2021 VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2
PATRIOT THE
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION, INC. TM
Family finds comfort in Fisher House through decades
COVER STORY (Featured on page 16)
Volunteer of the Year is active duty hero (Story featured on page 20)
Streamers raise over $10k for Fisher House (Story featured on page 6)
VSOs team up to help suicide survivors (Story featured on page 14)
fisherhouse.org
Contents Social Media Support
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About Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
Guest FamilyProfile: Healed Warrior Uses His Story to Inspire Others 4 Video Game Streaming Fundraiser for Fisher House
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Meet the Staff
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Day in the Life 2021 Photo Contest
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Remembering The Day The World Changed 10 A Letter to Fisher House Foundation
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Meet the Manager
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Fisher House Salutes
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Cover Story: Family Finds Comfort in Fisher House Through Decades
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Community Groups in Action
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Hearts in the Community
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Fisher House Volunteer of the Year
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Journal Entries & Letters
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Couple Finds Strength from Fellow Veteran Families
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Construction Updates
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Scholarships for Military Children
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House Round Up
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IRA Donations
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Ways to Give This Holiday Season
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Location Guide
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Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of comfort homes where military and veteran 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 veteran families an estimated $525 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 $525 MILLION
FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN AND CEO Kenneth Fisher
Savings for families in lodging and transportation costs
10 MILLION
PRESIDENT David A. Coker
Nights of lodging offered
CHIEF OF STAFF Mary Considine
413,000
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michelle Baldanza
Families served
MANAGING EDITOR David Nye
91Fisher Houses in operation
COPY EDITOR Blake Stilwell 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
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 David Nye, Fisher House Foundation
LETTER FROM KEN FISHER Dear Friends, Over the years, I have been inspired by those we serve, time and time again. I gain strength from the stories of selfless service of military heroes, and I am awed by the sacrifices of our military and veteran families. I am overwhelmed with appreciation for all who have worn the uniform past and present and for those who have stood by their side. All of us at Fisher House Foundation, with you by our side, are honored to be here for them during the most challenging times. Keeping families together through our network of Fisher Houses is the core mission of the Foundation. We are excited as we look forward to opening the Kansas City VA Medical Center Fisher House this fall, bringing the total number of military and veteran families that we can support to over 1,300 on any given night. Meanwhile, we're preparing to start construction on new houses at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, the Columbia VA Health Care System, and the Lexington VA Health Care System. Fisher House managers have done an amazing job of safely greeting families, even during these trying times, and I can't wait for these new houses to help us serve even more military and veteran families. Thank you for helping us keep these programs going for our greatest national treasure: our military men and women and their families. Sincerely,
Kenneth Fisher Chairman and CEO, Fisher House Foundation @kenfisherfhf
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. Fisher House Foundation received an A+ from CharityWatch in its veterans and military category. Only two military and veteran charities currently hold this distinctive A+ rating. Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation its coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management for the 17th consecutive year, a rating achieved by less than 1% of the charities in the country that it monitors. Additionally, we are proud to announce that the Foundation earned the 2020 Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information.
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SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT
WWW
WEB PRESENCE
New Veteran-Owned Bakery A Marine infantry veteran and his wife have opened a Boyertown, Pennsylvania bakery that specializes in cheesecakes and donates 22% of the bakery proceeds to causes that aid veterans. The charity that they support changes each quarter and, for three months in 2021, they supported Fisher House Foundation. Read more: https://pennsylvanianewstoday.com/boyertowns-new-veteran-ownedbakery-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-cheesecake-life/180880/
TWITTER twitter.com/fisherhousefdtn I was so lucky to be involved with this amazing home: QEHBC (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity) had the vision and so many raised funds: from its first day of opening my team, Patrick, Julie and Phil and the amazing housekeepers provided a beautiful home for our veterans and their families. — @mandi62703422
LINKEDIN linkedin.com/company/fisher-house-foundation/ Absolutely love this amazing organization! Thank you, Fisher House, for all you do for our Veterans. — Nina Roller This is wonderful. The Fisher House in Albany is amazing. — Tracy DuShane Forever grateful for the hospitality and kindness provided to our family. — Rosemary Florez
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FACEBOOK facebook.com/fisherhouse “Can't say enough good about this organization; they have helped a tremendous number of people, in so many ways, helping to hold families together through overwhelmingly difficult times; Heroes serving Heroes, in my opinion!” — Chuck Wilder “I stayed at the West Palm Beach, FL Fisher House as my father was dying from lung cancer… The day he died, the people who had also been staying in the house gave my mother, husband, and I such an outpouring of love and support. I will forever be grateful for the Fisher House as it allowed me to be with my dad when he died.” — Rebecca Harper “Stayed there in 2011 to be close to my twins that were in the NICU instead of spending precious time driving back and forth from Northern Virginia.” — Kate Theissen “Thanks so much, quilters. I received a lap quilt from West Roxbury Fisher House. It hangs on my bedroom wall as a reminder of my late husband and how blessed I was to be able to stay at Fisher House.” — Sandra Thornton
JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Don’t forget to connect with us on all of our social media sites.
“We spent over 200 nights at the Seattle Fisher House from late 2012 to mid 2014 throughout my dad's cancer battle. Such a blessing, especially for my mom. She could come and go to his room as needed AND have a safe, comfortable place to sleep when needed, not to mention a big hug from any number of staff who got to know her. They treated me, my hubby and kids as family too. On our last trip there, we were in a rush. Dad was in ICU, on life support only so we could come say our goodbye. I forgot stuff for my kids, water bottles, coloring books, something to keep them busy for a few minutes. Bring in the Fisher House staff. We were given a pack of really nice reusable water bottles. Each kiddo got a backpack full of activities and they got to pick out a toy each! No to mention the Fisher House teddy bear we received on nearly every trip to complete our collection and document our journey. The Fisher House saved my family in so many ways but most importantly, they made sure my dad's dying wish came true. All he wanted was to hold my mom’s hand and snuggle her as he passed. Because she was able to be there with him day in and day out, his dream came true. Today, my parents are reunited in heaven, and I know in the year since my mom left to go be with my dad, they haven't stopped holding hands. THANK YOU, Fisher House Foundation!” — Marcy Goodman
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GUEST FAMILY PROFILE
Healed Warrior Uses His Story to Inspire Others Story by Michelle Baldanza Photos courtesy of J.P. and Crystal Lane
"I died twice on the operating table, and they did 28 surgeries that helped put me back together," said J.P. Lane, an Army combat engineer, about recovering after his vehicle hit an IED while he was serving in Afghanistan in 2011. His injuries were severe. J.P. was in a coma for six weeks, lost both his legs, and suffered broken bones and missing teeth. His spine was dislocated from his pelvis and he sustained numerous injuries from shrapnel. He counts 26 injuries from the blast of the IED. Initially, J.P. was treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland but was moved to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to get his prosthetics and learn how to walk again. "So, they sent me down to San Antonio," he explained. "I was in BAMC (Brook Army Medical Center) for a while, and the VA polytrauma center as well, both locations for quite a while. And then they finally were able to release me from the hospital and allow me to start at the Center for the Intrepid." At the time, J.P. was going through a divorce. Staying at Fisher House with his parents and other family members let him find community with both the family that was there and with the staff at the house. "The staff there was phenomenal," he said.
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not have known who we were, but they were always saying hello to all the warriors and just encouraging them and putting a smile on their faces." J.P. says that Fisher House gave him the privacy and space to heal from his mental wounds. "There were moments that I remember not wanting to wake up and get out of bed," he said. "It was a relaxing place to get away from the world. When I had my days that I did not want to go anywhere, I just wanted to relax and just keep to myself and have my moments and my peace, just alone. That was the place to be. I stayed there and had my space and was able to just relax, pretty much recover, mentally and physically.” Other guests were part of the healing process as well. Most who were staying at Fisher House at the time were other amputees or burn victims. "We had camaraderie because we were all together in a big house," he said. "It was kind of like, we're used to barracks where we sleep right next to each other and there's no privacy. Well, it was really nice to sleep next to each other in a way but had our privacy. Every family got to stay in their own room, but then if we wanted to hang out, we could go to the living room areas, where they have the games and stuff like that. And we would do that actually quite a bit."
During his six-month stay at Fisher House, J.P. recalls spending a lot of time in his room thinking about how he would move forward and what his life would be like. He remembers the staff at Fisher House was there for him. He affectionately recalls one staff member who would always make him smile.
"We played poker, board games, and stuff like that. I honestly don't even remember watching TV," he continued. "We were always talking and just enjoying the time together or cooking stuff in the kitchen. That was always going on. There were a lot of activities that also kept us busy. It was really good. That's for sure."
"She was always saying, 'Hey, J.P., how are you doing? How are you? How was therapy today?' And stuff like that, just always checking up on me. They knew that I was going through divorce."
J.P. and his new wife, Crystal, now spend their time traveling and telling his story to inspire others. He recently began working for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, telling his story at the Army's 10 Centers of Excellence.
"I was very grateful for the staff over at the Fisher House because they became like family," he explained. "They may
"I tell my story and teach it through a resilience side of things where we can show [other wounded service members]
THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
they can overcome anything that they face. I am literally a walking example of being able to do so much." "I'm not a wounded warrior. I'm just a warrior because I'm healed, and I'm even stronger than I used to be... That's the kind of the mindset, the positive mindset, that we're encouraging everyone we possibly can to have." To learn more about J.P.'s story and his mission to inspire others, check out his link at www.jpsjourney.com. His book, “Walking Again,” is also available on Amazon.
Above: J.P. Lane now serves as a motivational speaker for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at the Army’s ten Centers of Excellence. Top Right: J.P. went through a divorce during his recovery but has remarried to Crystal Lane who travels with him. Bottom Right: J.P. lies in a hospital bed at the start of his recovery from injuries caused by an IED. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
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Video Game Streaming
Allows Military Veterans to Fundraise for Fisher House Veterans, military members, and their supporters now fundraise for Fisher House Foundation and other veteran service organizations through video game streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, raising anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands within hours.
The culmination of his fundraiser was a long streaming session where he promised to play ESO for 24 hours straight. Through hours of steady gaming, Jacob's community rallied together and raised $10,064.33 — just surpassing the final goal of $10,000 in the last thirty minutes of the stream.
Jacob Hausman, a streamer who plays under the name Deltia, hosted a 24-hour charity stream which ultimately raised over $10,000. After taking a hiatus for over two years, the Army infantry veteran was returning to the game and was excited to return to the community he had cultivated.
While Jacob and his community can boast that they’re the first team to exceed $10,000 in a streaming fundraiser for Fisher House Foundation, they aren’t the first to help serve military and veteran families in this way.
“What was really cool to me about being in the military, I was 17 years old on active duty, I was coming in to people that were grown men having to take care of families,” he said. “And here I am not doing my own laundry at home, you know, spoiled little child. So it was cool because it was a big melting pot of different people from all over different cultures. And that's what gaming is. Especially Elder Scrolls Online (ESO); there's people from all over the world. So you're still friends with them to this day, all over the world." When Jacob left the Army, streaming wasn’t the first thing on his agenda. He had some medical needs, and his mom would often take him to Omaha, Nebraska, nearly 100 miles away, for his appointments. Luckily, he didn’t need any overnight stays, but he thought a lot about how hard it was for families that did. He was excited when he heard that a Fisher House has now opened in Omaha that serves families like his.
More than a dozen gamers and streamers held events for Fisher House Foundation in 2020 and raised over $27,000. These grassroot streamers played everything from Tekken and Call of Duty to Rocket League and Fall Guys and used platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook to host their streams. Deltia’s Gaming is a hub for gamers that provides coverage of gaming guides, discussions, and lifestyle advice. Launched in 2014, Deltia’s Gaming has garnered over 36 million views by creating helpful information for games like The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR). Visit www.DeltiasGaming.com to learn more about Deltia and his gaming initiatives.
When Jacob decided to return to streaming and the community he built, he decided that his first big stream would be a live streaming charity event that would support Fisher House Foundation. Jacob and his team put together a video on YouTube that announced his return to the game. Streamers typically collect donations from their audience during a stream, but for the first week after his return, Jacob wanted people to raise funds for Fisher House Foundation through a service called Streamlabs.
STREAMERS INTERESTED IN FUNDRAISING FOR FISHER HOUSE CAN SIGN UP AT:
https://hh.com/fisher-house-foundation-inc or https://tiltify.com/fisherhouse. FUNDRAISERS OF ANY TYPE CAN SIGN UP AT:
https://fisherhouse.org/get-involved/fundraise/
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
MEET THE STAFF
Bruc Phill e ips
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.
Bruce Phillips
Director of Operations
Dire ctor of R ock
ville
Ope ratio ns ry
, Ma
land
Heroes, which uses donated hotel rewards to book rooms for military and veteran families facing medical crises who can’t be served at a Fisher House.
Bruce Phillips’ career turn from restaurateur to Fisher House director of operations was partially due to his own family history as the son of a World War II veteran and partially due to him coincidentally going to church with Fisher House Foundation President Dave Coker. It has worked out well for the Foundation as he has served military and veteran families, first as a part of Hero Programs and now as the director of operations. Bruce left the for-profit restaurant business in Maryland in 2000 and applied his skills to helping troubled youth in Vermont. After eight years, he decided to move back to Maryland and wanted to continue serving families. “We moved back from Vermont in late 2008,” he said. “And after a few months of doing some job hunting and things like that, I ran into Dave Coker on a chance encounter at a church event.” That chance encounter led to Bruce coming on as a part of the Hero Programs in 2010. "The Iraq and Afghanistan conflict was right in the heart of things,” he said. “The Hero Miles program had been up and running for a couple of years or so, but it kind of exploded in terms of need, and there was that opportunity to care for families in a stronger way. The lady in charge of that, Pam, was doing that basically all on her own. So the first thing they did was slide me into a desk and said I would be helping Pam.” That gave Bruce an early look at Fisher House’s impact as he managed linking military families with donated airline miles. He later helped stand up the other Hero Program, Hotels for
Bruce was able to connect with the families on a personal level as both a grateful American and the son of a World War II veteran who enlisted after Pearl Harbor. A few years later, he was asked to take over the operations role during a restructuring of the Foundation. His department, which includes functions like human relations and office administration, has less direct contact with the families that Fisher House serves, so Bruce makes sure that his team members are able to volunteer at events so that they can see the impact their work has on those families. “I encourage them to get to know stories, to get involved with different events,” he said. “For instance, things like house openings and family events." When he’s not ensuring that the Foundation’s paperwork, from leases to nonprofit registrations to supply orders, is perfect, he’s supporting fundraisers in one of his favorite hobbies: golf. “It’s sort of luck of the Irish for me,” Bruce said, "getting to work for a Foundation that has so many golf events. It’s an activity that I absolutely love to do. I’ve always, tongue-in-cheek, said that I’m out suffering for the Foundation on the golf course, but I love going to the different events, dedications and fundraisers, and meeting the people we support as well as the donors and partners, too.”
Did you know?
Hotel for Heroes, which uses donated hotel points, and Hero Miles, which uses donated frequent flier miles to purchase airlines tickets, have saved nearly $116 million for military and veteran families since inception.
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DAY IN THE LIFE
2021 PHOTO CONTEST Each year the Foundation sponsors a “Day in the Life” photo contest to visually showcase the Fisher House mission. It’s often hard to describe the trials, camaraderie, and bonds formed, so we’ve reached out to the Fisher Houses to help show that through photos. Here, we highlight the winners.
OVERALL WINNER Alaska Fisher House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Maddox has a story to tell as he was born 10 weeks early at 2 pounds, 5 ounces. Being bedside throughout Maddox's journey has allowed his parents to perform kangaroo care, an essential skin-to-skin contact between parent and baby. This contact promotes bonding and stabilizes the baby, allowing Maddox to grow and thrive. His mom and dad are forever grateful for the Fisher House and the opportunity to continue to work during their visit so they can take maternity leave when Maddox returns home.
1 RUNNER UP st
VA St. Louis Health Care System Fisher House Sweet baby AvaMae Bland was the St. Louis Fisher House's first pandemic baby. They knew baby AvaMae would not be able to make a grand entrance into the Fisher House. Nevertheless, the opportunity to be a part of those sweet tender moments with AvaMae’s hero (her dad) was a blessing, and the gift of being born on his birthday was the icing on the cake.
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nd
RUNNER UP
Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center Fisher House Thomas and Michelle Queen were visiting while Thomas underwent tests to monitor his health. The couple has been together 40 years, working through Thomas’ multiple sclerosis and two tough cancer fights.
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rd
RUNNER UP
Naval Medical Center San Diego Fisher House Natalia Villegas was born at the San Diego Fisher House. She was a little sick when the photo was taken, but her sweet smile is still visible as her parents beam.
These are just the winners from our votes! There are more photo submissions on our website at fisherhouse.org. Do you think you have a great photo from your Fisher House stay? Photos taken between May 2021 and May 2022 are eligible for our next photo contest. Let your house manager know if you have a great shot that you'd like to share. 8
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THE STORY BEHIND THE OVERALL WINNER
On Feb. 22, 2021, my husband and I found out that our baby had stopped growing in utero. I was 30 weeks along and our baby was only measuring 1.8 pounds and had fallen to the 2% in growth. We were terrified that we might lose our baby (my first). When I left my house that afternoon to check in the hospital, I had no idea that I wouldn’t see my house again for many weeks. I had developed preeclampsia and there was a blockage in my umbilical cord, so our baby wasn’t getting the nutrients needed to grow. We had to get medevaced from Fairbanks, Alaska to Anchorage to go to Providence Children’s Hospital. All we knew at that time was that we were going to be in Anchorage for an unknown amount of time and we had no idea where we would stay, right smack in the middle of a pandemic. My husband, Jermaine, who had previously stayed at the Fisher House in Seattle when he was a soldier on active duty, reached out see if there was any way we could stay at the Alaska Fisher House on such short notice. Within minutes, we were all set up to stay for as long as we needed. We ended up needing to stay over three months as we welcomed Maddox, our son, at just 2 pounds, 5 ounces into the world. He underwent multiple surgeries to fix four hernias. I am so grateful to Fisher House and the staff here. Would it be possible anywhere else to work, sleep, eat, and visit the hospital daily for an extended amount of time away from our home? And I’m grateful that my husband was able to stay with us. He retired from the Army in 2019 and was just starting as an electrician but turned down work to take care of me and Maddox, something we couldn’t have afforded to do without Fisher House. I had to make a hard decision about when to take my maternity leave; after the birth or when we brought Maddox home. If there was no internet, I am not sure what I would have done. I would have had to start maternity leave early which would have meant I would have missed time with Maddox once he was discharged. But GCI donates internet to the Alaska Fisher House. I can’t be the only one working and relying on my computer staying “connected” every morning. My husband and I spent about five hours at the hospital daily, and I work a full day of work at the Alaska Fisher House. A few times a week, the Fisher House provides meals, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We would see gift cards from Texas Roadhouse or Muldoon and were overjoyed that we could have a “night out.” What a blessing it is to come back to our second home after working and being at the hospital to see plates of food left for everyone or gift cards taped to our doors. I cannot say enough how wonderful the Fisher House has been to us. The staff are so welcoming and accommodating and they have been so helpful during one of the most difficult times of our lives. I know I am a strong person, and my husband is too, but I really don’t know if I could have done this without the Fisher House and all of their supporters. What a beautiful place to spend three months! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Forever grateful,
Marissa, Jermaine, and Maddox Winter THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
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Remembering the Day the World Changed Story by Michelle Baldanza Photos provided by the Cruz family
“It took years for me to really be able to talk about it without showing emotion,” said Melissa. “And even now, I slow myself down, because what happened is just unimaginable.” Melissa Cruz-Enriquez was working as a business analyst in Colorado on Sept. 11, 2001, many miles away from the terrible events of the day, but her family was not. Both of Melissa’s parents were government employees working in the Pentagon on the morning that would change the world. While it’s been twenty years since 9/11, our memories are clear. Melissa shared her memories of reaching and then reuniting with her parents and younger sister and recovering together at Fisher House. Melissa immediately knew that she had to get home to Northern Virginia when she heard the news about the plane striking the Pentagon. She worried about both of her parents and what would happen to her sister, Marissa Lemar, a teenager at the time. As she made her way across country, she learned that her mother, Veronica Cruz, an Army veteran, was able to walk away from the building. Veronica worked in a part of the Pentagon that didn’t receive direct impact, but her father, Juan Cruz-Santiago, an Army retiree, worked on the outer ring in an office that overlooked what was then the Pentagon helipad. He suffered serious burns and was immediately hospitalized.
at Fisher House and they could stay as long as they needed. The two made their way to Juan at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and stayed at Fisher House while Melissa continued her trip home from Colorado. She wouldn’t see her family until Sept. 14. The Cruz family remained near the hospital because of the seriousness of Juan’s injuries. Marissa remained out of school for five weeks so she could be close to her father during this precarious time. Melissa valued being so close to her father at Fisher House since the three of them would take turns visiting and staying with him from early in the morning until late at night. She laughed as she recalled reading him Harry Potter books and keeping him posted on current celebrity gossip like the status of Jennifer Lopez’s marriage. “Vivian, who ran Fisher House, gave you the feeling, of just come as you are, we'll take you,” said Melissa.
Vivian, who ran Fisher House, gave you the feeling, of just come as you are, we'll take you.” — Melissa Cruz
A chance meeting on public transportation led the Cruz family to Fisher House. Veronica shared her story with a stranger that day, Sandra Barrett. Sandra worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and asked for her number. Despite being a private person, Veronica shared it. “And that's how, miraculously, we came to know that there was even an option,” explained Melissa. The following day, Veronica and Marissa each packed a backpack and were leaving to be with Juan when Sandra called. Sandra told the Cruz family there was a room for them
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“She brought comfort in such a chaotic time.” “Even though we were at the hospital all day, more often than not, there would be fresh goodies or treats set out in the kitchen when we got back at night, which made it feel homelike,” Marissa recalled. The Cruz family stayed in the Fisher House from Sept. 12 until Dec. 11, when Juan was released from the hospital and able to go home.
Always a close family, the Cruz family credits Fisher House with helping them stay together during Juan’s hospitalization. Today, he is doing well and, because of his extensive surgeries, Melissa says they call him “the billion-dollar man.” Although there is never a need for families to pay for their time spent at a Fisher House, each year Melissa donates proceeds from the sale of a homemade patriotic wreath though her business, Coronas by Cruz (https://www. coronasbycruz.com/), to Fisher House Foundation. Marissa has also raised money for the past several years when running the Marine Corps Marathon. Juan and Veronica proudly donate as well. “A lot of his healing is because of the support he had,” said Melissa. “And a lot of our healing is because we did it together. We were never alone.”
The Cruz family poses for family pictures. In the top left photo, parents Veronica and Juan Cruz-Santiago pose with their daughters, Marissa and Melissa. Their granddaughter, Mia Cruz Enriquez, is visible in photos at bottom left and center right.
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A letter to Fisher House Foundation from Tarah McLaughlin
I
n January of 2020, Tarah McLaughlin’s husband, Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin, was killed when his vehicle struck an IED in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Ian was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, so his wife and three children lived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Tarah immediately left for Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of remains. She recently contacted Fisher House Foundation to share her experience while staying at the Dover Fisher House for Families of the Fallen. My name is Tarah McLaughlin and I’m the widow of Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin who was killed in Afghanistan on Jan. 11, 2020. At the time, I had a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a 9-monthold baby. Within hours, our life changed and we were being pulled in a million directions. I stayed at the Fisher House at Dover Air Force Base, and the experience and the individuals there were nothing short of amazing in such a difficult time. As you can imagine, traveling with three children for the first time and the anxiety and the grief of losing my husband took a toll on my mental state. We traveled from Fort Bragg to Dover, an allaround trip that took about nine hours to complete. Needless to say, we were exhausted when we arrived at the Fisher House at Dover. My children were cranky, off their schedule, and confused on what was going on, but the Fisher House felt like a safe place for us. I not only forgot to pack a toothbrush and really anything for myself, but I forgot basic things for my children. When I walked into our room, there were toys ready for my children, a Pack ‘n Play filled with blankets for my infant, and an array of baby bathtubs, soaps, towels, potty seats, and so much more. If I’m being 100% honest in that moment, I bawled my eyes out because of how embarrassed I was for forgetting these basic things and how bad of a mom I felt at that moment. Within seconds of settling into our room, it was the first time since losing my husband that I felt safe and secure. The accommodations and the people at the Fisher House made me feel at home in probably one of the darkest times of my life. Our stay was extended due to constant malfunctions with the aircraft bringing my husband home, so we were there longer than we expected, but there was always enough food and someone there trying to make our lives a little bit easier. I wasn’t eating, but my children's hunger didn’t stop, nor did their need to get some energy out and there were plenty of people and food to accommodate them during those days. There isn’t much that I remember in those days, but I do remember how safe the Fisher House made my family feel and how much of a home away from home it really was. In lieu of flowers, I asked guests who wanted to send flowers to Ian’s funeral to donate to Fisher House Foundation because of how much they helped my family during this time. I will forever be thankful for this Foundation. Thank you!
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
MEET THE MANAGER REHSIF ESUOH
Fisher House Foundation is privileged to have amazing managers at each Fisher House. These professionals do a wonderful job taking care of the families that call Fisher House “a home away from home.”
G ME AR NS
Kelly Laurich Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Fisher House
Story by David Nye
When Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Fisher House Manager Kelly Laurich began exploring the opportunity to work at Fisher House, she was a little unsure about what the position would entail, but the chief of voluntary services saw something special in Kelly and asked if she would be interested in managing the Fisher House slated for Tucson, Arizona. “I was nervous at first to apply for it because I didn't think I would be able to do it. It just seemed overwhelming and you had to have all of these special skills,” she said. “And really what I found out is you just have to have heart and be willing to talk to people and have care and passion for your job.” She’s been the manager for over six years, starting the job before the house was even under construction. “It is an amazing job. So, once I learned it, all of the things that I would have to do and all of the responsibilities and duties, I jumped right in because I couldn't think of a better way to serve veterans and their families.” Kelly is part of a veteran family herself with a great uncle, multiple uncles, and her father having all served in combat. "One of my great uncles was in World War II, and survived landing on Normandy beach,” she said. “And then he also carried out the survivors of Auschwitz. My father and his two brothers were also in Vietnam. All three went active duty. My dad fought to be active duty because he was the third brother. And at that time they didn't allow all the men in the family to be in the military, but he fought to serve in Vietnam.”
“So when I was 16, I wanted to be a marine biologist. And my goal was to join the Navy so that I could become a marine biologist. And my dad basically said no. He said, ‘I'll break your neck if you join the military. You're going to college.’ So, I have a family of veterans, but you know, I'm very honored and I probably would have went into the military if my dad would've let me.” Kelly came to Fisher House through her work with vocational rehabilitation. “My undergrad is in special education. So, for 20 years I was a special education coordinator. I worked with 18 to 26-year-olds in vocational rehab, and then I obtained my master's degree and came to southern Arizona to work at the blind rehab center here. I was an intern and after my internship was over, I was hired to run their recreation department. Through running the recreation department, it kind of exposed me to all of the service organizations, because I had no clue that these service organizations did as much as they did.”
She wanted to join the military herself, but her dad was adamant that she serve in a different way.
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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.
WE SALUTE:
Story by Michelle Baldanza
COMING TOGETHER TO HELP SURVIVORS "We all have a role to play in supporting the mental health for both veterans and their families. Fisher House is proud to be a part of a community of nonprofits and public and private organizations who all bring different, unique strengths to this fight.” — Ken Fisher At Fisher House Foundation, our mission is to be here for veterans, service members, and their families. We know that bringing our strengths together with those of other military nonprofits benefits those we serve as we help families heal through the recovery process. Sometimes, that recovery process includes coping with loss.
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“The 12 of us bonded forever. We are so tight. We are so protective over each other. In fact, we text each other all the time. A couple of the sisters are still struggling right now,” she shared. “It's like you're not alone. You have 11 sisters that are right there with you, and that could not have happened without Fisher House Foundation, without Home Base, without TAPS.” Home Base has hosted a two-week moderate and intensive clinical program for veterans for the past six years, but about four years ago, they felt that there was a part of the veteran and military population that wasn’t being fully served. They began working closely with TAPS to put together a very similar model to the veteran program for partners who had lost military loved ones to suicide.
Earlier this year, three nonprofits came together to help a very special segment of military spouses who had lost their service member to suicide. Home Base, an organization that provides free clinical care to support veterans, service members, and their families; the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), that provides support to families of America’s fallen heroes; and Fisher House Foundation, through our Hero Miles and Hotel for Heroes programs; supported 12 spouses during a two-week clinical program designed specifically to help them through their grieving process.
“Many of the partners have either witnessed or had found their loved one, so many of them also met criteria for PTSD themselves, and of course, had very significant grief mixed with PTSD,” said Laura Harward, co-director of the Intensive Clinical Program at Home Base. “We made some adjustments for our program in terms of focusing more on grief, but we kept many of the core components of the group work.”
“They understand the vulnerability that we have, they respect and they honor, and they appreciate us,” said Petra Jackson-Oxford, whose husband took his own life in 2020.
Throughout the two weeks, attendees did a combination of individual and group therapy that included mindfulness and resiliency, ways to manage stress, exposure therapy,
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Left Photo: Petra (left) and Lisa (right) pose during Home Base's two-week clinical program. Center Photo: The Home Base National Center of Excellence common area in Charlestown, Massachusetts is a place for attendees to relax. Right Photo: Participants spent a therapeutic day with horses at the Ironstone Farm in Andover, Massachusetts.
learning to set boundaries, handling conflict, and peer-based emotional support outside of clinic hours, facilitated by TAPS staff who are also survivors. They attended art therapy and a day at a horse farm, did yoga and mindfulness breathing exercises, but most importantly, they formed a bond with each other because of the unique circumstances that brought them together, she explained. Lisa Ocelnik, whose partner died by suicide in 2018, touched on the impact of her fellow attendees. “First and foremost, the experience of just being around 11 other women who get it was healing. Suicide is such a difficult and taboo subject in our society and is not often understood or talked about. Suddenly you're with 11 other women that have gone through it and all of the accompanying mountains that you’re climbing.” Some of the programs during the workshop were very hands on. Barbara Block, whose husband died in 2019, talked about the lessons learned after a day trip to Ironstone Farm in Andover, Massachusetts. Intimidated by the size of the horse and never having ridden one before, she asked the trainer to stay with her while she rode. “When we got back into class, I thought, you know, it was okay that I didn't have the woman drop the reigns and have me do it. It's okay to let people help me. And that was a big takeaway. Now I had no idea by going to a horse farm that I was going to learn a life lesson about accepting help from a volunteer and a horse,” she said. Fisher House Foundation has been involved with the Home Base programs for the past five years. Home Base wanted to extend their services to military and veterans throughout the country, but needed assistance with lodging, and later flights. That is where Fisher House Foundation came in with the Hotel for Heroes and Hero Miles programs that use donated hotel points and airline miles to pay for rooms and flights. When the Foundation was approached about helping with this new cohort, the answer was immediate. "These relationships that we have built with Home Base and TAPS have been built because we work in a common space and it's as simple as you pick up the phone to call your friend and say, 'I need
help,’” said Fisher House Foundation Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Leticia Stropes. “We fill the gaps for one another so that we can each continue our shared mission of helping military and veteran families.” “As Fisher House has done for over three decades, when a critical need arises for our veterans and their families, they answer the call with compassion, intelligence, and commitment,” said Michael Allard, Chief Operating Officer of Home Base. “The DoD and VA are not designed to care for our families of the fallen suffering from trauma and complex grief, but like-minded organizations with a shared commitment to excellence can come together to recognize the gaps and provide the world-class healing that our families deserve. Home Base is proud and honored to count Fisher House and TAPS as our friends and best-in-class beacons of hope for our families of the fallen.” "Suicide loss survivors who are physically exposed to the deaths can be at increased risk for suicide themselves," said Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton, TAPS Senior Director of Suicide Prevention and Postvention Programs. "So when Home Base offered to develop a program for this population, we were honored to collaborate with them. At TAPS, we know from experience that postvention care is a critical element of any prevention strategy. Home Base understands that, too. Together we are saving lives by offering survivors the tools they need to create a hopeful future of healing and growth." Lisa, Barbara, and Petra all shared two main points about their experience. First, the bond created between the 12 women attending the program was incredibly strong and was a huge part of why the program is so valuable, and second, there are so many more survivors that need the opportunity to get this help and support. To learn more or donate loyalty points or miles to the Hero Programs go to www.fisherhouse.org/programs. To learn more about Home Base or TAPS go to www.homebase.org or www.TAPS.org.
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COVER STORY
Family finds COMFORT in FISHER HOUSE through DECADES Story by David Nye Photos courtesy the Queen Family and Fisher House Foundation
Army veteran Thomas Queen was pursuing Signal Corps training when he suddenly started having serious memory problems that made training nearly impossible. He had to switch jobs to complete his enlistment and then served in Vietnam before getting out and heading home to Virginia. That was where he reunited with Michelle. Their families had been friends for years, but Michelle and Thomas had never dated. When he had another rash of medical issues, his sister called Michelle to ask for her help. The Veterans Affairs hospital initially diagnosed it as a stroke and Michelle helped him recover. Thomas was a noted ladies’ man at the time, so Michelle’s duties included telling visitors that Thomas couldn’t go out until he got better. But as she nursed her old family friend back to health, the two grew closer together and fell in love, eventually marrying. For years, they built a life together, interrupted by occasional neurological episodes diagnosed as strokes, until an emergency visit to the medical center where the physician had just completed training to spot multiple sclerosis (MS). He ordered tests and quickly identified the previous strokes as episodes of MS. “At first, I cried,” Thomas said. “I thought back to, throughout the military, getting called names because I failed my course, my signals course that I wanted so bad.” Ultimately, the diagnosis brought clarity and peace. The effects of a bad MS attack are literally crippling. Michelle and the medical staff had to help him re-learn how to walk, talk, and recognize his bodily functions. But unlike previous times, they now knew what medicines would help prevent future attacks and slow the disease’s progress. Thomas and Michelle have been together for 40 years, supporting each other through MS and multiple cancer diagnoses. Michelle has since beaten cancer twice, but it was during Thomas’ cancer fight that they stayed at a Fisher House for the first time after years of using hotels or making long drives back and forth from home. 16
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Left Photo: Thomas and Michelle Queen at the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center Fisher House in June 2021. Right Photos: Thomas and Michelle Queen through the years, from Thomas' service through 40 years of marriage. The couple knew each other as children but didn't begin dating until Michelle helped care for Thomas after a relapse of multiple sclerosis. They began staying at Fisher House together during their fight against Thomas' stage 3 lung cancer.
“Then he was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer six years ago,” Michelle said. “And that’s when we started to stay at the Fisher House, and that’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to us." They had heard of Fisher House before and knew it was free but were surprised by both how lovely the Washington D.C. VA Fisher House is as well as the quality of the community that they found. Thomas needed three months of chemotherapy and radiation but wasn’t the only veteran fighting cancer there. Michelle found a group of wives supporting each other. They would often work together to make dinners at the house. “I cry when I think about the times that I’ve had with other families before the pandemic,” Michelle said. “We would get together, and we would come up with meals, and we would say, ‘Okay, I’ll fry the chicken,’ and someone else would do the corn, and somebody else would do whatever. Food is nourishment to the heart and having those people to be able to talk to, to help me, meant so much.” The group would also bake desserts, play games, or watch TV together. They even share life events, like the births of their two grandchildren, with the other families and the house manager, Stacey Childs. That sense of community has continued as Thomas and Michelle return repeatedly to the Washington D.C. VA Fisher House.
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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. Ann Arbor, Michigan A fabulous picnic lunch for fabulous guest Members of the Fisher House Michigan Board of Directors, the VA Ann Arbor Executive Leadership Team, and several Fisher House guests were treated to a picnic lunch on the back patio. The VA Fisher House staff donned Fisher House aprons, manned the grill, and served delicious salads, sides, and custom Fisher House cookies. FHF’s Brian Gawne and FHM Board Members were treated to “Stories of Service” from WWII veteran and Richie Boy, Dr. Guy Stern. Dr. Stern, a FHM Advisor, was recently featured on 60 Minutes.
Dayton, Ohio Beads and Bling — It’s a Mardi Gras Thing After postponing and then subsequently cancelling the 2020 “An All-American Evening,” we’re back! The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. (FNHI), 18th Annual “All American Evening” was held on August 28. This year’s theme was “Beads and Bling — It’s a Mardi Gras Thing” and was a fun-filled evening. This annual fundraiser for FNHI was held in the Dayton Masonic Center. The event featured themed gourmet bistro dining plus a wine and bourbon tasting. Both a silent and live auction were held during the evening and there was a costume contest.
St. Louis, Missouri A “thank you” to the cake lady Becky Elfrink or as we call her the cake lady. Provided the Fisher House with cakes for every holiday during the pandemic and continues to do so. Becky began her voluntary service with us in 2018 and we have been blessed by her gifts and talents in the kitchen since. Often our families would ask, “How much does she charge for her cakes?” I would always hesitate and say she makes cakes for love not for a fee. I have to admit that I have asked Becky to make a special cake for our guests who had to come up for cancer treatment on the veteran’s birthday or for their anniversary. She has never turned down a request. I can’t say enough about the gratitude the guest and staff have for the sweet gift of Mrs. Becky (cake lady).
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Hearts in the Community HEARTS in the COMMUNITY In Memory We are blessed by the many dedicated supporters who work tirelessly to raise funds to support military and veteran families. We are saddened by those lost and those who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. One such supporter, Bob Agnes, is gone far too soon. Bob raised money and awareness for Fisher House Foundation through a 48-state charity motorcycle marathon in 2018 and was deep in the planning process for 2021 when he succumbed to COVID-19 on Jan. 8, 2021. He had limitless enthusiasm for our shared mission to take care of our nation’s military heroes. Our hearts are with Bob’s family and all the families of those who passed during this terrible time.
Fisher House Golf Classic 2021 Brings Old Friends Back Together The 2021 Fisher House Golf Classic on May 3 at the Golf Club at Lansdowne was a major success as dozens of teams took part in the competition and online auction in order to raise funds for Fisher House Foundation. The annual event was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. While many sponsors were generous enough to honor their pledges despite the cancellation, it was a relief to everyone to get back on the links in 2021 and play together. Teams socially distanced on the links, food was served at different tees, and the auction was held online to prevent participants congregating indoors. The safety restrictions did nothing to dampen the generosity and enthusiasm of the golfers. “Thank you for making the Fisher House Golf Classic a priority and for your support with this year’s fundraising success,” said Fisher House Foundation Vice President of Development Denise Dolan. “You helped raise $833,000 for service members, veterans, and their families. If you experienced the Fisher House Golf Classic for the first
time, may this be the beginning of a lasting partnership. For those who have been our steadfast partners, thank you for your continued dedication.” She also thanked the top sponsors of the event. “Special thanks to our presidential sponsor, SAP; our platinum sponsor, Oshkosh Defense; our gold sponsor, Pratt & Whitney; the official airline sponsor, United Airlines, and to all our partners who came out today to make the golf classic successful for service members, veterans, and their families.”
made it such a marvelous event. Over the years, this has become an important fundraiser for Fisher House. It allows us to take the next bold step as we work to help those we consider to be our nation’s greatest national treasure: our military service men and women and their loved ones.” The 2022 Fisher House Golf Classic is being planned for May 2.
“I’m a retired submarine officer and spent 35 years in the military,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Larry Volt, one of the golfers. “It’s a real honor to be here with Fisher House, supporting the families of our military. They give up a lot, sacrifice day in and day out, and it’s about time we pay them back.” “Last year we were unable to hold this event,” said Fisher House Foundation President David Coker. “This year we actually got to see people. We had a great day out on the course. We want to thank all our sponsors and everybody who
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2021
FISHER HOUSE
VOLUNTEER
OF THE YEAR
SALT LAKE CITY ROCKS THIRD VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Story by Utah Fisher House
To the north of Salt Lake City, sweeping snow-capped mountains create breathtaking views for people who visit the Fisher House at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System campus there. Fisher House Manager Quinn Kiger-Good says she's fortunate to live in a philanthropic city encouraged by people who show dedication. In particular, the SLC Fisher House has a track record for attracting extraordinary volunteers. Since its inception, SLC Fisher House has had three volunteers that have been awarded Fisher House Volunteer of the Year, including in 2021. Quinn says she tries to submit a story about her volunteers each year hoping they are recognized for their commitment. This year, she nominated Air Force Master Sgt. Trevor Christie for Fisher House 2021 Volunteer of the Year after an event that will forever impact both. Since August 2016, Trevor has visited every Friday to assist VA Campus guests. On top of his full-time career in the military, he spends his free time at the Salt Lake City Fisher House. He likes his role as golf cart driver, because he enjoys taking guests around the VA campus, but that is not his only duty. Quinn says he is a valuable team member. "You know that person that just always shows up?" Quinn says of Trevor. She says her favorite thing about Trevor is that no job is beneath him. He takes suitcases to rooms and assists housekeeping in cleaning up big messes. However, the nomination came after a day they both heard a guest screaming for help. The house manager says when they heard the man, Trevor bolted out of the office toward the sound. When he reflects on the event, Trevor sits quietly processing the moments he tried to save a fellow veteran. He says when he entered the room, he found
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a veteran lying face down on the floor and his wife sitting on the bed screaming and crying. The veteran was gurgling while gasping for air when Trevor turned the man over and began to monitor his breathing. Trevor started CPR while the house manager called for emergency support. Trevor continued to give the unresponsive man support until paramedics arrived at the house. Despite the lack of response, Quinn says Trevor never gave up trying to revive him. He helped console the veteran's wife as the paramedics also worked on him but they were unable to save him. Quinn was concerned this traumatic event would have deterred Trevor from continuing his volunteer work, but he still supports Fisher House every Friday as he's done for nearly five years. Trevor received the I-CARE award from the local VA leadership for his effort to save his fellow veteran. Fisher House Foundation selects award winners from the stories Fisher House managers submit on their behalf. Read about other winners on the next page.
2021
FISHER HOUSE
VOLUNTEER
OF THE YEAR
NOMINEES
These other volunteers were selected by their respective branches as their top volunteer of the year for 2021! Each of these volunteers is a stellar example of service and a huge help to their Fisher House.
AMY CRAVEN TIEDEMANN PORTSMOUTH FISHER HOUSE — NAVY NOMINEE Amy Craven Tiedemann was selected by the Navy as its Fisher House Volunteer of the Year. She donates hundreds of hours to the Fisher House Portsmouth, including an estimated 500 hours per year to set up an annual Veterans Day Golf Tournament fundraiser, including a mini family tournament during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Amy is wearing the gray fleece in the first row on the right.
CAROL MCCLURE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — AIR FORCE NOMINEE Carol McClure was nominated by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fisher House and selected by the Air Force as their Fisher House Volunteer of the Year. Carol is known for cooking muffins every week for Tuesday deliveries, maintaining the home away from home feel.
STAFF SGT. NICHOLAS WEYER LANDSTUHL FISHER HOUSE — ARMY NOMINEE The Army selected a volunteer nominated by the Landstuhl Army Fisher House in Germany. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nicholas Weyer serves in the house twice per week, organizing and cleaning. After COVID-19 hit, he schooled himself on sanitation and has spent much of his time ensuring the cleanliness of family and child sitting rooms.
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JOURNAL ENTRIES & LETTERS Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK I must add myself to those who have come before and been truly blessed by the hospitality and caring spirit of the F isher House staff and volunteers. The service you provide is invaluable to those who come — you hear it in the conversations of the guests. Y ou provided a way for me to come for medical treatment. From the moment I first called, I felt welcomed and relieved — a place to stay. Little did I know the place of refuge that awaited me. Thank you!
Cleveland, OH This place is a home away from home in a time of need. I don’t know what I would have done for a place to stay. But this was a gift from God, and the help of the people are so nice and kind. If it wasn’t for the F isher House, I would have had to stay in my car the whole time I was here. Thanks to the VA Hospital and the staff. God Bless everyone.
Dayton, OH During our stay, there were many days or nights we didn’t leave Dad’s room, and we would come back to the F isher House only realizing that we haven’t eaten. Not having to worry about cooking a full meal, but having plenty of healthy options was a complete lifesaver for us, mentally and physically. It’s easy to forget about ourselves when all we can think about is our loved one. The F isher House does all of that for us. We cannot thank you enough!
Keesler Air Force Base, MS During this Coronavirus pandemic, my life has been hell on Earth. I recently got shot in my left lower extremity and have had multiple surgeries this year. I was sent to Keesler Air Force Base for further treatment. Today marks the day I’ ll be leaving for the Center for the Intrepid for rehabilitation. Hopefully, in the near future, I’ ll be able to stand, walk, and most importantly… be with the woman of my life who I have not seen in months. My medical case is very much different than the other guests at the F isher House. For those who are here for PRK surgery, trust in your doctor! And for the cancer patients staying here, my heart goes out to you. Hopefully, your treatment goes well! The F isher House has been an a mazing gift to me, and I just want to say thank you to the managers (Ron and Larry) and the rest of the staff that have helped during my stay.
Togus, MA What a lovely welcome and delightful respite. We usually worry and hurry to get from home to appointments and back on the ferry in order to avoid costly stays off the island. This trip was so very different. We were able to relax and concentrate on the upcoming doctors’ visits without all the other anxieties. And what an a mazing place to stay! Deb, Patrick, Bonnie, and Nicki made us feel so comfortable. Y ou are a treasure we will value greatly.
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Couple Finds STRENGTH from Fellow Veteran Families Story by Michelle Baldanza Photos provided by the Truett Family
Army Lt. Col. Terry Truett was a Black Hawk pilot who retired from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2010 after 22 years of service. Just five years into his retirement, he found a swollen lymph node on his collar bone that was diagnosed a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After extensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the cancer was gone. However, 18 months later, a new spot was found on Terry's back. After treatment, he once again was cleared as cancer-free, but in December 2017 the cancer returned for a third time. At this point, the only option was for Terry to undergo a stem cell transplant and the closest location was at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston, South Carolina, located two and half hours away from the Truett home. They knew they would need to find lodging in the area. The intense treatment required that they be within 10 minutes of the hospital for at least 30 days post-transplant, so Terry and his wife, Rebecca, began searching for a place to stay in Charleston. “I called [Fisher House Charleston] and Vicky answered the phone, and she was just like, ‘Absolutely. We can help you. Absolutely.’ She told me we have room for you and don't worry about a thing. We’ve got it all covered,” Rebecca said. “My husband's talking in the background saying, you know, tell them this, and tell them that his cancer is back again for a third time, and basically trying to give
me pointers about the things that would help strengthen our case, but I had tears in my eyes. I couldn't even look at him while on the phone with her and she took everything down and I hung up. He said, ‘what did they say?’ And I looked at him, I said, 'It's all taken care of, everything's taken care of.’ And he and I both sat there and cried because it was such a burden lifted off of us,” she continued. Rebecca explained that everything from the cleanliness of the house to the availability of snacks and coffee any time of the day meant so much. The staff members were like family, always there with a smile or to help no matter what time of day. That small gesture would mean the world to Rebecca after a long day spent at the hospital or in doctor's appointments. “All the little things just at your fingertips is just such a huge blessing,” she said. “And in addition to that, all the people who are going through treatment that are there are in some way, shape, or form either veterans themselves or married to veterans and/or have a veteran family member,” Rebecca said. “Military families are such a tight-knit crew. We have a lifetime of supporting each other through deployments, hardships, joys, and everything that comes along with serving, so we know what that support means to our loved ones. And we're a strong bunch, but it's different — people don't really understand the military life unless you've lived it. You're there with your brothers
and sisters, you have a kinship with them, and we all just kind of support each other.” Rebecca recalls one of the best parts of their stay was that Terry was able to talk to other veterans who were going through similar situations or medical issues, saying that it really lends strength to the healing process. “Just knowing that there were other people with similar backgrounds who were also facing battles, that they were in that together,” she said. “Truly a family of people that you get to know, praying for each other's children and their spouses. “We celebrated together, we grieved together. It was just a real place of comfort to be when going through such a challenge in life. So, we were really blessed by that,” Rebecca said. Fisher House Charleston had only just opened when Terry needed to go through the stem cell treatment. They both felt that without the Fisher House things could have been very different. “I just can't even imagine what the outcome would have been. It just really made so much of a difference in how he recovered and how his treatment went to have the Fisher House right there within walking distance to the hospital." It's been three years since, and Terry is currently cancer-free and doing well. The Truetts are still in touch with Vicky, who now serves at the Columbia VA Health Care System, and they visit Fisher House whenever they are in Charleston. THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATES OPENINGS Fisher House Foundation has opened seven houses in 2020-2021, but was unable to celebrate these openings with dedication ceremonies. We would like to recognize the openings of the following houses:
VA Maine Healthcare System Augusta, Maine
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Ann Arbor, Michigan
VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Omaha, Nebraska
Hunter Holmes McGuire Virginia Medical Center Richmond, Virginia
Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center Huntington, West Virginia
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Aurora, Colorado
Southeast Veterans Health Care System New Orleans, Louisiana
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Kansas City, Missouri In early August of last year, Fisher House broke ground in Kansas City, Missouri for the new Kansas City VA Medical Center Fisher House. The 16-suite house will give families from around the Midwest a place to stay while their loved ones receive care at the VA medical center. It is scheduled to open Fall 2021.
DOWN RANGE CONSTRUCTION The following projects are currently in design. • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System — Bay Pines, Florida • Columbia VA Health Care System — Columbia, South Carolina • Lexington VA Health Care System — Lexington, Kentucky
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Scholarships for Military Children
Students across the country have returned to college after summer breaks. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve faced uncertain conditions as they entered or returned to colleges, either remotely or in-person. Fisher House Foundation’s scholarship program was there for them, regardless of the situation. Heroes’ Legacy Scholarships and Scholarships for Military Children have helped students meet their educational goals. One of those students was Morgan State University sophomore Dexter Carr, Jr. He received assistance from Fisher House Foundation that would give him an added sense of financial security in the days to come.
Dexter Carr, J r
Morgan State
University
“This scholarship means a lot to me because it significantly helps me to further my education and my progress to becoming a physical therapist. When I become a physical therapist, I want to help people, especially people who have served in our armed forces.” Kaitlyn Marcatante is another recipient. She’s studying at the University of Texas at Austin. “I really just want to thank everyone there at Fisher House Foundation for really just believing in me and supporting me and investing in my future,” Kaitlyn said. “I really want to use this award to really pursue my career within nonprofit work and advocacy.”
arcatante Kaitlyn M ustin f Texas at A
University
o
Fisher House Foundation awarded over $2.3 million in scholarships in 2020, helping more than 1,150 students achieve their educational goals.
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HOUSE ROUNDUP
We always love to check in and see what Fisher Houses have been up to. Here, we outline a few highlights from houses around the world, submitted by the Fisher House managers. ALASKA
the importance of honoring our fallen heroes by supporting and appreciating active-duty service members. As a class, they collected travel size toothpaste and shaving cream to donate to the Fisher House Camp Pendleton. The students also signed patriotic cards to distribute to our families upon their arrival.
JBER HOSPITAL
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Two team members from the Alaska Fisher House both delivered baby boys this spring. Ana Espinosa was blessed with what she describes as her angel, Gabriel Alexander. Gabriel, a calm and smiley baby, was born on Easter, April 4, weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 21.25 inches. Kristyn Moret was blessed with her baby, Carson Alexander, on April 26, weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces and measuring 21 inches. Both babies are doing well and looking sharp in their Fisher House onesies.
CALIFORNIA
DAVID GRANT USAF MEDICAL CENTER
Travis Air Force Base
Phillip Hunter has been an active volunteer and advocate for the Fisher House for well over five years. Prior to COVID-19, Phil would go out every week without fail to collect doughnuts, bagels, and gift cards that are donated from our local establishments. Our long-term guests would always refer to him as the “bagel guy.” During COVID-19, Phil’s devotion did not stop, and he continually checked in to see when he would be able to start back again. We are so happy to be able to have him back.
NAVAL HOSPITAL CAMP PENDLETON
Camp Pendleton
In honor of Memorial Day, Mrs. Yanaura talked about the different branches of the military to her fourth-grade class at John Malcolm Elementary. She explained how the Fisher House program operates and the impact it has on our military families. The students also learned about
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER SAN DIEGO San Diego
The Chief ’s Mess takes deep pride in developing and trainings today's sailors to become tomorrow's leaders. The Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command (NMRTC) CPO Mess conducted a volunteer day to clean up outdoor areas of Fisher House I (Bldg. 46) and II (Bldg. 47) for the 2021 Chief 's Call to Indoctrination. This day of service was Fisher House San Diego’s first volunteer event since the onset of the pandemic. Sixteen service members volunteered two hours in January for a total of 32 volunteer hours. Members dusted cobwebs, washed windows, raked leaves, sanitized furniture, and pulled weeds, just to name a few of their outdoor
cleaning efforts to maintain Fisher House San Diego’s curb appeal. In a year of uncertainty, the NMRTC CPO Mess was certain that giving back to military personnel and their families was at the top of its to-do list in 2021.
To learn more about Thrive Everyday, visit their Facebook Page at: https:// www.facebook.com/ThriveEveryday26/ videos/282850126846334
EISENHOWER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
Fort Gordon
Ms. Lisa McCollum, host of “Thrive Everyday” with the local CBS/NBC affiliate, visited the Fort Gordon Army Fisher House, a beacon of southern hospitality and a place for comfort for the friends and families of military and retiree patients at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
VA MAINE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Augusta
Rex Daugherty, Jr. is a Vietnam veteran who served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. In mid-December 2020, Rex was admitted to the VA Maine Medical Center at the Togus campus in Augusta, Maine, but his beloved wife, Susie, was not allowed visitation due to COVID-19 restrictions. On April 17, 2021 the long four-month wait came to a joyous end when Susie was finally granted permission to visit Rex at his bedside.
KENTUCKY
GEORGIA
MAINE
BLANCHFIELD ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Fort Campbell
We received this special hand-made gift recently. One of our families presented us with this sign prior to checking out after a month-long stay. On the back, we found the following message. “Thank you for welcoming us during our greatest time of need. We are forever grateful.” We absolutely love it and have hung it proudly to welcome other families.
“The opportunity for me to stay at Fisher House and spend so much time each day with Rex has made such a difference for both of us. In the midst of the most frightening and depressing chapter of our 40-year marriage, we have received this amazing, spirit-lifting gift of time together, and for me to be able to return each night from the hospital to this perfectly beautiful home away from home is so comforting.”
Ms. McCollum had the pleasure to meet with and talk to a patient, Army Spc. Oshoba Dominic from Fort Jackson, and a caregiver, Spc. Talisa Robinson from Fort Hood, to hear about their stories and experiences while staying at the Fisher House. Ms. McCollum also talked to Fisher House Manager Mr. Francisco Cruz, Jr. about everything the facility has to offer.
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HOUSE ROUNDUP MICHIGAN
VA ANN ARBOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Ann Arbor
VA Ann Arbor Fisher House celebrated their one-year anniversary on June 1, 2021 by hosting a barbecue for the families in residence. We were also joined by Brian Gawne (VP for Community Relations) and a few Fisher House Michigan board members.
VA ST. LOUIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM St. Louis
MARYLAND
Debra and Steve Dunham arrived at the St. Louis Fisher House May 9, 2020 and departed May 22, 2021. When they entered the house, little did they know they would be adding another branch on the family tree. We celebrated, cried, and overcame as a family. They came to see the staff as family — Vanniecia, Ann, Ken, Frank, George, and Justine. Strangers became forever friends over a meal, while social distancing over ice cream or hot cinnamon tea. Mr. and Mrs. D lived the St. Louis Fisher House-life for over 365 days. They departed when they WON the many trials they had to face and only after touching so many individuals.
MALCOLM GROW CLINICS & SURGERY CENTER Andrews Air Force Base
New! New! New! There have been a lot of exciting updates at the Andrews Fisher House in the last six months. We have a new manager, new sign, new sidewalk to the medical facility, new Amazon wish list, and a new Facebook page. Stop by to say hello and ask us about more exciting changes to come.
WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER Bethesda
Beth Schmidt and the folks with the Wounded Warrior Project have been great partners during this time of COVID-19. The Wounded Warrior Project Team has been providing meals on a bi-weekly basis to all of our Fisher House families. Beth has been coordinating with the Bethesda Fisher House Team to make sure all of the families staying at our Fisher House have individually packed lunches delivered from a local establishment to help us take care of our Fisher House families.
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
NEW MEXICO MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER
Kansas City
The Kansas City VA Medical Center is anxiously awaiting the opening of our Fisher House in Fall 2021. The hospital is buzzing with excitement as the house has recently gotten shutters, concrete walkways poured, and over 100 trees and shrubs delivered. Fisher House and voluntary service staff, pictured above, were excited to tour the home and see all the progress taking place. With new finishes going in everyday, the staff said that it is already starting to feel like home.
RAYMOND G. MURPHY VA MEDICAL CENTER Albuquerque
As vaccination numbers rise, the Albuquerque Fisher House is seeing more families accompany their veterans to the NMVA Medical Center. We welcomed 17 families in May, including our first children in over a year! We were so excited to welcome children again and our local donors were also giddy at the prospect of bringing something special for our young family members. The local Starbucks made a special bag fit for an 8-year-old when they brought over coffee and pastries for our families. When families walked into the kitchen to find
Starbucks waiting for them, some even squealed with glee! Families going through the stress of a medical crisis find company now and know they are not alone. One guest in particular shed tears of relief when she came through the front door and saw other families eating in the dining room. She wiped her tears and said, “I’m just so relieved that I’m not alone anymore.” She had traveled hours to get to Albuquerque, did not know the area, and had spent an anxious night at a local hotel. She explained that being alone in a strange city is so scary, but the Fisher House made her finally feel safe.
NEW YORK
ALBANY STRATTON VA MEDICAL CENTER
Albany
The Albany Fisher House continues to benefit from the kindness of our supporters and friends as we begin to see an increase in families in need of lodging and assistance. We send our deepest appreciation to all who continue to help keep our kitchen and supplies fully stocked, our grounds looking beautiful, and, through it all, keeping this house a home!
and excited about the future! Thanks to all of you who have donated, assisted, sent encouragement, or helped in any way! Keep the good vibes coming and we will pass them on to our Fisher House families and team.
NORTH CAROLINA
NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER CAMP LEJEUNE Camp Lejeune
The last year plus has been challenging for so many. There has been so much uncertainty. Now more than ever, the community support has been integral to the Camp Lejeune Fisher House's success. Whether it was a small box of toiletries from the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, a gift card donation from USAA or the United Daughters of the Confederacy Cape Fear Chapter, decorative wreaths for the front doors from the Marine Corps League Auxiliary Unit 262, Girl Scout Cookies from NC Packs for Patriots, or an impromptu pizza party (delivered socially distant) with gift cards from the Joseph Montfort Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, we wouldn't be the same home away from home for our service members and their families without it.
OHIO
LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER Cleveland
As I was walking across the patio area headed to Fisher House 2, Mrs. Muller stopped me just to compliment the staff at the Cleveland VA Fisher House. She thanked all of the house staff: Nick, Drew, FH security, cleaning crew (Yolonda). “You all have been so wonderful to us," Mrs. Muller said. "Words could never express how we feel. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” She was here with her husband, Jim.
S O U T H C A R O L I NA
RALPLH H. JOHNSON VA MEDICAL CENTER Charleston
Fisher House Charleston volunteer and master gardener Shirley Cooper volunteered many hours to brighten the Fisher House back porch during a recent beautification project. Shirley and the Fisher House manager designed and created an oasis for guests to enjoy when staying at Fisher House Charleston. For several years, Shirley has also designed and cared for the front porch flowers and was more than happy to work on this project as well. We thank Shirley for sharing her time and expertise with Fisher House Charleston!
The support and caring attitude that has always served to uplift this house has been sustained and keeps us confident THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
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IRA Donations
A frequent question Fisher House Foundation receives this time of year comes from donors who wish to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Starting at age 72, the IRS requires owners to withdraw from their IRA accounts each year. These withdrawals are known as Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). The IRS imposes a fine, equivalent to half of the RMD, for failing to withdraw minimum distributions. Due to this requirement, giving from an IRA has become one of the most tax-efficient ways for individuals to donate. The deadline for QCDs is Dec. 31 for that calendar year. To begin the process and to receive instruction on how to proceed, please contact your IRA custodian. Should you initiate a QCD for Fisher House Foundation, please contact us by calling, emailing, or writing to ensure you receive the proper IRS documentation. Remind your financial institution to include your name and mailing address on the check or in an enclosed letter and clarify that the donation is a QCD.
of life. Our home is truly grateful to all of our friends and neighbors that consistently choose to love our home and our mission as much as we do.
NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth
VIRGINIA
FORT BELVOIR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Fort Belvoir
Throughout the global health crisis, the Fort Belvoir community has found ways to support our home. We’ve been answering the door to find donations on the front porch and a familiar face waving from the end of the driveway. Crochet blankets, weekly drop offs from Amazon and local retailers, boxes filled with toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, laundry soap, disinfectant, and other basic needs. Local restaurants deliver box lunches with invoices marked donation/paid in full. The Fort Belvoir community is filled with active and retired service members of every military service and every walk
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
Members of the Unit Deployment Cell of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth were the first interior/exterior support volunteers to grace the Fisher House Portsmouth in over a year due to the pandemic. They are a team that makes sure that deploying members are prepared to deploy. The organizer of the volunteer event, Shadia Everett, expressed how they wanted to help an organization that not only cares for the active-duty member but also those left behind on the home front! They unanimously selected Fisher House Portsmouth. They reported full of smiles, excited and tenaciously ready to make a difference. Their presence was as if a wind of hope, relief, and newness blew in with them. Thank you all for the support given. The Fisher House Portsmouth hearts you!!!
Pictured are Chad Hunter, Rodney Shelley, Seth Barrow, Shadia Everett, Ashley Verchick, and Miko Vogel.
Ways to Give This Holiday Season
As you begin to think about gifts this holiday season, here are a few ways to support military families: Fundraisers: Use your passion to support our mission! Create a fundraiser on our website at fisherhouse.org/fundraise or setup a fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram.
Tribute: This holiday season, make a donation in honor of a loved one, and Fisher House will send a special message to your honoree.
Join Zach's Club: Become a monthly donor and honor Zachary Fisher's legacy at fisherhouse.org/zach. ZACH’S CLUB
Stocks and Qualified Charitable Distribution: In addition to donating stocks, anyone 72+ can make a donation from an IRA while fulfilling required minimum distributions and reducing taxes. Frequent Flyer Miles and Hotel Points: Help wounded, injured, or ill service members with their continued recovery with donated airline miles and hotel reward points, allowing them to travel or to stay in hotels when a Fisher House is full. Leave a Legacy: Remember military families in your estate plans by listing Fisher House Foundation as a beneficiary in your will, stock portfolio, life insurance policy, or other unneeded retirement assets. Donate a Vehicle: Get rid of an unwanted car, truck, RV, boat, or plane—running or not—and help military families. Visit fisherhouse.careasy.org for a fast and hassle-free alternative to selling or trading.
Don’t forget you can make a donation in support of Fisher House Foundation via the Combined Federal Campaign! CFC code 11453 THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
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FISHER HOUSE
LOCATION GUIDE
Please contact the Fisher House manager directly at the desired location by phone or email.
ALASKA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Hospital (907) 222-1673 Manager: Theresa Nedrow theresa.nedrow.2@us.af.mil
(202) 745-2482 Manager: Stacey Childs stacey.childs@va.gov
ARIZONA Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Tucson (520) 838-3680 Manager: Kelly Laurich arizona.fisherhouse@va.gov
CALIFORNIA David Grant USAF Medical Center Travis Air Force Base (707) 423-7550 Manager: Ivana Jordovic ivana.jordovic@us.af.mil Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (760) 763-5308 Manager: Vicky Powell-Johnson victoria.powell-john@usmc.mil Naval Medical Center San Diego (619) 532-9055 Manager: Tiana Babcock tiana.n.babcock.naf@mail.mil VA Long Beach Healthcare System (562) 826-5467 Manager: Yolanda White yolanda.white2@va.gov VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (310) 268-4457 Manager: Erma Mickens erma.mickens@va.gov VA Palo Alto Health Care System (650) 493-5000 x60384 Manager: Tracy Marino tracy.marino@va.gov
COLORADO VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Aurora (720) 723-7683 Manager: Khristie Barker VHAECHFisherHouse@va.gov
CONNECTICUT VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven (203) 937-3438 Manager: Amanda Salthouse amanda.salthouse@va.gov
DELAWARE Fisher House for Families of the Fallen Dover Air Force Base (302) 922-1900 Manager: MSgt Kayla Hemmesch kayla.hemmesch@us.af.mil
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THE PATRIOT • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 2 • 2021
Washington DC VA Medical Center
FLORIDA Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (727) 319-1350 Manager: Shentrela Diggins shentrela.diggins@va.gov Eglin Air Force Base Hospital (850) 883-2865 Manager: Marc Ambrose marc.ambrose@us.af.mil James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Tampa (813) 910-3000 Manager: Sean Kelly sean.kelly2@va.gov Miami VA Healthcare System (305) 575-7260 Manager: Richie Sanchez lerrichiad.sanchez@va.gov North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Gainesville (352) 548-6492 Manager: Michelle Howard kimberly.howard@va.gov Orlando VA Medical Center (407) 631-9800 Manager: Terri Turner teresa.turner2@va.gov West Palm Beach VA Medical Center (561) 422-5554 Manager: Shelley Prickett shelley.prickett2@va.gov
GEORGIA Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center Augusta (706) 729-5773 Manager: Courtney Deese courtney.deese@va.gov Eisenhower Army Medical Center Fort Gordon (706) 787-7100 Manager: Francisco Cruz francisco.cruz10.naf@mail.mil
HAWAII Tripler Army Medical Center Honolulu (808) 433-1291 x28 Manager: Misty Hironaka misty.n.hironaka.naf@mail.mil
ILLINOIS Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Hines (708) 202-7154 Manager: Holly Wright holly.wright@va.gov
KENTUCKY Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Fort Campbell (270) 798-8330 Manager: Wendy J. Carlston wendy.j.carlston.naf@mail.mil
LOUISIANA Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System New Orleans (504) 507-6020 Manager: Debra Ceaser-Winbush debra.ceaser-winbush@va.gov
MAINE VA Maine Healthcare System Augusta (207) 623-8411 x7052 Manager: Patrick Crowley patrick.crowley@va.gov
MARYLAND Malcolm Grow Clinics & Surgery Center Andrews Air Force Base (301) 981-1243 Manager: Altraveese Young jbandrewsfisherhouse@gmail.com Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda (301) 295-5334 Manager: Michael Ybarra mybarra@fisherhousebethesda.org Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Silver Spring (301) 319-5442 Manager: Maurice Borde maurice.borde.naf@mail.mil
MASSACHUSETTS VA Boston Healthcare System (857) 203-4000 Manager: Elizabeth St. Pierre elizabeth.stpierre@va.gov
MICHIGAN VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (734) 845-3055 Manager: April LaRock april.larock@va.gov
MINNESOTA Minneapolis VA Health Care System (612) 467-5602 Manager: David Mason david.mason@va.gov
MISSISSIPPI Keesler Medical Center (228) 377-8264 Manager: Larry Vetter larry.a.vetter.naf@mail.mil
MISSOURI Kansas City VA Medical Center (816) 634-6415 Manager: Michael Unden michael.unden@va.gov
VA St. Louis Health Care System (314) 894-6145 Manager: Vanniecia Brown vanniecia.brown@va.gov
NEBRASKA VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Omaha (402) 930-7116 Manager: Colleen Vonderhaar colleen.vonderhaar@va.gov
NEVADA VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System North Las Vegas (702) 224-6789 Manager: Stephanie Jo Wheeler stephanie.wheeler4@va.gov
NEW MEXICO Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center Albuquerque (505) 265-1711 x3180 Manager: Christina Ramirez christina.ramirez2@va.gov
NEW YORK Albany Stratton VA Medical Center (518) 626-6919 Manager: Michael Fitzpatrick michael.fitzpatrick3@va.gov James J. Peters VA Medical Center Bronx (718) 584-9000 x2037 or x2039 Manager: Ellen Trbovich ellen.trbovich@va.gov
NORTH CAROLINA Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (910) 450-3885 Manager: Josie Cotton josephine.cotton@usmc.mil Womack Army Medical Center Fort Bragg (910) 849-3466 Manager: Vivian Wilson vivian.l.wilson.naf@mail.mil
OHIO Cincinnati VA Medical Center (513) 475-6571 Manager: Karrie Hagan karrie.hagan@va.gov Dayton VA Medical Center (937) 268-6511 x2887 Manager: Betsey Striebel betsey.striebel@va.gov Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (216) 707-4800 x. 67705 Manager: Tyler Estell tyler.estell@va.gov Wright-Patterson Medical Center (937) 257-0855 (Assistant) Manager: Marilyn Vazquez marilyn.e.vazquez.naf@mail.mil
OREGON
UTAH
VA Portland Health Care System (360) 567-4647 Manager: Kelly Konikow kelly.konikow@va.gov
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (801) 588-5900 Manager: Quinn Kiger-Good quinn.kiger@va.gov
PENNSYLVANIA VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (412) 360-2030 Manager: Heather Frantz heather.frantz@va.gov
VIRGINIA Fort Belvoir Community Hospital (703) 805-5203 Manager: Roxannamaria Calderon dha.belvoir.fbch.mbx.fisher-house@mail.mil
SOUTH CAROLINA Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Charleston (843) 805-8200 Manager: Jacalyn Slemmer jacalyn.slemmer@va.gov
TENNESSEE Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Murfreesboro (615) 225-5758 Manager: Becky Wood rebecca.wood4@va.gov
TEXAS
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center Richmond (804) 675-6639 Manager: Wayne Walker wayne.walker@va.gov Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (757) 953-6889 Manager: Jill Thompson jill.thompson@portsmouthfisherhouse.org
WASHINGTON Madigan Army Medical Center Joint Base Lewis-McChord (253) 967-5198 Manager: Vattana Garcia vattana.garcia.naf@mail.mil
Brooke Army Medical Center Joint Base San Antonio (210) 916-6000 Manager: Inge Godfrey inge.k.godfrey.naf@mail.mil Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Fort Hood (254) 286-7927 Manager: Candice Ualesi candice.t.ualesi.naf@mail.mil
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle (206) 768-5353 Manager: Christopher Spaulding christopher.spaulding@va.gov
WEST VIRGINIA Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center Huntington (304) 429-8700 Manager: Jason Wyant jason.wyant@va.gov
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston (713) 794-7784 Manager: Shanna Floyd shanna.floyd@va.gov
WISCONSIN
South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio (210) 617-5542 Manager: Erik Zielinski erik.zielinski@va.gov
Zablocki VA Medical Center Milwaukee (414) 384-2000 x45005 or x45006 Manager: Jennifer Kiefer jennifer.kiefer@va.gov
VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas (214) 857-4400 Manager: Lydia Henderson lydia.henderson1@va.gov
GERMANY Landstuhl Regional Medical Center 011-49-6371-9464-7430 fax: 011-49-6371-866679 Manager: Sarafina Buchanan sarafina.n.buchanan.naf@mail.mil
Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center San Antonio Military UNITED KINGDOM Medical Center Queen Elizabeth Lackland Air Force Base Hospital Birmingham (210) 671-6175 0121-472-6217 Manager: Philip Harralson fax: 0121-41306897 philip.harralson@us.af.mil Manager: Patrick Hogan fisherhouse@uhb.nhs.uk William Beaumont Army Medical Center Fort Bliss (915) 742-1860 Manager: Alice Coleman alice.m.coleman2.naf@mail.mil
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Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 12300 Twinbrook Parkway Suite 410 Rockville, MD 20852
a home away from home
For more than 30 years, the Fisher House program has helped families stay with loved ones receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers, because we believe “A family’s love is good medicine.” These homes provide free, temporary lodging to military and veterans’ families so they can be close to their loved ones during medical crises.
CFC CODE: 11453
Since 1990: 413,000 families served | $525 million in savings | 10 million nights of lodging
91 FISHER HOUSES*
★ ★(2) ★
★
★(2) ★
★ ★(2)
★
★
★
★(2) ★
★
★(2) ★(2)
★ ★★ ★ ★(2) ★
(5)★★
★★(2) ★ ★
★ ★
★
★
★
★
★
★ ★ ★ ★(2)
★
★
★
★★
★
★
★
★
★Birmingham, UK
★ ★
★(2)
★(2)
★(4) (3)★★
★(3)
★
★(2) ★
★ ★ ★★(2) ★ ★
★
★(2)
Landstuhl, Germany
★
= existing houses = houses under construction Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple houses at one location.
* As of April 1, 2021
www.fisherhouse.org | (888) 294-8560
