HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM RESTORING HOPE!
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Dearest Friends,
Thanksgiving seems to almost be a daily holiday of sorts here at Restoring Hope Transplant House. When you are surrounded each and every day with families in search of a life-saving miracle, sharing the journey always seems to have a very deep, emotional and lasting impact on all of those who share the warmth and comfort of a home and the priceless f
riendships that are created within its walls.
This year, we have so much to be thankful for here at Restoring Hope Transplan
t House. It has been by far the busiest year we have ever had. We have now set monthly guest stay records in 8 of the 10 months thus far in 2016 with our six busiest months ever all coming this year. As I write this, we currently have transplant guests here from Maine, New York, Illinois and scattered throughout our home state of Wisconsin. We have had the good fortune to welcome transplant families from 33 different states and as far away as London, Hong Kong and Calgary since opening our doors in 2013. We owe a great deal of thanks to our loyal guests and dear friends who regularly call Restoring Hope home while in the Madison area as well as the world-class Transplant Program staff at UW Hospital for their support, kind words and continued referrals of new families. What a difference these combined efforts have made. We are beyond grateful for all who have had a hand in making this a record breaking year for Restoring Hope.
As a non-profit, the income we generate from guest stays typically only covers about 1/3 of our operating expenses. As a result, our ability to keep these doors open to full houses depends entirely on monetary donations and in-kind contributions. To those who have held fundraisers in support of the house, given us the opportunity to speak throughout the state in the very cities our guests call home, contributed food and household supplies for us to share with guests, made monthly pledges, volunteered at events and donated in honor or in memory of loved ones...please know that your support is the reason this house is available for your friends, neighbors and loved ones when they absolutely need it the most.
With the demand for rooms at an all-time high, we have had to turn old friends and new families away now with heartbreaking regularity on those nights we are at capacity. It's a horrible feeling to receive a call from a dear friend in the midst of a medical crisis and have to tell them that they will have to look elsewhere because we don't have the space. As many of you know, we have ambitious plans for expansion and remodeling that would help to alleviate those problems going forward. With the continued support and generosity of groups like the statewide Lions Clubs of Wisconsin and so many others, these dreams can become a reality for all of our transplant families in need but we desperately need your collective help to reach those financial goals and cover monthly operating expenses. Please help where you can by making a contribution today and sharing the great news about our families and this mission to others who may have their hearts completely warmed by their stories. If we build it, they will most definitely come!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Cindy Herbst
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Restoring Hope Transplant House
Please help give the gift of home this holiday season to transplant families in need by making a secure online donation today -
RHTH PayPal Donation
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Reminder to Guests: RHTH Will Be Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner!
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Your Thanksgiving Dinner Home Away From Home
Just a quick reminder to the transplant families who are staying with us this week or any former guests who are at the hospital with loved ones over Thanksgiving that we will once again be hosting a festive Thanksgiving Dinner here at Restoring Hope Transplant House so please stop by to share the great company and good food amongst friends!
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RHTH Guests Giving Thanks: In Their Own Words
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Bou & Marty's Liver Transplant Story
Our lives were changed when the doctors told us Marty would need a liver transplant. There was so much to think about (while fighting through tears) - would they accept him
and put him on the list, how long do we wait, how long can he wait, what about insurance, how long can I stay with him, where do I stay - the questions were endless. Then we got the news, the hospital he was at wouldn't list him so he was transferred to the University of Wisconsin - Madison. I learned about the house from the hospital and have stayed many times since his transplant in April.
I wish we could truly express how thankful we are to each and every per
son th
at has come into our lives. Especially at a time when life just wasn't fair, every day brought a new challenge, and there was more heartache ahead. H
ow do you say thank you to the people that held your hand? The words seem so small and meaningless.
The Transplant House isn't just a place where we stayed. It is a place where our new family stays. Cindy, Brian, and Eric opened their hearts to us. The moment you walk in the door, you are welcomed with someone that wants to know how things are going - and did you get something to eat and is there anything you need. You get to know people that are going through the same thing and suddenly you don't feel so alone. That bond of friendship is thicker than blood and sweeter than honey. And as with any true family, no matter what happens, they got your back.
So "Thank You!!" to the family that gave us the ultimate gift of hope and for all those that held our hands along the way.
Forever in our hearts,
Boualay & Marty
Parkersburg, Iowa
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Brittany's Bone Marrow Transplant Story
I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on March 1, 2016 and had a bone marrow transplant on June 23, 2016.
My family is from Racine, WI and wanted to be with me as much as possible but the costs were really starting to add up with having to stay in a hotel. Obviously they would have done anything for me and would have gladly stayed at a hotel but then our social worker gave us a pamphlet for Restoring Hope Transplant House.
I called and Cindy was so genuine. She was incredibly kind and wanted to know all about everything I was going through. She welcomed us to their house with open arms. Restoring Hope Transplant House was really easy to work with as well. Sometimes the discharge day would be unknown, but the RHTH would work with my family and ensure that they still had a place to stay no matter what happened.
My parents absolutely loved staying at RHTH and recommend it to everyone that is going through any type of transplant. It was really nice for them to have people that they could connect with and truly understood what they were going through. It's difficult facing these types of things and I really feel that the RHTH made my parents feel not so alone at a time of need.
One thing that I thought was really nice was on the day of my transplant; Cindy came to my hospital room and delivered a sign that said "Best Wishes to Brittany and Family on Transplant Day." That was so nice of her. They haven't even met me and still made the time out of their day to do that for me.
Thank you so much to everyone that makes any types of donations to make this available to transplant patients and their families. You have no idea how much of a difference it makes!
Brittany
Reedsburg, WI
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Chelsey's Double Lung Transplant Story
I had a life-saving double lung transplant 2 1/2 years ago. It was a very long wait on the transplant list but when I finally got the call it was a spontaneous trip for my family and friends from Green Bay.
To this day I am so very thankful for my donor, doctors, surgeons, and everyone who took care of me; but I'm especially grateful for the Restoring Hope Transplant House. The Transplant House was a sanctuary for my family and friends during my transplant and recovery. I've met so many wonderful people through my journey.
The Transplant House became my second home, where I could play games, be myself, and joke around with the night manager, Eric, but yet I could also lay on the couch and take a nap when I needed to rest.
If it weren't for all the donors and people who help make the Transplant House possible, my family would not have been able to afford to stay in Madison with me during my surgery and recovery.
Restoring Hope Transplant House is such a blessing to those waiting for a transplant, healing from a transplant, and the family and friends that also stay there. Thank you to everyone making the Restoring Hope Transplant House possible, you are helping so many!
Chelsey
Green Bay, WI
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Lana's "Forever Friends" Thanksgiving Story
This Thanksgiving I have so much more to be thankful for. I lived at Restoring Hope Transplant House for 2 months while Bill got his new liver & all the complications that followed. I was so lucky to have been there. I have made "forever friends." I look forward every day to hear what is happening!
Lana Crystal Lake, IL
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Stella's Kidney Transplant Story
It's really great to come to Restoring Hope Transplant House. It's been the home to come to when you have to leave home. Those that take care of and have the house are so wonderful. Thanks to everyone here and those that will be. You will be welcomed with open arms and hearts!
Stella
Kidney Transplant Caregiver
Marshfield, WI
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October: Another record breaking month
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Busiest October Ever
It was another very busy month here at Restoring Hope Transplant House. Our busiest October ever, 3rd busiest month ever and we also added 2 new states to our guest list by hosting transplant families from Maine and Pennsylvania.
That brings us up to 33 states from which we have hosted a transplant family and we now have set monthly guest stay records in 8 of 10 months so far in 2016. We appreciate our loyal guests, the referrals and kind words from the hospital staff and everyone who has helped to spread the word about RHTH throughout the transplant community. What a difference your collective efforts have made this year!
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Fundraisers & Donations Making A Difference
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Thanks For Your Support!
Restoring Hope Transplant House would like to thank Thrivent Financial and Beta Sigma Phi (pictured at right) for their joint effort to provide MUNCHies (Meeting Unique Needs for the Caregiver at the Hospital) for our visiting transplant families. This thoughtful grant helped to fund the purchase of custom made Restoring Hope Transplant House labeled lunch bags courtesy of Thrivent and those bags were filled for our visiting transplant families with generous amounts of food and health related products provided by the Beta Sigma Phi international women's organization which has chapters scattered throughout Wisconsin.
In addition to supporting our transplant families with much needed supplies, over $4,000 was also raised for Restoring Hope Transplant House courtesy of the combined efforts of many of the 54 Beta Sigma Phi chapters throughout Wisconsin. These ladies have supported and raised awareness for Restoring Hope Transplant House for the past three years not only in their communities but throughout the state of Wisconsin including many of the hometowns of our visiting transplant families. Their efforts and dedication towards serving others encourages us greatly.
What an amazing gift and such a compassionate show of support for Restoring Hope Transplant House, our visiting families and the entire transplant community. Heartfelt thanks to all who helped to make these wonderful contributions possible!
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Donations in Loving Memory of Dad
Many thanks to the Muenchow family and their
Live.Love.Donate organization that helped to raise funds for Restoring Hope Transplant House at the recent 3rd Annual Steve Muenchow Memorial Golf Outing. They also stopped by the other day with several beautiful handmade blankets for our guests just in time for a chilly Wisconsin winter. What an amazing group, it was a real honor to be able to speak at their event and visit with such a wonderful transplant family. Thanks for choosing Restoring Hope as your charity of choice, we appreciate all you do for the transplant community.
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On The Road Again: Lions Clubs of Wisconsin
It has been great to get out on the road again this past month and speak at various Lions Club conventions scattered about Wisconsin.
It really hits home after these years of being open to transplant families that we can visit just about any region of the state or Lions Club distrtict and have a host of amazing guest stories and photos from that area to share with our loyal supporters. While Restoring Hope Transplant House is located in the Madison area, it truly is a home for all of Wisconsin and beyond as we have discovered which is why these speaking opportunities are so critically important. We are grateful for each and every invitation and beyond happy to visit whenenver it fits our busy schedule.
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About Restoring Hope Transplant House - Contact Cindy
Restoring Hope Transplant House is a non-profit home established to serve organ and bone marrow transplant patients and their families. The home features five generously-sized guest rooms, multiple sitting rooms, full kitchen, laundry, cable tv, wi-fi and a tranquil yet convenient location in downtown Middleton, just five miles from UW Hospital.
If you have any questions about RHTH, please contact Cindy to learn more.
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