Robert and Betsy Horen became involved with Gift of Life after Robert received a kidney transplant in 2006.
When Gift of Life Howie’s House opened in 2011, they enjoyed attending events and visiting on special occasions. After witnessing the outstanding care provided to the transplant families, the volunteers donating their time and the comradery among families, they became avid supporters of the mission.
“We always enjoyed visiting the House at special times and watching the love and caring of everyone that worked there, friends donating their time, and cooking ability, and hearing the personal stories of the people that were staying there.”
A few years later Robert sadly passed away, but Betsy remained dedicated to the mission. She made the decision to join the Legacy Society for Planned Giving to support the future of the House, while ensuring that Robert’s legacy lives on.
“In 2014 my Robert peacefully passed away, but our dedication and love for the House will continue,” says Betsy.
For more information on making a planned gift to the House, click here or call 267-546-9812. If you have already provided for the House in your will, or by another planned gift, please let us know so we can celebrate your generosity now!
Caregivers from our virtual transplant caregiver support group provided insight on what they’ve learned from their experiences, as well as suggestions for other caregivers who are new to the process.
Here’s what they said:
Learn pre- and post-transplant expectations and responsibilities. Create lists, schedules, and agendas with the transplant patient. Review these lists with your medical team to develop a sense of confidence in your role and responsibilities as a caregiver.
Ask lots of questions and take notes. Keep a journal and bring it to all appointments, labs, and meetings. Write down the answers to your questions so you can refer to them later.
Be an advocate. You will quickly become an advocate for both yourself and the patient. Keep your patient’s healthcare goals in mind while navigating interactions with the transplant team.
Keep a bag packed. Assemble an overnight bag for both you and the patient in the event of an unexpected hospitalization. This bag can include extra clothing, as well as a list of things you won’t want to forget, such as electronics and medication.
Transplant is multidimensional. It impacts not only the physical health of the transplant patient and caregiver, but also the emotional and spiritual health of you both. Prioritize self-care whenever possible.
This process is a rollercoaster. It has many highs accompanied by lows. You will likely experience feelings of hope, fear, excitement, and everything in between. Find ways to connect to other transplant caregivers to share these feelings.
It will require a lot of flexibility and communication. There are times that the transplant process may not go as you expected. Keeping an open mind and remaining adaptable will help to cope with these changes.
Find things, places, or people that keep you grounded and give you perspective. As a caregiver, it can be is difficult to remember life beyond treatment and transplant. Try to find distractions and enjoyment outside of this experience.
Find something every day that makes you laugh. Participating in activities or spending time with people who bring you joy can support your mood, health, and decrease the chance of burnout.
Remember that transplant is a marathon, not a sprint. This is a journey that doesn’t end with surgery. It is a commitment that involves ongoing support, obstacles, and care. Supporting your own needs is a critical part of avoiding burnout and navigating your ‘new normal.’
If you’re interested in connecting with other transplant caregivers to hear their stories, share your own, and experience a sense of community, join the monthly support group here: GiftofLifeHowiesHouse.org/upcoming-support-groups/
June 29th, 2022, was an extraordinary day like no other. On this beautiful, sunny Wednesday, Gift of Life Family House was officially renamed as Gift of Life Howie’s House to honor former President and CEO, Howard M. Nathan.
The celebration kicked off with a day event honoring Howard where current and former staff came together to commemorate all of Howard’s accomplishments. Guests enjoyed good food and laughter while our guest speakers, John Edwards, Brian Hamilton, Kevin Sparkman, and John Abrams all shared special memories from working with Howard throughout his long, incomparable career.
Following this luncheon, the festivities continued to further recognize Howard’s immeasurable contributions with an evening event for Howard’s friends, family, colleagues and close members of the transplant community. Delicious food, drinks, live music and special guest speakers made for a truly unforgettable night. The distinguished guest speakers included Dr. Barbara Wadsworth, Dr. Clyde Barker, Phyllis Weber, David Fleming, and Brian Zionts-Bernstein, who all laid testimony to the tremendous impact Howard has made on the community.
Both events wrapped up with remarks from President and CEO, Richard Hasz, and Chief Administrative Officer, Jan Weinstock, as well as a special tribute video honoring the many traits that make Howard who he is. Howard himself closed out the events, sharing how his own background led him to become the leader his is today.
As he said in his remarks, “I am very honored that Gift of Life Family House is being renamed Gift of Life Howie’s House…Some of you may wonder where that name came from. While most people know me by Howard, my family and close friends know me as Howie. It is a name that reminds me of home, growing up as a small-town kid in the safe haven of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is this atmosphere of comfort, warmth, and safety that we provide here for our transplant patients and families at Howie’s House.”
If you couldn’t join us, you can find photos and watch the livestream of the evening’s program and the Gift of Life Howie’s House dedication here on our Facebook page.
We would also like to thank those who have honored Howard through contributing a special gift to the Beyond Measure: The Howard M. Nathan Impact Fund. A gift to the Impact Fund supports Howard’s vision – today and into the future – for a place of affordable respite for transplant families where no one will be turned away because of inability to pay. Your support provides a lasting tribute to Howard and means a great deal to him and the families we serve. The Fund will remain open to all of those who still want to make a contribution!
In January, Howard Nathan retired after an incomparable career as President & CEO of the Gift of Life Donor Program and shifted to his new role as Executive Director of the Transplant Foundation. There is hardly a professional involved in organ transplantation anywhere in the world who does not know Howard’s name. Thousands of recipients and donor families have felt the impact of his vision, determination, and empathy. However, since Howard stepped down amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, we have not had the opportunity to celebrate his career as we would like, until now.
We are truly thrilled to announce a few ways we are honoring Howard this year:
Gift of Life Howie’s House is being renamed in Howard’s honor! Gift of Life Howie’s House will be officially dedicated this summer and will continue to welcome guests with the warmth and compassion embodied by its new namesake. If you would like to share a message for Howard, please click here.
We are also very proud to launch Beyond Measure: The Howard M. Nathan Impact Fund benefitting Gift of Life Howie’s House, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to honor Howard with a personal or corporate contribution, in gratitude for his outsized influence on donation and transplantation and to ensure that Howie’s House continues to fulfill its commitment that no family be turned away for inability to pay. To make a contribution in Howard’s honor, please click here.
We are excited to be able to celebrate Howard. Throughout his 43+ year career, Howard’s visionary efforts to move the field of organ and tissue donation forward have resulted in the successful coordination of more than 55,000 life-saving organs for transplant and more than 2 million life enhancing tissues for transplant through Gift of Life Donor Program alone. Each precious gift offered hope to patients and their families. His tireless dedication, leadership, and mentorship have influenced best donation practices and policies regionally, across the United States and around the world.
Many professionals in our chosen field have had the chance to work with Howard throughout his career and have experienced first-hand his dedication and commitment. His passion to advance the Art & Science of Donation is well established, with Gift of Life Institute supporting innovation and accountability in the field. And it is only because of Howard’s compassion and commitment to the families undergoing the challenging transplant journey that his dream of Gift of Life Howie’s House became a reality, a home away from home for transplant families travelling to the Philadelphia region for their transplant care. Informed by his own family’s experience while his sister underwent her life saving liver transplant, Howard took action to complete the circle of care provided by the Gift of Life family.
The Howie’s House, celebrating its 10 years of providing support and affordable lodging stands as a testament to what Howard sought for all families. Compassion, care and expertise all harnessed to support life-saving work grounded in the altruistic acts of donor families.
We are all grateful for Howard’s leadership, his vision, his tenacity, and his personal compassion. We hope you will join us in this singular opportunity to thank an exceptional man who has had a foundational impact on the profound work we all share.
Transplant caregivers often face an array of struggles that are commonly overlooked, especially when it comes to communicating the realities of the transplant journey. From caring for the patient, managing daily tasks, and dealing with the emotional and financial hardships that can come from transplant, it is a role that requires a lot of strength.
Michele Keefe, a Binghampton, NY area native and past Howie’s House guest, recounts her journey as the primary caregiver to her husband, Tom, who received a double lung transplant in August of 2021.
Tom had been suffering from COPD for several years before finally getting listed for a transplant. During this time, Michele did significant research into Tom’s disease and possible outcomes. She says that she always knew that a transplant was going to be what Tom needed. “I started advocating with his pulmonary physician at home, and saying that the only way we were going to fix this was with a transplant,” explains Michele.
Once Tom was listed, their journey to transplant was a short one. Just 2 days after getting listed Tom received his life-saving transplant. The couple were able stayed at the Howie’s House during Tom’s recovery. Michele says that as a caregiver, staying at the Howie’s House made all the difference.
“There’s a hundred million things that you are worried about as a caregiver. It was comforting to know that I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to sleep or what I was going to eat,” says Michele. “It probably seems mundane… but the meal at night was huge. You get to the hospital early, and you’re there all day, and then by the time you get him settled for bed and you leave, you don’t want to have to worry about what you were going to eat, it was just here.”
She explains how hard the transplant journey can be to prepare for, and how feeling like she had a safe place during that time of uncertainty helped ease some of her stress.
“Everything while on the transplant journey is new. They give you all the education and they tell you everything beforehand, but it’s not the same as going through it,” Michele recalls. “It just is comforting to know that if you had a need, that this was the place that could take care of that.”
Michele says that she managed the many stressors of being a caregiver by learning to “roll with the punches” and by practicing patience.
“You learn to be patient, and to roll with it. Some days it didn’t matter if I had 14 things on the to-do list, we would have to just sit and breathe together,” she explains. “Someone said to me early on in this process, ‘Life is a juggling act, and you can’t let glass balls fall, which are your health, and your family. Rubber balls you can let go as your juggling, because you can always find another job or another car, but you have to prioritize what’s important.”
When asked if she had any advice for caregivers, she says that “it’s important to be as knowledgeable as you possibly can and to trust your gut, because if there is something in you that’s saying ‘this isn’t right’, you have to be the advocate for the person that you care about.”
What brought me to the Howie’s House?
I served twenty-four years in the United States Army and during that time, I had the honor to serve in Iraq, in multiple combat tours. An experience I am very proud of and one I will never forget.
Upon returning home from the multiple tours, I began experiencing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
I had trouble sleeping, irritability, severe depression and flashbacks. This began to affect my personal and professional life. I didn’t know how to deal and didn’t know where to find support. I began drinking to alleviate the pain that had completely consumed me. I felt the only way to deal with what was happening was to drink, which ultimately led to my hospitalization.
How I Got Here
On January 1st 2021, I was rushed to a transplant hospital in Philadelphia in complete liver and renal failure. My body was malnourished, and I was unconscious. I was in immediate need for a liver transplant or I was not going to make it.
I was put into a medical coma and began the process of being listed for a liver transplant, that would eventually save my life. My sister stayed at the Howie’s House while I was hospitalized.
After a month of waiting in the hospital, I finally received my gift of life, a liver transplant, on February 4th.
Though because of the long hospitalization, the road to normalcy was a long one. My muscles had atrophied and with that began months of physical and occupational therapy.
Time to Leave the Hospital
As I came to the end of my 4 months stay in the hospital, I realized there was a lot more healing to do before returning home, medically, physically, and emotionally.
What I found was a place to transition and to heal – to get ready to return, not to the old life I had but the new life that I had been given, MY SECOND CHANCE.
At the Howie’s House I had place to go to after a long day of follow up appointments or dialysis, as my kidneys also failed during my transplant process. I was surrounded by my family as well as a new family of people with the same shared experiences.
Every night we had dinner donated by several groups and organizations and this was a time to share stories with other guests of how we got there, who we are, and the ins and outs the hospitals we would go to.
Staying at the Howie’s House to be close to the hospital was extremely important after my long hospital stay and medical recover. However, staying at the Howie’s House was also extremely important to my emotional healing.
Meeting other patients and families, working with the hospital and Howie’s House social workers, and focusing on my recovery all began when I checked into the Howie’s House.
Time to go home!
After about 2 months at the Howie’s House, in June 2021, I was ready to take on my new life. In the military we have what is called a change of mission – starting something completely new. You have to learn to adapt to that situation.
I wasn’t going back to my old life, but adapting to a new environment with different challenges. Howie’s House, my medical team, and support system, gave me skills to take this on.
Closing
I am currently medically retired from the military, however I still stay close. I am working with soldiers as a Master Resiliency Trainer, which I received through University of Pennsylvania, guiding soldiers to get the help and counseling they need to overcome depression, anxiety and addiction.
My sister, who stayed with me during my time at GOL, also has a charitable organization for disabled veterans to experience the sport of scuba diving, which I also support.
I am so incredibly grateful for my second chance at life. I thank my donors and donor families, as I had my liver transplant in February and then I did receive my kidney transplant in December 2021. My donors gave me the ultimate gift, so I can see my kids grow up, graduate college and live their own successful lives.
With my second chance I plan to compete in the transplant games later this year in the triathlon and I will continue to help other soldiers who are dealing with what I went through.
I thank the Gift of Life Donor Program for facilitating the process to get me transplanted as well as the Howie’s House for giving me a place to recover and heal in so many ways.
Finally, I want to say thank you to all the contributors who help keep the Howie’s House going, as well as the staff, fellow patients and families. Without you so many people would not have a second chance at life to love and share.
In the words of Jan Weinstock, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, “It may have been raining, but the sun was certainly shining” at our annual President’s Reception that was held on May 6th, 2022, at Gift of Life Howie’s House.
After two long awaited years, generous contributors, volunteers and staff were finally able to reunite in person during our Rise and Shine President’s Breakfast. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to share many laughs and memories and recognize the continued generosity of our amazing community.
President and CEO, Rick Hasz along with Jan also had the pleasure of sharing some important milestones reached, updates and remarks about the Howie’s House’s exciting journey ahead and transition into our new name, Gift of Life Howie’s House.
As past guest, transplant recipient and veteran, Jason Vaughn, said in his speech at the reception, “At the Howie’s House I had place to go to after a long day….. I was surrounded by my family as well as a new family of people with the same shared experiences….I want to say thank you to all the contributors who help keep the Howie’s House going, as well as the staff, fellow patients and families. Without you so many people would not have a second chance at life.”
His gratitude represents the thousands of patients and caregivers supported by the Howie’s House on their journey to hope.
We were also joined by special guests, the Ward family, who stayed at the Howie’s House when they learned their young son Jude needed a liver transplant. Jude received his gift of life in 2017 and the whole family relied on the comforts of the Howie’s House during their transplant journey.
Many families, such as the Wards, are in desperate need of a clean, warm, place to stay during their transplant journey. In 2017, Nicole Ward learned that her son Jude would need a liver transplant. It was critical that the Ward family felt safe and comforted during their stay. Nicole said, “A simple donation means the world to another family.”
We were honored to have both Jason and the Ward Family ring the Chimes of Hope in celebration of all that the Howie’s House is able to accomplish because of the generosity of our community. If you were not able to attend this year’s event, you can watch the video on our Facebook page here.
Mike Bacher and his wife Jo-Ann are from Lewis, Delaware and first came to the Howie’s House in January of 2022 to start the evaluation process for a heart transplant. Mike was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy 16 years ago, and lived a normal, healthy life until his health started to decline, and his doctors advised him to consider a transplant that could save his life.
They were thankful to have a safe and comforting accommodations during the process.
Heather, Mike’s daughter, said that when Mike and Jo-Ann first came to the House, “they said they knew it was the right place to stay”.
A few weeks later, Mike was listed for a heart transplant at Temple University Hospital, and after only 11 days of waiting, he received his precious gift of life. Jo-Ann stayed at the Howie’s House while he recovered and was able to have their two daughters, Heather and Melissa, as well as other family members take turns staying with her to offer support.
“It’s been such a stressful, overwhelming experience but having somewhere to eat and sleep and rest is priceless,” says Heather. “My dad was also able to gain a sense of peace and comfort knowing that his family was safe while he was in the hospital.”
The Bacher’s family and friends asked how they could support them during their journey and they requested that all support be directed to the Howie’s House. A place that is helping them and others during the transplant journey. Sisters Heather and Melissa created a Facebook fundraiser where people could donate in Mike’s honor to benefit the House. The fundraiser ended up raising over $12,000!
The generosity didn’t stop there. When Jo-Ann’s employer, Jack Lingo Realtor, heard about Mike’s transplant, the company decided to hold a matching gift fundraiser with their employees and raised over $5,000, which makes the grand total of over $17,000 raised for the Howie’s House!
The Bacher Family say that they are grateful to the Howie’s House for all the services they received, and to Mike’s donor for giving him his precious gift of life. “My dad has someone else’s heart beating in his body. He gets to live longer and make more memories, there is no greater gift than something like that,” says Heather.
Just a few days after Mike was discharge from the hospital, the entire Bacher Family visited the Howie’s House to celebrate Mike’s transplant and ring the Chimes of Hope, and even provided a home-cooked meal to the families to give back.
Click here to watch the family ring the Chimes of Hope!
In honor of National Social Worker’s Month, we thought we would feature one of our Howie’s House social workers, Faith, to learn more about her and her background! Faith started working at the Howie’s House in November of 2020 and has since become an incredibly valuable member of the team.
Q: Where are you from? Where did you attend school?
A: I grew up in Bloomsburg PA, where I received my undergraduate degree at Bloomsburg University. I moved to Philadelphia to pursue my MSW at West Chester University.
Q: How did you decide you wanted to be a social worker?
My goal has always been to work in a helping profession. Having a passion for advocacy and mental health, social work seemed like a perfect balance of the two!
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part about being a social worker at the Howie’s House is the opportunity to build connections with our transplant families and community.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy staying active at the gym or on Kelly Drive, trying new restaurants around Philly, and taking day trips to the shore as frequently as possible!
Our social workers are a vital part of serving our mission and provide Howie’s House guests with critical support and education while undergoing the transplant process. Faith is a vital member of the Howie’s House team and we are so grateful to have her on board!
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