A New Year of Community & Support

Guests and volunteers enjoy a community dinner during the holiday season.

As we reach the close of the first month of the new year, we reflect on the strength, resilience, and unwavering support that defines the community of patients and caregivers here at Transplant House. In the year ahead, we remain committed to providing not only a welcoming place to stay, but also a place where families and patients can find the comfort and care they need during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Our mission has always been to offer an affordable home-away-from-home; but more than that, we aim to provide care for transplant families in every sense of the word. From the moment they arrive, we are here to support them throughout their entire transplant journey. Whether it’s a cozy place to rest, a helping hand with navigating medical appointments, or a compassionate community to lean on during a challenging time, we believe that healing happens best when patients and caregivers are supported holistically.

Each day we are the grateful witnesses to the special bonds that are made here between families from all over the United States and beyond. If not for the shared need for life-saving medical care and this House, these families would have never met one another.

To all of you who support us in our work in so many ways, thank you for making these supportive – and transformative – friendships possible. They make the burdens of a difficult journey a little bit lighter.

New Program:

Navigating the Caregiver Journey

The journey to transplant completely upends the lives of families. For caregivers it often means entering into challenging and uncharted territory. Mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting, being a caregiver can feel overwhelming and isolating.

Navigating the Caregiver Journey is a weekly program hosted in-person and virtually that brings caregivers at every stage of the transplant journey together to find support, make valuable connections, and ensure they do not have to face it alone. This program is open to any caregivers, whether they are current guests or at home.

Learn More

Volunteer Opportunities

Meal Volunteers Needed - February 12th!

Our weekly meals have such an impact on the families who stay here, providing them with a nourishing meal and the opportunity to gather and support one another in community. We have openings throughout the rest of the calendar year, but we urgently need a volunteer group on Wednesday, February 12th. It's the perfect opportunity for a group to host a Valentine's Day-themed meal for our guests! If you are interested, you can view all of the available dates using the link below.

Volunteer for the A Second Dance at Life Gala Silent Auction and Raffle Committee!

We're seeking passionate volunteers to join our team of "Go Getters" and help us procure raffle and silent auction items for our upcoming A Second Dance at Life Gala. Whether you're reaching out to local businesses or turning to your own connections, every item donated helps us raise crucial funds for our mission. The initial meeting of the committee will be at the beginning of March.

Learn More & Sign Up

Meet Samuel Allen

Assistant Manager of Housekeeping and Grounds

Samuel joined the Transplant House of Cleveland team in 2024, bringing a background that is heavily focused on maintenance and construction. He finds satisfaction in hands-on-work and prides himself on a job well done. In his free time, Samuel enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling, and attending sporting events. He is honored to be a part of the THOC team and to contribute to the mission of caring for the families who call Transplant House home.

Save the Date

A Second Dance at Life Gala

Sponsorship opportunities available!

We are excited to announce that the Second Dance at Life Gala is returning October 25, 2025! Join us at the Arielle LaSalle Theater in Cleveland for a night of celebration and community support for the Transplant House of Cleveland. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to see you there!

Learn More & View Photos from 2024's Gala

Happenings Around the House

Thank You to the Team Members at UH's Transplant Institute!

Thank you to Cecilia Forman and her colleagues at University Hospitals' Transplant Institute for a generous donation of much-needed items from our wishlist! By providing basic necessities like laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies Cecilia and her team will help us welcome new families to Transplant House with apartments stocked with all of the essentials and ready to be a home-away-from-home for stays lasting a few nights, weeks, or longer.

Board member and liver recipient Matthew Miller and his wife and caregiver Lisa Vegas bring cookies each year for every guest family.

Holiday Cheer at THoC

Thank you to volunteers, board members, and friends of the House for bringing the holiday season to our guests. Whether its continuing a cookie decoration tradition for its 9th year running, the annual delivery of Christmas sweets by our two favorite "elves" Matthew and Lisa, or the gift of a Christmas dinner by a group of many kindhearted volunteers, the holiday season was one of warmth, community, and care at Transplant House.

For our guest families far from home, friends, and loved ones, being supported and cared for during the holidays makes such a difference. Thank you to everyone who supported our guests during the holidays – you made an impact here!

Volunteers Joanie and Dave cook breakfast for our guests each week.

Starting the Day with Community

Every Tuesday morning, guests are invited to come together in our community space for a home cooked breakfast, friendly conversation, and the support of others who understand the unique challenges transplant patients and caregivers face. These morning gatherings are so important for forging lasting friendships, ensuring that patients and caregivers do not feel alone while far from home, and helping caregivers who are focused on supporting their loved ones to also care for themselves.

Transplant House of Cleveland is about so much more than providing an affordable place to stay; it's also about ensuring transplant families have the resources and support they need at every stage of the journey.

More Happenings around the House

In January Alone, Your Support Has Made Possible...

Ring that Bell!

Ring that bell! Tammy Schimpf received her liver transplant on January 2nd at University Hospitals. Tammy, who lives locally, did not stay at Transplant House during her wait for the call; but she did become close to the patients and caregivers who call this House home. We are so glad that she became part of the community here at Transplant House and experienced the caring support of others on a similar journey.

If you are not already a registered organ donor, please consider becoming one today.

Transplant Anniversaries

1/3/2013 - Jennifer Ackerman

1/10/2010 - Joanmarie Button

1/10/2020 - Derek Sleman

1/15/2020 - Johnathan Cain

1/21/2019 - Ken Vogelsong

1/21/2021 - Paul Bass

1/21/2021 - Doug Bass

1/22/2022 - Julio Zavala

1/27/2016 - Karen Scheidel

1/31/2017 - Donna Kovacs

2/7/2002 - Candice Monroe

2/7/2022 - Bruce Bradshaw

2/7/2022 - Tara Prouty

2/7/2022 - Noland Williams

2/17/2021 - Mark Wilkins

2/19/2017 - Melissa (Kelly) Hopewell

2/15/2023 - Karen Klos

3/1/2015 - Robert Truslow

3/5/2022 - Randy Cooke

3/8/2014 - Ron Shortridge

3/12/2021 - Jim Fortuna

3/18/2002 - Joyce Merkel

3/18/2019 - Michael Adams

3/28/2001 - Louis Seidensticker

3/31/2017 - John Hurd

4/2/2022 - Pam Fidler

4/3/2022 - Jane Mahoney

4/10/2021 - Bob Bruno

4/13/2015 - Matthew Miller

4/17/2022 - Alan Flanigan

4/18/2022 - Alan Flanigan

4/21/2019 - David Samons

4/22/2021 - Paul Priebe

5/4/2019 - Jim Krebs

5/10/2011 - Darrell Pauley

5/13/2021 - Lynn Berotti

5/14/2021 - Michael Heileman

5/17/2018 - Mark Wells

5/17/2021 - Elizabeth Turner

5/19/2021 - Vito Suppa

5/21/2021 - Angela Easter

5/22/2021 - Linda Uehlein

5/30/2017 - Julie Magnini

6/1/2001 - Paul Zaborowicz

6/4/2015 - Ferman Milster

6/7/2021 - Denny Felver

6/7/2021 - Aidan Yamashita

6/7/2021 - Denny Felver

6/7/2021 - Aidan Yamashita

6/10/2004 - Pat Summers

6/16/2021 - Keith Young

7/15/2017 - Bob Weller

7/16/2004 - Jennifer Smith

7/17/2021 - Chris Pemberton

7/18/2021 - Chris Pemberton

7/28/2020 - Tim Krebs

8/11/2022 - Richard Gibson

8/23/2011 - Jerry Wichtel

9/2023 - Mark Hall

9/2023 - Robbie Parks

9/2023 - Denny Fox

9/2/2023 - Jane Williams

9/4/2020 - Jack Goltz

9/10/2021 - Dennis Hall

9/16/2016 - Jim Bagent

9/17/2014 - Jane Williams

9/20/2020 - Kathryn Edmond

9/24/2021 - Gene McNamara

9/25/2020 - Steve Brill

9/26/2000 - Bob Weller

9/27/2011 - Michael Hall

9/27/2018 - Karen Obermayer

10/2/2019 - Tammy Blair

10/4/2001 - Alan Flanigan

10/6/2020 - Maria Szarpa

10/6/2015 - Tonya Blalock

10/8/2023 - Alan Maas

10/10/2019 - Darlene Forsythe

10/11/2023 - David Stay

10/17/2021 - Joe Buchanan

10/18/2021 - Dale Heltzel

10/19/2021 - Dale Heltzel

10/22/2014 - Josh Hahn

10/22/2014 - Hartley Hutchins

10/22/2021 - Tom Pitts

10/26/2021 - Chelsea Vining

10/27/2017 - Mike Komula

10/28/2022 - Jamie Phillips

10/31/2020 - Richard Sell

11/4/2019 - Vicki Posner

11/5/2019 - Gary Prince

11/11/2015 - Kati Kaup Gregory

11/14/2022 - Jim Dariano

11/17/2006 - Leonard Snell

11/19/2014 - Macy Szucs

11/19/2021 - Brandon Troyer

11/22/2020 - Tyler Carroll

11/23/2018 - Fran Peach

12/8/2019 - Ron Castina

12/8/2020 - Jeffrey Eckerd

12/2/2012 - Randy Oyaski

12/10/2014 - Danny Burns

12/10/2016 - John Fetters

12/14/2022 - Martin Riessen

12/21/2023 - Mark Hatch

We want to help celebrate transplant anniversaries!

To add an anniversary to this list please respond to this email.

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Happy New Year from Transplant House of Cleveland!

Thank you to all our 2024 A Second Dance at Life Sponsors