Home away from home

While my mom was at the hospital, we stayed at the Travis AFB Fisher House. It was a nice place, it had a Bed and Breakfast feel to it. There were about 10 bedrooms and a common Den/Library, Dining Room and Kitchen area. Think Ronald McDonald House for the military. The room we had was comfortable and homey, the people living there were very nice and welcoming, and it was just across the street from the hospital. My siblings and I took turns spending the night there. Lauren even stayed a couple of days and she played at Fisher Park next door and in the den that that had tons of stuffed animals and childrens books.

We stayed free of charge but that wasn't the best part. The best part was not having to worry about lodging when we had other things to worry about, like taking care of my mom. The kitchen was stocked with donated food and snacks which came in handy one night when we returned from the hospital at 11 pm and hadn't had any dinner. Residents could store food in the large refrigerators but they were usually full with food donated from local businesses. One night I saw a couple of kids eating ice cream in the den while watching TV. They were obviously preoccupied and laughing half-heartedly at the TV. My heart went out to them, here they were trying to keep their lives as normal as possible while their loved one was hospitalized. Most of the residents are longer term, usually families of patients undergoing chemo or radiation. Sometimes the patients themselves live there while having their treatments.

There are Fisher Houses in military bases all across the country to provide lodging for patients and their families. Everything needed to run the houses (including decor, furniture, linens, toiletries, food, and utilities) comes from donations so if you're looking for a good cause to donate too, please consider donating to the Fisher House. To learn more about it, and learn how to donate, please visit their website.