OPENING IN A PANDEMIC:
VA ANN ARBOR FISHER HOUSE GREETS FIRST GUESTS Story by David Nye
Despite limitations on travel and hospital visitation enacted due to pandemic safety concerns, the Fisher House at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System opened on June 1 and quickly began hosting guests, greeting 114 in its first month of operation. The formal dedication ceremony for the house was delayed, but April LaRock, Fisher House manager, said it was nice to be able to focus on opening the house and starting operations.
“It’s been really great to get the response we’ve received from our medical providers in the hospital who are starting to refer guests, and it is keeping us busy,” she said. For the first month, the staff did the heavy lifting because volunteers have been restricted due to COVID-19 precautions. But April was quick to point out that the volunteers and partners made an impact anyway.
“We’ve already recruited regular, standing “We serve a lot of veterans that come from all volunteers that we’re going to be working over the state of Michigan as well as outside with on a weekly basis,” she said. “While their of Michigan. So even in this first month alone, activities were limited, the volunteers have we’ve served families from Michigan, Ohio, been making grocery runs to allow guests to Indiana, and Colorado whose veterans come focus on their family members.” to Ann Arbor for the specialty care we provide,” April said. “Our Friends of Fisher House community group, Fisher House Michigan, has been “All of our housekeeping staff started working absolutely phenomenal, super supportive, and at the Fisher House the week before we opened just done an amazing job at getting us what we and they did a great job helping our team get need,” she said. the house ready for our first guests,” she said. April and her staff are still working to get more While opening was a challenge, the staff at guests into the house, but their success so the Ann Arbor Fisher House quickly made an far has led to some families scheduling their impact on its guests. medical care up to four months out, looking forward to staying again at the Fisher House. Fisher Houses are built to last for decades, so “Just speaking to some of the spouses that I’ve expect more great news out of Ann Arbor in reached out to, or they’ve reached out to me, the coming years. asking about lodging availability in the Fisher House, you can hear the relief in their voice,” April explained. “You know, it’s one less thing Fisher Houses have also opened in Omaha, that they have to worry about, and they can Nebraska; Richmond, Virginia; and New Orleans, be right there, on the campus of the medical Louisiana. A replacement house opened in center, close to their loved ones.” Denver, Colorado. Those positive reviews from families are making it to medical providers, and they are helping other potential guests know that Fisher House is an option.
30
THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 2 • 2020
