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!
Dear Howie’s House community,
It’s hard to believe that over 10 years ago, Gift of Life Howie’s House officially opened its doors to welcome home transplant families.
Nancy and Thomas Greenholt of McSherrytown, PA were among the first to check in. “For months we’ve had to get up in the middle of the night to start our long drive to the hospital. We would then have to complete the return drive home later in the day,” they explained 10 years ago. “What a blessing to have the House available to spend the night and then be able to go directly to the clinic within 15 minutes. The stress of driving has at least been cut in half. We were thrilled to finally have a wonderful place to stay.”
Since then, we have provided comfort and hope to thousands of families like the Greenholts along their transplant journeys. And while no family’s experience is identical – there is comfort in sharing the experience with others who understand.
To mark this special milestone, we are thrilled to have kicked off a year-long 10th anniversary celebration and fundraising effort. We’re calling it our Journey to Hope Campaign in honor of the courageous families we serve every day. Check out our special campaign video here!
I’m extremely proud of all that we have accomplished together over the past decade.
In our 10-year history, we have provided over 72,000 nights of lodging and care as well as 250,000 meals plus household supplies, transportation and counseling to over 2,800 transplant families.
We have steadfastly maintained our $40 nightly room fee — though our actual costs are now as much as $175 per night — and have never turned away a family who couldn’t pay. All told, we have provided over $10 million in subsidized care to transplant families since we opened.
All of this is made possible by the generosity of individuals, companies, organizations, foundations, and friends like you who believe in our mission and know that we are good stewards of their generous contributions. I am so very grateful!
Our Journey to Hope needs YOU!
You can support our journey ahead and help us to continue offering affordable care to transplant families by supporting our campaign.
There are many ways to give to the Howie’s House and be recognized, including room and other sponsorship opportunities for individuals, groups and companies.
Please join us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and the journey to hope that we share.
Warm regards,
Howard M. Nathan
Founder, President & CEO
Nicole, 28, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at a young age and was given a low chance of surviving past age 10. Nicole describes her personality as a “bull” and says that “if someone tells me I can’t do something, then I’m going to fight very hard and go do it.”
Nicole beat the odds and it wasn’t until the age of 21 when her doctors told her that she would need to start looking into transplant surgery. A few years later, Nicole was added to the lung-transplant waiting list. And in June of 2019. just 2 weeks after getting married, Nicole received the best wedding gift one could ask for, a life-saving lung transplant!
Nicole and her mom, Patti, stayed at the Howie’s House for a little over 2 months during Nicole’s transplant and recovery journey. She says that although her recovery was hard, “knowing that you’re coming back to a place that’s peaceful and understanding is priceless”. Nicole and her mom particularly enjoyed interacting with the Home Cook Hero volunteers and the delicious meals they provided every night. “It was so comforting to come home from a long day of physical therapy and have spaghetti waiting for you”.
Nicole says she is thankful for the people at the Howie’s House that make the journey for transplant patients doable, and explains, “when you’re experiencing so much trauma on a regular basis, you really just need some love at the end of the day, and I felt like I got that at the Howie’s House.”
Growing up, Nicole’s passion and escape was always the theatre. She started participating in theatre groups from a young age and continued to star in and write for shows all the way into college. When her condition started to worsen, however, she could no longer participate in shows the way she wanted to. That is when she began to write a musical about her journey and experiences as a Cystic Fibrosis patient, and soon enough she had finished writing the lyrics to her full-length musical, Fall Risk.
Today, Nicole is in great health leading up to the 2-year anniversary of her lung-transplant and is now putting all her efforts into producing and bringing her musical to life!
This spring, consider making a gift that will help us continue to be there for families like Nicole’s during their difficult and unpredictable transplant journeys. Your gift will help us provide comfort and stability to our families 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Click here to give today.
Soon after we opened back in 2011, Lindsey, Bill and their 10-month old son, Stephen, came to stay with us for the first time. At the time of their first stay, Stephen was our youngest guest. The Schwartzes are now one of our longest returning guests and have been coming back ever since they first walked through our doors over 9 years ago.
At the time of their first visit, Stephen was in need of a kidney transplant. Stephen had been diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), or infantile PKD, a rare genetic disorder that affects 1 out of every 20,000 children. Before Stephen was born, his doctors knew that he would one day need a transplant, as the disease causes poor kidney function and breathing problems that can hinder an infant’s survival.
At just six days old, Stephen’s kidneys were both removed to aid his breathing, and he would remain on dialysis for two years until he was old enough to receive his transplant. Neither Bill nor Lindsey were a match to Stephen’s blood type, so they were unable to be his donor. Just as the Schwartzes received their first miracle with Stephen’s birth, their second miracle came when a family friend offered to get tested to be his kidney donor and was a perfect match. On May 9, 2013, two-year-old Stephen received his precious gift of life.
The Schwartzes desperately wanted Stephen’s kidney transplant and aftercare to happen in Philadelphia, a 3 ½ hour drive from their home in Virginia. Explains Lindsey, “There are not many places in the country you can get pediatric nephrology care, especially for this type of disease and pediatric kidney transplant”.
Lindsey calls the Howie’s House an integral part of making Stephens care in Philadelphia possible.
“At the time, the financial aspect of traveling to Philadelphia would have prevented us from keeping Stephen’s care there after transplant. The affordability of the Howie’s House gave us the ability to make that decision and get Stephen the best healthcare,” says Lindsey.
The Schwartzes are now one of our longest-returning families and continue to come to Philadelphia for Stephens follow-up care. Stephen is now 10 years old and is about to finish the fourth grade. He enjoys racing electric go-karts, golfing with his dad, and playing with his new puppy, Maverick.
Lindsey says that the predictability of the Howie’s House brought her comfort during Stephen’s transplant journey, and that she is grateful for all the amenities that we provide.
“The Howie’s House has everything you need to have a relaxing, easy place to stay.”
This spring, consider making a gift that will help us continue to be there for families like the Schwartzes during their difficult and unpredictable transplant journeys. Your gift will help us provide comfort and stability to our families 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Click here to give today.
Check out this special message from the Schwartz family!
Like many guests of Gift of Life Howie’s House, Julie has stayed here on multiple occasions. Unlike other guests, however, Julie has stayed here as the primary caregiver for two different family members, on two separate occasions.
Julie first came to us with her husband Joe in 2019 while they were awaiting an evaluation for a lung transplant. Joe had been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis back in 2011. Fortunately, he was asymptomatic for many years and was able to continue to do the things he loved like hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing. However, in January of 2019 his health began to decline very quickly.
Joe was in need of a lung transplant, however, because of certain factors like his age, they ran into complications with getting listed. As Joe’s health began to worsen, the need for a transplant became more urgent, so Joe and Julie traveled to Philadelphia and checked into the House where they would stay during their pursuit of a life-saving transplant.
The Gift of Life Howie’s House became a respite for the couple during a very challenging time.
“I look back at that time at the House almost like a little vacation,” says Julie. “I felt like I was being waited on. Dinner was cooked every night, we would come down for breakfast and sit on the patio. I would go for a walk and discover the different areas in Philly. It was such a pleasant place to be.”
While staying at the House, one of Joe’s sons was able to visit to celebrate Joe’s birthday, and they even had a past exchange student from Denmark fly in to stay with them. These were very special visits as it would be some of the last times that Joe would be able to spend with his loved ones.
By the time Joe was able to get an evaluation and get listed on the transplant waiting list, his condition was critical. Unfortunately, the call for new lungs did not come soon enough, and Joe lost his battle with IPF shortly thereafter.
After Joe’s passing, both his sons were able to stay at the House with Julie, and she said having that family support was so important during such a difficult time.
Joe’s younger brother, John, also had been diagnosed with IPF, but was asymptomatic like Joe had been early on in his diagnosis.
“John came up for Joe’s memorial service, and it really hit him that this disease was serious,” says Julie. Having been down the same road with her husband, Julie told John that as soon as he started showing symptoms that he should go to Philadelphia to Joe’s same transplant center. John followed her advice and started seeking transplant care soon after.
John’s wife has various health and mobility issues, so she was unable to be his caregiver. As all of John’s kids lived far away and had families of their own, so Julie selflessly decided she would step in to be his primary caregiver, a decision she made only 6 months after her husband had passed away.
Thankfully, deciding to see a doctor early was the right decision, and John received his gift of life in August of last year. Both Julie and John stayed at the House while he recovered and have been back twice for post-transplant check-ups.
While staying at the House, Julie took advantage of many of the services we have available for caregivers. “One thing that was really an anchor for me was the support group I attended,” she explains. “I learned things in the support group that helped me a lot while I was going through the post-transplant process with John.”
Volunteering to be a caregiver again so soon after losing one’s husband is no easy task, but Julie says that this was something she needed to do.
“A lot of people have said to me, ‘How can you go through this again after losing your husband?’, and it is hard, but no one else in John’s family had the ability to do this for him,” says Julie.
“It gave me a chance to complete the journey that I started with my husband that was so abruptly stopped, I felt like I got to see it through, and that seemed important for me to do.”
Both John and his wife lived with Julie during his recovery, and Julie juggled her time between caring for the couple and looking after her mother, who had recently had a stroke. John is now doing great and has moved into a new home in New Hampshire with his wife. Understandably, Julie says she is excited to have some time to herself.
“I’m just looking forward to getting back to my life and seeing what my life is going to be like. I just want to get back to taking care of myself and figuring out where my life goes from here” she says.
Julie’s journey has been a difficult one to say the least, but she asserts that “although it’s not always easy, I’m pretty good at staying in the moment and not looking at the whole picture every day.” She adds that she is so grateful to have had a familiar place to come to during a time of such uncertainty.
“Gift of Life Howie’s House is really a godsend. I feel like I’m coming home when I come there.”
Many transplant patients and caregivers will miss out on holiday traditions, time with friends and family, and normal self-care practices due to the pandemic. This can cause increased feelings of isolation and stress during an already stressful time.
Self-care is critical during this time. Below are a few suggestions on how to manage the stressors you may face this season and ways to fight the winter-time and pandemic blues!
Prepare:
- Identify new traditions or modify old ones as a way to maintain some normalcy! For instance if you normally cook for a large group, maybe you can still prepare some of the meal and then make to-go containers for your friends or family to grab and go.
- Create a gift budget. Finances this year have been a struggle for most. Also consider handmade gifts or creative gifts to avoid over spending.
- Organize a special activity or event with friends and family for a later time when gatherings are safely approved again. This may help your family by having something to look forward to.
Prioritize Self-Care:
- Safely get outdoors. A little fresh air and movement each day can impact our bodies and minds in a great way!
- Find and participate in online groups or classes. As our society has adjusted to virtual gatherings, more online opportunities have been developed. Try finding your favorite support group, fitness class online, or an online class to learn a new skill.
- Be intentional. Try practicing mindfulness, deep breathing, or listening to your favorite feel good music once a day.
- Allow space for grief and loss. Do not minimize your grief this holiday. Allow yourself to experience it and talk about it with your support system.
- Be gentle with yourself. Recognize and reflect on what you have gone through this year and the changes you have adapted to.
- Practice gratitude. Take time to acknowledge the good. Remembering what we are thankful for can do wonders on any rainy (or snowy) day!
Connect:
- Use any form of communication and technology that you have access to & stay connected! For instance, keep regularly scheduled Zoom or Facetime calls with family and friends and put it on your calendar.
- Ask for help. If you are struggling or need support, reach out. Identify a support person or resource and express your needs.
RESOURCES: If you or someone you know needs additional support, please utilize and share the resources below:
- Caregiver Lifeline Program – support for transplant families: 267-546-9800
- Support with Mental and/or Substance Use: SAMSHA National Helpline 1-800-662-4357
- Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255
- Find Local Food Resources Near You: Philabundance.com / P: (215) 339-0900
- Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255.
By Faith Osbourne, MSW
Gift of Life Howie’s House Social Worker
For New Jersey natives, Maggi and George, their life turned upside down 7 years ago when Maggi was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis after a respiratory flare-up she had while snorkeling in Aruba. They were told that the disease was progressive, had no known cure, and would cause permanent damage in her lungs as time went on.
This news was a huge blow to the couple, who had just a year and half before and many of their favorite activities like snorkeling, kayaking, traveling, golfing, and hiking now seemed impossible.
For the next 7 years, Maggi would have to carry oxygen everywhere she went, go to check ups every 6 months, attend pulmonary rehab sessions, and prioritize living a healthy lifestyle in the case she would need a transplant. Despite all the challenges, Maggi and George remained positive and didn’t let her disease define their life. “I bought a mobile oxygen tank and we used it go everywhere… We traveled all over Italy and France, and even went on a cruise to Alaska. I was going to keep living my life.” says Maggi.
Maggi also was dedicated to staying up to date on the science around her disease and would participate in studies to help further the development of a cure. Maggi, who is one of 14 siblings, also has an especially unique case, as the disease runs in her family. She has two siblings who have been diagnosed with the disease and two more who could have had it but died before they could be diagnosed.
“I wanted to be on the forefront of what science was doing because science was moving fast,” she says. “My journey was to have an outcome that would save my life, whether it be getting a transplant or finding a cure.”
Maggi and George stayed at the Gift of Life Howie’s House for the first time back in 2018 during a pre-transplant appointment. Maggi heard about us through her Pulmonary Fibrosis support group which she co-leads with another Gift of Life Howie’s House guest.
Little did they know the impact the House would make on their transplant journey.
Even though Maggi was optimistic in the development of a cure, her condition was getting worse the longer she waited. So, in the spring of 2020, right in the heat of the pandemic, both her and her doctors decided it was time to start the process of getting on the transplant waiting list.
Within two months and after several evaluations, she was added to the waiting list for a lung transplant. Two months later, Maggi got the call that her lungs were ready.
Maggi and George both knew they would have to stay in Philadelphia for an extended period of time post-transplant, and they found comfort in knowing they had a safe place to call home while she recovered.
Maggi’s surgery went off without a hitch and she was out of the hospital in just 12 days, which is much shorter than the usual post-transplant stay. While Maggi was still in the hospital, George stayed at the Gift of Life Howie’s House and was able to visit her while she regained her strength.
Maggi has now joined George at the House and will stay here while she continues the rest of her recovery. They have made themselves at home here, and appreciate all the amenities we offer, especially during the pandemic. “The House provides you with everything that somebody would need… and it’s immaculately clean, you just have such a sense of safety here because you know that things are being taken care of,” says Maggi.
Maggi says that one of her favorite parts is that, despite the visitor restrictions, the couple were still allowed to visit with Maggi’s daughter, son-in-law, and two of their grandkids outside on our patio. George and Maggi have three kids and four grandkids between the two of them and enjoy keeping in touch by weekly Facetime and Zoom calls.
George, as Maggi’s primary caregiver, enjoys cooking and can often be found preparing meals for the two of them in our kitchen. During the pandemic and while caring for Maggi, he has had to continue to run his mechanical contracting business and has been using our library as an office. “It’s beyond comfortable here. The fact that I can walk 12 steps to the library and do my work in the morning makes things easy,” says George.
George also has taken advantage of our Caregiver Lifeline Program by attending our support groups and referring to the resources available on our website. Overall, they both say that the best part about the Howie’s House is the people they have met here.
“There is a comradery here because you meet and make friends with other families while you’re eating dinner that are going through the same situations,” says Maggi. “There is such a diversity of people you meet here, you really get to hear all different types of stories” adds George.
Maggi, an avid kayaker, says she is the most excited to get back to kayaking post-transplant. The couple are both looking forward to golfing and traveling again, and have plans to travel to Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Scotland as soon as the pandemic is over. Most of all, the couple is looking forward to spending more time with family, getting home to their house in New Jersey and enjoying many more adventures together, which is all made possible by the generous donor who gave Maggi a new lease on life.
| About the Gift of Life Howie’s House Gift of Life Howie’s House serves as a “home away from home” for transplant patients and their families by providing temporary, affordable lodging, and supportive services to those who travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for transplant-related care. Click here for information on ways to support the mission of Gift of Life Howie’s House. |
Coming up on Saturday, September 26th CareDx is hosting the Allocare Transplant Festival, a fun, interactive, virtual event meant to bring together members of the transplant community during this difficult period. The event will take place from 12 – 3 p.m. ET and will feature many different activities with guests from all over the transplant community.
The festival has a full agenda of events and activities, as well as multiple contests for attendees to participate in before and during the festival! Here is a full list of the live festival agenda, as well as the pre-event contests:
Pre-Event Contests (submissions due by September 19th)
- Twitter “My Transplant Story” In 280 characters or less, tell us how the gift of organ donation changed your life for a chance to win some great prizes!
- Favorite Recipe Contest Share your go-to recipe for a chance to win a prize and have your recipe demonstrated by our guest celebrity chef!
- Talent Show entries Submit a video of your special talent! Winners will be revealed during the festival.
- Transplant Community Photo Wall Mosaic Submit a photo and be a part of the Photo Wall Mosaic that will be presented live by Peter Maag
To enter, click on the registration link below!
Live Festival Agenda
- Community Trivia Challenge Host: Amanda Nicastro – comedian and organ donor
- Talent Show Judges: Angelica Hale, America’s Got Talent runner up and kidney transplant recipient; Dorry Segev, transplant surgeon at JHU; and Merle Zuel, MerleJam founder and heart transplant recipient
- Cooking Demonstration Celebrity chef will demonstrate a version of a winning recipe, with three home chefs joining in live
- The Engaged Patient Patient Panel moderated by Osama Gaber, transplant surgeon at Houston Methodist and incoming ASTS president
- Transplant Life with Sports and Fitness Professional Athlete Panel with David Ayres, Emergency Goalie Carolina Hurricanes and transplant recipient; John Brockington, NFL – Packers and transplant recipient; and Sean Elliot, NBA – Spurs and transplant recipient.
- My Transplant Story Winners
- Photo Wall Mosaic Reveal Presented by Peter Maag
- Get Moving: Short home workout clips with professional transplant athletes
So what is CareDx? CareDx is a transplant focused company centered around providing healthcare solutions for transplant patients and caregivers both pre- and post- transplant journey. It is committed to improving transplant patient outcomes through innovative testing and is the leading partner in medicine for transplant patients.
Gift of Life Howie’s House is so excited to be partnering with CareDx for this special event. For more information and where to register, visit this website: https://bit.ly/caredxregistration
We hope to see you there!
Sunny skies and great friends coming together to support transplant families made this year’s Kidney Open Golf Outing a huge success! Thanks to our generous supporters, we were able to raise over $116,000 for Gift of Life Howie’s House!
The funds raised at this year’s Golf Outing will help us subsidize the cost of staying at the Howie’s House to keep our room fees low, and cover the costs of families who cannot afford to pay the nightly fee, making sure we never have to turn away a family due to inability to pay.
This year’s outing looked a little different than years prior, as we implemented many health and safety guidelines throughout the day and adapted the event to limit large social gatherings. Despite the obstacles, we were still able to raise much-needed funds for the Howie’s House so we can continue to support our mission of providing a “home away from home” for families undergoing the transplant journey.
As our guest speaker and past Howie’s House guest, Denise Hobbie, said during the event, “On a very tough and arduous journey, the Gift of Life Howie’s House was truly a welcome respite to me and my family.”
Whether you joined us out on the course, sponsored part of the outing, or volunteered to support our staff, we thank you for helping us provide for families like Denise’s.
We hope that you will join us next year for our 17th Annual Kidney Golf Outing!
We’d like to give a special thank you to all of our sponsors of this event! Thanks to your support, our mission to support transplant families remains strong.
2020 Kidney Open Sponsors
Golf Carts
Main Line Health
Shot Gun Start and Dinner
Bridge to Life, Ltd
Double Eagle
CareDX
Cornerstone Asset Management
CSL Behring
MTF Biologics
Nora – Nationwide Organ Recovery Transport Alliance
Quick Courier Service
VRL Eurofins
Eagle
Independence Blue Cross
Lions Eye Bank of the Delaware Valley
Mohan USA
Organ Recovery Systems, INC.
Quick Specialized Healthcare Logistics
Sinnott Executive Consulting
Birdie Sponsors
Highmark Blue Cross Shield Delaware
Howard M. Nathan
Apparel
Community Tissues Service
Lunch
Meridian Bank
Registration
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
Course Refreshment Stations
Lincoln Financial Group
Warner Benefits / HRAdministrators
Coffee Station
Lincoln Financial Group
Practice Range
Einstein Healthcare Network
Signage Sponsor
Garrison
Putting Contest
Gillespie Electric, Inc.
Closest to the Pin Contest
The Arthur Jackson Co.
Longest Drive Contest
Wye Realty Advisors
Straightest Drive Contest
Transplant Alliance Foundation
Hole-In-One Car Sponsor
Scott Honda of West Chester
Hole Sponsors
Affinity Wealth Management
Dr. Linda Barrasse
C Change Surgical
Gallagher Benefit Services
Kimmel, Carter, Roman, Peltz & O’Neill
Miller Pipeline
Premier Orthopedics
Tozour Energy
Venture Jets
Walker Lodge #306
Wohlsen Construction
News & Events
Stay Connected
Sign up to receive email updates featuring transplant stories of hope and ways you can get involved with the Howie's House.
"*" indicates required fields
