A Home Away from Home for the Holidays

Austin and Adam became good friends with Benson during their dad's stay in Cleveland for a double lung transplant.

For patients, caregivers, and their loved ones the transplant journey provides hope for life-saving treatment, but is also a frightening and stressful rollercoaster. Far from home, away from family and friends, and facing uncertainty, the journey is financially, emotionally, and logistically burdensome. These burdens can feel even harder during the holiday season.

Care and comfort can take many different forms for these families. Whether its sharing a meal with fellow patients and caregivers each Wednesday night, sitting down to talk one-on-one with Annette our on-staff transplant social worker, spending some quality time with Benson, or having a quiet and private moment in the apartment after a long day at the hospital, Transplant House provides guests with more than a roof over their heads. When they arrive at the House they are immediately welcomed into a community of care that understands the unique needs of transplant patients and caregivers.

Throughout this holiday season, with the support of many volunteers, guests are reminded that they are don't face the journey alone and that they have a place they can call home while they are far from their own. From festive decorations, to holiday meals and goodie bags, the holidays at Transplant House are warm and bright.

From everyone at our House, we wish you a joyous holiday season and thank you for helping us care for transplant patients and caregivers year-round.

Meet House Guests Angela and Rick

Angela Montalvo was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 15 after being rushed to the hospital by her mom with a fever of 106 degrees. They thought it was her appendix, but the medical team discovered it was Angela’s intestines about to rupture. She underwent the first of many surgeries — one that would save her life, but also marked the start of 30 years of recurring surgeries...

Operations Assistant

Ryan joined the staff in November 2024, having previously worked a variety of jobs in Cleveland and Columbus. Originally from the Cleveland area he studied International Relations and History at Ohio State University. Ryan has volunteered at museums, nature centers, and community organizations around Cleveland. He is excited to work for Transplant House, seeing it as a way to not only help people, but also work for the community he loves. In his free time he likes exploring the city, reading, watching movies, walking through the Metroparks, and playing with his cat.

Save the Date

A Second Dance at Life Gala

We are excited to announce that the Second Dance at Life Gala is returning October 25, 2025! Join us at the Arielle LaSalle Theater 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!

Happenings Around the House

Thanksgiving at Transplant House

It's been a warm, welcoming, and nourishing holiday season so far at Transplant House thanks to many generous meal volunteers and donors! Our Thanksgiving feast at the House was made possible because of Phil, Cindy, and their team of friends who prepared a traditional dinner with all the trimmings for our guests the evening before the holiday.

Thank you to the Strongsville Women's League

Thank you to the amazing ladies from the Strongsville Women's League who brought holiday cheer to our House by delivering donated items to fill gift bags for our guests, decorating those gift bags, and putting up holiday decor in our community spaces! We are grateful to them for bringing the Holiday season to our guests and making these cold December days a whole lot brighter!

Giving the Gift of Comfort and Warmth

Community Quilters of Beachwood donated a number of beautiful, handmade quilts to the House for our guests, including this queen-sized quilt. Community quilters has supported our guests with their amazing artwork for many years, adding a touch of warmth and home to our common spaces and apartments.

More Happenings around the House

Meal Volunteers: Providing a Taste of Home

Our meal volunteers are a big reason why our guests find Transplant House a welcoming, home-away-from-home while staying in Cleveland for life-saving medical care. Our 2025 schedule is now available for signups and we need your help to kick off the new year with warm meals and gatherings that foster lasting friendships.

Ring that Bell!

Ring that bell! Scott and his caregiver Jennifer came to Cleveland from Virginia in the hope of a double lung transplant for Scott. Their stay here in Cleveland was a long one, and in that time they made lasting friendships with others here at the House that have helped them on their journey to transplant and recovery. We are so grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone with them; and we're also grateful for the "yes" of the donor that made the gift of a second chance at life for Scott possible.

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 Holidays from Benson and Chance!

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