, we stopped going.

MARYLAND

WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER Bethesda A big thank you to the great people at America's VetDogs for bringing their ambassador, Cleo, for a meet & greet with families!

M I N N E S O TA

MINNEAPOLIS VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Minneapolis In August 2019, Daniel R. Olsen American Legion Post 594 (Eagan, MN) began providing the monthly breakfast meal at Fisher House. Post members Dan & Cheryl Seanoa, Tom Mullon, and Wayne Olsen came forward to ask for this support at the July 2019 post meeting. They are the true heroes, as they’ve been providing a monthly breakfast for the better part of four years, often at their own expense. Their request passed unanimously. The leadership team at Hy-Vee Eagan, a local supermarket, agreed to provide ongoing financial support to the post for the purchase of food for this endeavor. Cheryl, Dan, Tom, and Wayne continue as our core team. Additional post members, including Post Commander John Flynn and Unit Auxiliary President Susan Flynn, have participated.

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David has been on oxygen for 17 years. His condition began to decline in the last few years, but it did not stop him from doing most of the things he loved. He played golf through all of this, but about five years ago he had stopped riding his Harley. This was something we both enjoyed. You see, David recently had a double lung transplant in September 2019. We both were concerned about his surgery and this was made worse by the unknown results of surgery. Fortunately, we were referred to the Fisher House at Jefferson Barracks. This I like to think of as a "Happy Accident." Fisher House welcomed us both with open arms. The staff has been outstanding in every way. Always ready to help and give us information. Guests at the Fisher House are just as welcoming as the staff. We have made friends here that will always be part of our lives. We try every day to pass that on to the new arrivals. They may very well be in the same state of mind we were upon arrival. David was my main caregiver during my heart transplant in 2017. While my recovery was shorter in terms of hospital stay, he was there every day with his oxygen in hand, giving me instructions. We now have changed places. I get to tell him what is good for him. Humor has gotten us through a lot of trying times. I am constantly reminded and very humbled by the kindness of strangers, the donors, and their families who are so generous in such a difficult time for them. The staff here at the Fisher House and the volunteers who bring in meals always

have a smile. The strangers on the street also smile and say hello. We are excited about our future. Every day is a gift to be savored, enjoyed and most of all shared. The last thing I have learned from all of this is simple. We can dance.

of time, she was hesitant on whether she could accompany him. “It’s such a benefit to be so close to my husband,” said Parker. “There’s a lot of stress when you have family in the hospital. At least here we can unwind a little from that. It also saves the expense of lodging and gives us a sense of security knowing we are in a safe place.”

a brand-new laptop computer for our business center. The fun, excitement and, most importantly, awareness raised by the event was appreciated by all!

VIRGINIA

NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth

N E W YO R K

ALBANY STRATTON VA MEDICAL CENTER NEW MEXICO

RAYMOND J. MURPHY VA MEDICAL CENTER Albuquerque After several years of anticipation, a year of construction, and countless hours of preparation, the Fisher House at the New Mexico VA Health Care System officially welcomed its first guests on December 3, 2019. Paula Parker and Linda Eastman from Carlsbad, New Mexico made the fivehour drive to be close to Paula’s husband, “Cowboy.” With a safe, comfortable place to stay at no cost and within walking distance, the two can focus on caring for their veteran while he recovers at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center. “The Fisher House really is a home away from home. There is a family atmosphere here that makes it so special,” said Eastman, Cowboy’s sister. “I have also enjoyed making new friends with the other guests who share the house.” When Parker learned last month that her husband was going to be admitted to the New Mexico VA for an extended amount

Albany Each year, the Albany Fisher House hosts Cancer Survivor Day. This celebration of life provides opportunities to reunite past guests with each other and their health care providers. At this year’s event, Walmart provided a barbecue, as well as other food and beverages; Deloitte was there cleaning the gardens and planting new flowers; and employees from PiSA BioPharm assisted in many areas, along with local Boy Scouts and musicians.

The Fisher House Portsmouth would like to thank the Salty Dawg's for their ever-beating heart for the Fisher House Portsmouth. They simply never stop spreading and sharing information about the program. As a result of them doing so with the Grand Design RV Team, a Rally and Poker Run was held in Millsboro, Delaware in support of the Fisher House Portsmouth. Representatives from the Salty Dawgs went to the event and supported four fundraising activities; a 50/50 raffle, a poker run, a funnel cake sale, and collection of a percentage of rally registrations. This resulted in a $20-thousand donation which was presented in December 2019 to the Fisher House Portsmouth. There aren't enough words to thank the Salty Dawgs and the amazing Grand Design Team for their graciousness. We are forever grateful for the kindness displayed and the new relationship formed as a result of the Salty Dawgs.

NORTH CAROLINA

NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER CAMP LEJEUNE Camp Lejeune The Eastern Carolina University Dental School Class of 2022 hosted a supply drive and inaugural Veteran's Day 5k raising $2000 for our Fisher House and providing $732.36 in food, toiletries, paper products and cleaning supplies. The 5k had over 83 runners and is expected to be even bigger next year! Additionally, as a result of the awareness brought by the event, an ECU staff member purchased THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

TEAM FISHER HOUSE In 2019, Team Fisher House celebrated its 13th year raising funds and awareness for Fisher House Foundation through signature races such as the Army Ten-Miler, Marine Corps Marathon, and the TCS New York City Marathon.

221 RUNNERS RAISED $355,000! 185 volunteers supported our runners and the thousands of others who took part in the races! To learn more please contact athleticevents@fisherhouse.org.

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

FACEBOOK FUNDRAISING

$ $ $

In 2019, fundraising events organized by individuals and corporations brought in thousands of donations totaling more than $1 million for Fisher House Foundation. Nearly 700 of these proud supporters raised more than $182,000 for service members, veterans, and their families through the Fisher House Foundation Facebook page. Fisher House is grateful for all of the social media fundraisers who organized fundraising efforts around birthdays, anniversaries, and more.

Facebook fundraisers can be a great way to share your birthday, anniversary, or other life event with Fisher House Foundation and to share Fisher House Foundation with all your friends and family. Just go to www.facebook.com/fund/FisherHouse/ and select Fisher House Foundation to get started. Some of your local Fisher Houses are available to fundraise for, as well!

Fisher House Foundation staff members Michelle Baldanza, Vice President of Communications; Brian Gawne, Vice President of Community Relations; Mary Considine, Chief of Staff; and David Coker, President, pose before jumping in the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for Fisher House on New Years Day 2020 during the annual Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge in New Jersey.

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

COMMUNITY GROUPS

IN ACTION

At Fisher House Foundation, we have the support of community groups throughout the country who support their local Fisher Houses or raise funds and awareness for a future Fisher House in their area. Here are some highlights.

Fisher/Nightingale Houses Inc., Dayton, Ohio

Dayton, OH

Nearly everyone has heard of “No Shave November” to benefit organizations. In 2017, the Greene County Sheriff ’s Office extended that in to “No Shave December” with the proceeds to benefit the three Dayton-area Fisher Houses. All male deputies can decide not to shave for the month of December and all female deputies can decide to wear finger nail polish. Office staff can wear jeans for the entire month. All participants pay $31 each — or $1 a day. In 2017, they donated $2,811, in 2018 they donated $2,477, and in 2019 they donated $2,563.

Andrews AFB, MD

Joint Base Andrews Fisher House, Inc., Andrews AFB, Maryland In 2019, the Fisher House at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland celebrated 25 years of serving military and veterans' families. On September 28, 2019 the JB Andrews Fisher House, Inc. and the house manager, Veronica Harris, teamed up to host a barbecue and family festival to commemorate the anniversary. There was great food, music, and games for all. The facility has provided a "home away from home" to more than 6,500 families since it opened in 1994.

Friends of St. Louis Fisher House, St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO 30

On December 7, 2019, the Missouri State Society-Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR) presented a $150,000 donation to be equally divided for the building of Fisher Houses in Kansas City, Columbia, and the future second house in St. Louis. The presentation was made during the MSSDAR's annual holiday lighting ceremony of Roslyn Heights located in Boonville, Missouri. During a year-long campaign, the ladies of MSSDAR had a chicken dinner, tea, wine tasting, car show, bake sales, and a host of other events that culminated with a bike-hike across the state on the Katy Trail. These fund-raising activities and hard work of over 100 MSSDAR chapters throughout the state made this donation possible.

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

OPENINGS & GROUNDBREAKINGS: • TOGUS FISHER HOUSE • RICHMOND FISHER HOUSE II • ANN ARBOR FISHER HOUSE • DENVER FISHER HOUSE • NEW ORLEANS FISHER HOUSE

To gus, M E

OPENING Togus Fisher House The VA Maine Healthcare System has opened its first Fisher House. The 16-suite home is the first Fisher House in Maine and will support the veterans throughout the Northeast. Richmond Fisher House II The Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia will open its second Fisher House this Spring. The 20-suite home can support more than 700 families each year. The medical center there is one of five level-1 polytrauma centers in the U.S. and it supports more than 200,000 veterans.

Ri ch m on d, VA

Ann Arbor Fisher House A new Fisher House has opened at the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The house will allow up to 16 families to stay at the center during the stressful time when their loved ones are undergoing hospitalization.

COMPLETED Denver Fisher House Later this summer, a 16-suite Fisher House will be dedicated at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System at Aurora, Colorado. We are grateful to all the supporters, community, donors, and volunteers who will make this home a reality for so many military and veterans’ families.

e r, De n v

GROUNDBREAKING New Orleans Fisher House The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System broke ground for a 16-suite Fisher House in New Orleans on Nov. 5, 2019. This Fisher House will serve veterans, their family members, and caregivers throughout south Louisiana and the surrounding states.

MESSAGE ABOUT COVID-19

All Fisher House dedication ceremonies have been deferred due to COVID-19.

Ann Arbor, MI

N ew Or le an s, L A

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

FISHER HOUSE DIRECTORY

DOWN

RANGE Fisher House Foundation is building on its commitment to help military and veterans' families

or under construction:

New Orleans, LA Kansas City VA Medical Center Kansas City, MO

Huntington, WV Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Fisher House for Families of the Fallen 220 Lajes St. Dover AFB, DE 19902 (302) 677-5317 Manager: MSgt. Stasia Smith stasia.smith.3@us.af.mil

Washington DC VA Medical Center 50 Irving St. NW Washington, DC 20422 (202) 745-2482 Manager: Stacey Childs stacey.childs@va.gov

CALIFORNIA

FLORIDA

David Grant USAF Medical Center I, II 100 Bodin Circle Travis AFB, CA 94535-1804 (707) 423-7550 fax: (707) 423-7552 Manager: Ivana Jordovic travisfisherhouse@comcast.net

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System 10000 Bay Pines Blvd. Bay Pines, FL 33744 (727) 398-6661 x11350 fax: (727) 319-1106 Manager: Shentrela Diggins shentrela.diggins@va.gov

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Blvd. (10AF) Bldg. 523 Los Angeles, CA 90073 (310) 268-4457 fax: (310) 268-3499 Manager: Erma Mickens erma.mickens@va.gov

Eglin Air Force Base Hospital 350 Boatner Road Eglin AFB, FL 32542 (850) 883-2865 Manager: Marc Ambrose marc.ambrose@us.af.mil

VA Palo Alto Health Care System I, II 3801 Miranda Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 (650) 493-5000 x. 60384 fax: (650) 849-1269 Manager: Tracy Marino tracy.marino@va.gov Naval Medical Center San Diego I, II 34800 Bob Wilson Drive Bldg. 46 San Diego, CA 92134-5000 (619) 532-9055 fax: (619) 532-5216 Asst. Manager: Lori Erickson lorene.l.erickson.naf@mail.mil Naval Hospital Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Bldg. 2014 San Jacinto Road Camp Pendleton, CA 92055 (760) 763-5308 Manager: Vicky Powell-Johnson victoria.powell-john@usmc.mil VA Long Beach Healthcare System 5901 East 7th St. (FH) Long Beach, CA 90822 (562) 826-5905 Acting Manager: Eddie Gibbs eddie.gibbs@va.gov

COLORADO VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1954 Quentin St. Aurora, CO 80010 (720) 723-4616 fax: (303) 364-4882 Manager: Wanda Carter wanda.carter5@va.gov

CONNECTICUT VA Connecticut Healthcare System 950 Campbell Ave. Mail Code 135 West Haven, CT 06516 (203) 937-3438 Manager: Amanda Salthouse amanda.salthouse@va.gov

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System 3601 S. 6th Ave. (9-135) Tucson, AZ 85723 (520) 838-3680 Manager: Kelly Laurich arizona.fisherhouse@va.gov

Omaha, NE Huntington VA Medical Center

DELAWARE

ARIZONA

The following projects are currently in design

Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System

ALASKA JBER Hospital I, II 4943 Zeamer Ave. 673 MDSS/SGS/FH JBER, AK 99506 (907) 222-1673 Manager: Jenny Hall jennifer.hall.24@us.af.mil

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital I, II 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 910-3000 fax: (813) 910-3088 Manager: Sean Kelly sean.kelly2@va.gov Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th St. Miami, FL 33125 (305) 575-7260 fax: (305) 575-7261 Manager: Richie Sanchez lerrichiad.sanchez@va.gov North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System 1601 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 548-6492 Manager: Michelle Howard kimberly.howard@va.gov Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 (407) 631-9800 Manager: Terri Turner teresa.turner2@va.gov West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 N. Military Trail-Route 136 W. Palm Beach, FL 33410 (561) 422-5554 fax: (561) 442-8793 Manager: Shelley Prickett shelley.prickett2@va.gov

GEORGIA Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30904 (706) 729-5773 Manager: Courtney Deese courtney.deese@va.gov Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center Fisher House Road - Bldg. 280 Fort Gordon, GA 30905-5650 (706) 787-7100 fax: (706) 787-5106 Manager: Francisco Cruz fheamc@aol.com

* Please direct all correspondence to Fisher House, along with the address. For any questions, please contact the Fisher House manager directly at the desired location.

HAWAII

MISSISSIPPI

Tripler Army Medical Center I, II 315 Krukowski Road Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 433-1291 x. 28 fax: (808) 433-3619 Manager: Misty Hironaka misty.n.hironaka.naf@mail.mil

Keesler Medical Center I, II 509 Fisher St. Keesler AFB, MS 39534-2599 (228) 377-8264 fax: (228) 377-7691 Manager: Larry Vetter larry.vetter.1@us.af.mil

ILLINOIS

MISSOURI

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital 5000 S 5th Ave. Hines, IL 60141 (708) 202-7154 fax: (708) 202-7155 Manager: Holly Wright holly.wright@va.gov

VA St. Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Road St. Louis, MO 63125 (314) 894-6145 fax: (314) 894-6147 Manager: Vanniecia Brown vanniecia.brown@va.gov

KENTUCKY

NEVADA

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital 652 Joel Drive Fort Campbell, KY 42223 (270) 798-8330 fax: (270) 798-8804 Manager: Wendy J. Carlston wendy.j.carlston.naf@mail.mil

VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System 6900 N. Pecos Road North Las Vegas, NV 89086 (702) 224-6789 Manager: Cadie Franco cadie.franco@va.gov

MAINE

NEW MEXICO

VA Maine Healthcare System 1 VA Center (Fisher House) Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 623-8411 Manager: Patrick Crowley patrick.crowley@va.gov

Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Dr. SE Albuquerque, NM 87108 (505) 265-1711 x3180 Manager: Christina Ramirez christina.ramirez2@va.gov

MARYLAND Malcolm Grow Clinics & Surgery Center 1076 West Perimeter Road Andrews AFB, MD 20762 (301) 981-1243 fax: (301) 981-7629 Manager: Veronica Harris jbafhmanager@gmail.com

NEW YORK Albany Stratton VA Medical Center 113 Holland Ave. Albany, NY 12208 (518) 626-6919 fax: (518) 626-5452 Manager: Michael Fitzpatrick michael.fitzpatrick3@va.gov

Wright-Patterson Medical Center I, II 417 Schlatter Drive Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 (937) 257-0855 fax: (937) 656-2150 Manager: Karen Healea karen.s.healea.naf@mail.mil

William Beaumont Army Medical Center Bldg 7360 Rodriguez St. El Paso, TX 79930 (915) 742-1860 fax: (915) 569-1862 Manager: Alice Coleman alice.m.coleman2.naf@mail.mil

UTAH

OREGON VA Portland Health Care System 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98661 (360) 567-4647 Manager: Kelly Konikow kelly.konikow@va.gov

PENNSYLVANIA VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive C, Bldg 33 Pittsburgh, PA 15240 (412) 360-2030 fax: (937) 656-2150 Manager: Heather Frantz heather.frantz@va.gov

SOUTH CAROLINA Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center 150 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 805-8200 Manager: Vicki Johnson vicki.johnson@va.gov

TENNESSEE Tennessee Valley Healthcare System 3400 Lebanon Pike Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) 225-5758 Manager: Becky Wood rebecca.wood4@va.gov

TEXAS

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System 690 S. Valdez Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 (801) 588-5900 Manager: Quinn Kiger-Good quinn.kiger@va.gov

VIRGINIA Fort Belvoir Community Hospital 9201 Woodbury Road Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 (703) 805-5203 Manager: Roxannamaria Calderon belvoirfisherhouse@gmail.com Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center 1201 Broad Rock Blvd. Richmond, VA 23249 (804) 675-6639 fax: (804) 675-5979 Manager: Wayne Walker wayne.walker@va.gov Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth 853 Fisher Drive Bldg. 287 Portsmouth, VA 23708 (757) 953-6889 fax: (757) 953-7174 Manager: Jill Thompson jill.thompson@portsmouthfisherhouse.org

WASHINGTON

Brooke Army Medical Center I,II,III,IV San Antonio Military Medical Center 3623 George C. Beach Drive Walter Reed National Military Medical James J. Peters VA Medical Center I, II Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 130 West Kingsbridge Road Center I, II, III, IV, V (210) 916-6000 fax: (210) 916-6488 Bronx, NY 10468 24 Stokes Road Manager: Inge Godfrey (718) 584-9000 x. 2037 or x. 2039 Bethesda, MD 20814-5002 fhbamc@aol.com Manager: Ellen Trbovich (301) 295-5334 fax: (301) 295-5632 Ellen.trbovich@va.gov Manager: Michael Ybarra Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center mybarra@fisherhousebethesda.org Bldg. 36015 Fisher Lane NORTH CAROLINA Fort Hood, TX 78254 Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune Walter Reed – Forest Glen Annex (254) 220-6985 fax: (254) 286-7929 4 Recovery Way 2460 Linden Lane Manager: Steve Wakefield Camp Lejeune, NC 28547 Bldg. 173 steven.h.wakefield.naf@mail.mil (910) 450-3885 fax: (910) 450-3887 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Manager: Josie Cotton (301) 319-5442 Michael E. DeBakey VA josephine.cotton@usmc.mil fax: (301) 328-5618 Medical Center I, II, III Manager: Maurice Borde 2002 Holcombe Blvd. wrafh.fg1@gmail.com Womack Army Medical Center Houston, TX 77030 3120 Loop Road, PO Box 70006 (713) 794-7766 fax: (713) 794-7194 Fort Bragg, NC 28307-5000 MASSACHUSETTS Manager: Frank Kelley (910) 849-3466 frank.kelley@va.gov VA Boston Healthcare System Manager: Vivian Wilson 1400 VFW Parkway vivian.l.wilson.naf@mail.mil West Roxbury, MA 02132 VA North Texas Health Care System (857) 203-4000 4500 S. Lancaster Road. Bldg. 79 OHIO Manager: Elizabeth St. Pierre Dallas, TX 75216 elizabeth.stpierre@va.gov (214) 857-4400 fax: (214) 462-4923 Cincinnati VA Medical Center Manager: Lydia Henderson 3200 Vine St. lydia.henderson1@va.gov Cincinnati, OH 45220 MICHIGAN (513) 475-6571 fax: (513) 487-6661 VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Manager: Karrie Hagan South Texas Veterans 2215 Fuller Rd. karrie.hagan@va.gov Health Care System Ann Arbor, MI 48105 7485 Wurzbach Road (734) 845-3055 San Antonio, Texas 78229 Dayton VA Medical Center Manager: April LaRock (210) 617-5542 fax: (210) 593-0902 Fisher House, Bldg. 425 april.larock@va.gov Manager: Erik Zielinski Dayton, OH 45428 erik.zielinski@va.gov (937) 268-6511 x. 2887 MINNESOTA Manager: Betsey Striebel betsey.striebel@va.gov Minneapolis VA Health Care Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical System I, II Center I, II, III 1 Veterans Drive San Antonio Military Medical Center Louis Stokes Cleveland Minneapolis, MN 55417 1445 Foster Ave. Bldg 3865 VA Medical Center I, II (612) 467-5602 fax: (612) 970-5864 Lackland AFB, TX 78236 10521 Lee Ave. Manager: Jessica Peterson (210) 671-6037 fax: (210) 671-6020 Cleveland, Ohio 44106 jessica.peterson@va.gov Manager: Irma Robinson (216) 707-4800 x. 67705 HM-Fisherhouse@sbcglobal.net Manager: Tyler Estell tyler.estell@va.gov

Madigan Army Medical Center I, II 90700 Gardner Loop Tacoma, WA 98431 (253) 964-9283 fax: (253) 968-3619 Manager: Pamela Barrington manager@fisherhouse-jblm.org VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 (206) 768-5353 fax: (206) 277-1415 Manager: Carrie Booker carrie.booker@va.gov

WISCONSIN Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center 5000 W. National Ave. Bldg. 150 Milwaukee, WI 53295 (414) 384-2000 x. 45005 or 45006 Manager: Jennifer Kiefer jennifer.kiefer@va.gov

GERMANY Landstuhl Regional Medical Center I, II CMR 402 APO, AE 09180 0011 49-6371-9464-7430 fax: 011-49-6371-866679 Manager: Sarafina Buchanan sarafina.n.buchanan.naf@mail.mil

UNITED KINGDOM Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Mindelsohn Way Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham B15 2TH 0121-472-6217 fax: 0121-4130-6897 Manager: Patrick Hogan fisherhouse@uhb.nhs.uk

THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 • 2020

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 12300 Twinbrook Parkway Suite 410 Rockville, MD 20852

Because we

our heroes.

For nearly 30 years, the Fisher House program has provided “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. These homes provide free temporary lodging to military and veterans’ families so they can be close to their loved one during a medical crisis.

www.fisherhouse.org (888) 294-8560 CFC Code: 11453

FISHER HOUSES Operated around the world

Up to

400,000

Military and veteran families served

9.5 MILLION

Days of free lodging

$500 MILLION in savings to families

On any given night, more than

1100

families served

The Patriot Magazine Volume 11 Issue 1

Articles inside

FACEBOOK FUNDRAISING

Meet the Staff: Nick Popejoy

Letters to Fisher House Foundation

From Surviving a Roadside Bomb to Conquering the Summits of Seven Continents

Former Army Medic Donates $10,000 Award to Fisher House Foundation

Letter from Ken Fisher

About Fisher House Foundation, Inc.

Fisher House Salutes: The Rosie Network

Our Other 2019 Newman's Own Award Recipients

Meet the Manager: Inge Godfrey

Soldier, his family, and his dog find healing after Fisher House stay

House Roundup

Community Groups in Action

Healing Beyond the Hospital

Hearts in the Community

Madison's Lemonade Stand

Jennifer Koget, National Program Manager for the VA Fisher House and Family Hospitality Program

Guest Family Profile: The Cutchins Family

It All Started with One

A miracle baby celebrates his first birthday

AFTER FINDING FISHER HOUSE AND ADAPTIVE SPORTS, A FORMER PILOT BECOMES VETERAN ADVOCATE