On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Neshaminy Ice Hockey community hosted its 7th Annual Gannon Cup in memory of Patrick Gannon and Phillip Oseredzuk.
This annual event honors two former ice hockey players who tragically passed away and went on to become organ donor heroes. This special fundraiser reached a new milestone, raising over $10,300 to support Gift of Life Howie’s House! This fundraiser continues to be a significant occasion within the Neshaminy ice hockey community, remembering Patrick and Phillip, and ensuring their legacy lives on for years to come.
With the funds raised, the event will once again sponsor a guest room at the House in memory of Patrick and Phillip. Thank you to this amazing community for its ongoing support of our mission.
From all of us at the House, THANK YOU!
Thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our goal of $40,000 this Giving Tuesday by $24,000! With the support of our generous matching gift partner, that brings the total Giving Tuesday revenue to a record-breaking $104,000 raised for transplant patients and their families!
This incredible achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our community. Thank you to everyone who made a gift and hosted a fundraiser. Your contributions mean the world to the families who will stay with during the holidays, and throughout the year.
A special thank you to our matching gift partner, the Foxwynd Foundation, funded by their donor advised fund, for helping us double the impact for transplant families!
By Talia Giordano, LCSW
Family Services and Caregiver Lifeline Program Manager
After working with transplant caregivers and families for over 13 years, one theme continues to emerge: transplant caregivers consistently reveal feelings of guilt. Caregivers can often experience guilt from maintaining ones own physical and emotional health, communicating openly with loved ones, and allowing oneself to experience happiness and joy. Such feelings of guilt can weigh heavily, inhibit positive coping mechanisms, and strain relationships.
As one transplant caregiver explained, “I occasionally feel guilt or resentment, not against anyone in particular but against the circumstances. I mourn the loss of what we had planned for the rest of our lives together and the fact that it has been replaced by our new normal. Still, I am grateful that we have the time that we have been given.”
Another caregiver stated, “The pressures of being a caregiver are often overwhelming. Caring for a loved one brings me mental and physical stress and worry of losing them. I have constant thoughts whether I am doing the right things for them. This significantly impacts doing essential things for myself and brings on additional concerns that someday I too will be in the same situation as the person I care for.”
Another type of guilt transplant caregivers may experience is centered around feeling that they should have done things differently.
A third caregiver recalls, “I went through a night of guilt last night, feeling upset and questioning why I didn’t do more. I imagine that if I had made different choices at the beginning, the outcome might have been different.”
Feelings of guilt cannot simply be “turned off” when one is told, “You shouldn’t feel that way.” Emotions such as guilt, sadness, or happiness can be supported and managed through positive coping tools. Instead of discouraging feelings of guilt in caregivers, these feelings should be normalized and validated, helping caregivers feel valued and maintain a sense of self-worth.
Self-care is imperative to managing stress and the burdens associated with caring for a loved one. Schedule self-care into your daily routine, like an appointment to help you feel more accountable. Self-care does not need to be an activity that lasts for hours; it could be a 15-minute walk outside, a 15-minute chair meditation, or a creative art or craft activity. Focus on activities that help you feel replenished – even if it is just for a few minutes.
Receiving support from others in similar situations can also be beneficial for caregivers. By participating in support groups with those who have similar experiences you can feel validated and appreciated for the feelings you are experiencing. You may also learn new tips and tools for navigating the caregiving and transplant process. The Caregiver Lifeline Program offers a virtual transplant caregiver support group twice a month that caregivers can join from anywhere in the world!
Finally, sometimes feelings of guilt, depression, and anxiety may be too overwhelming and cause a negative impact on daily functioning. If this is the case, speaking to a mental health professional is recommended. A mental health professional can work with transplant caregivers in developing and maintaining positive coping tools and long-term emotional wellness.
One transplant caregiver suggests, “…my advice to anyone in the process of receiving a donation [transplant] is make sure the patient and caregiver have counseling/psychiatric support before and after.”
To talk with a social worker about resources and support around caregiver guilt, emotional wellness, or support groups, please reach out to Talia Giordano, LCSW at caregiverlifeline@giftoflifefamilyhouse.org.
The Caregiver Lifeline Program is supported in part by TD Charitable Foundation. We are thankful for their partnership and generosity.
Anthony Rojas was born a healthy child in Long Island, New York. Around the age of 3 he unfortunately developed Bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease, after contracting two different viruses.
As his symptoms worsened he was transferred to a nursing facility in New York. His doctors suggested he see a pulmonologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and his family began traveling to Philadelphia for his primary care.
As his symptoms worsened he was transferred to a nursing facility in New York. His doctors suggested he see a pulmonologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and his family began traveling to Philadelphia for his primary care.
He was listed for a lung transplant at 4½ years old but was removed from the list after a year when his health stabilized. Despite this, he continued to get sick often and required constant hospital stays, once even traveling by helicopter to Philadelphia for emergency care.
“We basically lived in the hospitals,” his mom, Lucy, said.
Anthony remained at the nursing facility until he was 8 years old. In July of 2022 he was relisted for a transplant after his lung function declined. After two years of waiting, Anthony received his life-saving lung transplant in June of this year.
EASING THEIR STRESS
Anthony’s mom Lucy learned about Gift of Life Howie’s House when he was first listed for a lung transplant. When Lucy arrived, she was alone and unsure of what to expect.
“You walk in not knowing anyone or what to expect. On top of that you’re thinking about the transplant, recovery and appointments…
… but as soon as you arrive, everyone greets you, welcomes you and makes you feel comfortable,” Lucy explains.
Before discovering the House, the family would leave New York early in the morning to make Anthony’s appointments in Philadelphia and drive back the same day. If Anthony had to stay overnight, they would need to find a hotel, which would add to their emotional and financial stress.
Because of the House, Lucy and her family had an affordable, comfortable place to call home surrounded by people who understood their journey. “It was a huge relief… seeing others with a common problem and who have been through something similar makes you feel safer and more protected,” Lucy says.
A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
After spending more than half of his life in the hospital, 10-year-old Anthony finally returned home this past August. Although he remained positive throughout his journey, Anthony is excited to enjoy normal kid activities without the burden of his oxygen.
Upon arriving home Anthony jumped into playing soccer and other games with his younger brother, Dylan. He also enjoys playing the piano which helped him through the most difficult times in the hospital. Lucy says that watching his growth and strength throughout his journey has been inspiring.
“If he is strong it means I have to be stronger,” she emphasizes. Lucy is also looking forward to the holidays. This will be the first time in years her family can celebrate without worrying about Anthony’s oxygen needs. Most importantly she expresses her gratitude to the House and its staff for helping her family throughout their journey.
This year numerous families will stay at the House over the holidays, and we need your help to ensure they are provided with affordable lodging, meals and important services during the transplant journey.
“I am thankful that I was introduced to the House. It’s a wonderful, peaceful and welcoming environment,
and has been a great help,”
Every gift regardless of its size will mean the world to these families. Knowing they have a community of support behind them will bring much-needed hope during their darkest times. Your gift today will help keep the fees low by bridging the gap between the modest nightly fee of $40 and the actual cost of providing services, which now exceeds $200.
For families like Anthony’s, the House is an essential part of their path back home. Help continue to support their journey and many others by making a gift today.
If you can offer a special gift of $250 or more, you’ll also become a cherished member of the Family Circle.
Interested in supporting our Adopt-A-Family Program?
CELEBRATING THE HEROES WHO MAKE THE MISSION POSSIBLE
Donna Shinn BOTTOM: Patty Nelson
For 13 years, Gift of Life Howie’s House has been a welcoming safe haven for organ transplant patients, caregivers and their families. It is a place where loved ones can relax and share a meal after enduring a long day at the hospital. A place to connect with others who share similar experiences. A place of comfort during a tumultuous journey.
The mission of the House would not be possible without the heroes who remain dedicated to its important work. From generous contributors to compassionate volunteers, the services provided at the House rely on their ongoing support.
To show gratitude for the vital role they play in the mission, a special breakfast, themed “Heroes Among Us”, was hosted to celebrate the heroic impact supporters have on the transplant families. The community came together and unveiled their capes for a morning of stories shared, memories made, and connections built.
Rick Hasz, President & CEO, along with Jan L. Weinstock, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, expressed their thoughts on the incredible strength of the Gift of Life Howie’s House community. They also provided insights into some exciting House updates, milestones, and happenings.
As Rick Hasz said, “Whether you are a contributor, a volunteer, a partner, or a friend of the House, your involvement holds immense value for us and the families we serve. The impact you’ve made is a shining light for those on the transplant journey, and I am so grateful to celebrate you.”
Past guest, Rogina, shared her story and her experiences at the House. Rogina’s daughter, Kemiyah, is 16 years old and has been in the hospital since November of 2023 while she waits for a life-saving heart transplant. Rogina, and her youngest son, Kane, have been staying at the House to remain close to Kemiyah during her wait.
“Staying at Gift of Life Howie’s House has been a true blessing. Kane, my 19-month-old son and I have been here since March. We have met so many other families in similar situations and heard so many stories. Everyone here are warriors. I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have a place like this,” Rogina says.
It is because of our community that families like Rogina’s have a comfortable place to stay, warm meals at night and a supportive network of people who know what they are going through.
The House is grateful to have provided over $13 million in subsidized care and services over its 13-year history, never turning a family away who cannot afford the nightly fee. Whether you are a Home Cook Hero cooking meals for the guests, a generous contributor, an active participant in events or another one of the amazing community members – the success of the mission is owed to you.
A heartfelt thanks go out to all the talented artists who shared their creations and to the hundreds of community members who generously contributed to the voting process.
Thanks to your support, over $15,000 was raised to benefit Gift of Life Howie’s House. These funds will play a crucial role in ensuring that the House can continue offering affordable lodging, meals, transportation, and supportive services to transplant patients and their families who travel to Philadelphia for life-saving medical care.
Congratulations to the Contest Winners!
Let’s celebrate the remarkable talent showcased in this year’s contest. Congratulations to the winners:
First Place
Nancy St. John
Renaissance, Study #2
Second Place
Kelly Brown
From Loss, Comes Hope
Third Place
Jeff Feeny
Postcard
Stay tuned for more updates and events as we continue our mission of sharing kindness and support to the transplant community.
Joe Eitl is a Montgomery County native born with congenital heart disease. He and his family were told that he would not live past 3 years old, and that transplant would never be an option. Joe defied the odds and lived a normal, active life until he was 38 years old and his health started to decline. He was listed for a heart and liver transplant, and in November of 2020, Joe received his miraculous gifts of life. Joe lives with Down Syndrome, and due to the nature of his transplant he had many complications following his procedure. He was in and out of the hospital for over a year post-transplant, and his parents, Peg and Craig, relied on Gift of Life Howie’s House for a safe place to stay where they could be close to Joe.
“Our days start at around 7:30 or 8’clock in the morning and don’t end until 7:30 or 8’clock at night, and that’s on a good day… we were dreading the idea that we would be a two hour commute every day both ways.” – Peg Eitl, Joe’s mom and caregiver.
While staying at the House, Peg and Craig received access to home cooked meals, one-on-one counseling, and a private room and bathroom to decompress in at the end of the day. The services that the House provides allowed Joe’s family to feel taken care of so they can focus on what’s most important, taking care of their loved one.
Joe is now 3 years post-transplant and is back at home doing the things he loves which includes spending time with friends and family and rooting on his beloved Philadelphia sports teams.
“To say that the House was a saving a grace is an understatement,” says Peg.
Tom Fennell and his wife, Alice, traveled almost 1,000 miles from Iowa to Philadelphia hoping Tom would receive a life-saving heart transplant. Far from home, they found comfort and support at Gift of Life Howie’s House, which recently celebrated its 12th anniversary.
“Howie’s House gave us a safe place to stay, dinners, and camaraderie. It was the complete package,” said Tom. “We were able to connect with other transplant families and it helped us on our journey.”
Tom’s journey was unusual. Many transplant centers declined to accept him as a patient because of his age. Temple Health in Philadelphia welcomed Tom and, at 74, he became one of their oldest heart recipients.
Tom and Alice stayed at Howie’s House many months post transplant but were finally able to return home recently. They rang the Chimes of Hope at the House to celebrate (click here for video).
Thanks to a generous donor hero and caring support at Howie’s House, Tom and Alice can get back to doing the things they love. They have already planned a family vacation at their lake house and hope to travel to Mexico next year.
At Gift of Life Howie’s House, guests are provided with a private bedroom and bathroom that comes equipped with many of the necessities that families rely on when away from home. Many of those guests, however, experience limited mobility due to significant physical challenges that come with transplant and request rooms that are more accessible
Approximately 25% of guests make these requests. Unfortunately, many have to wait for a more accessible room to become available.
“You never know when you go somewhere if it’s going to be accessible, so knowing that we had this room where he could maneuver was a relief. It allowed him to have his privacy and independence, and I could have a little bit of free time as well. Even if it’s ten minutes where I could read a book while he showers, it makes a difference,”
– Donna Nelson, Past House Guest
Out of 32 guest rooms, only 5 have bathrooms that are equipped with walk-in showers. For some guests, navigating over the wall of a tub can be incredibly challenging or even impossible. Many patients require the use of a shower chair, which is also difficult to maneuver in an already tight space with a wet surface, like the bathtub.
Replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower makes getting in and out much easier on both the patient and the caregiver. Guests with limited mobility do not have to worry about navigating over the wall of the tub, and those who require the use of a wheelchair have easier access inside of the bathroom and can transfer to a shower chair more smoothly.
Learn more about our campaign in our Spring 2023 Newsletter.
Spring Campaign 2023
Support the construction of four new, more accessible showers at the House.
Gift of Life Family House is a special place. The first facility of its kind, the Family House has provided over 80,000 comfortable nights of lodging, more than 336,000 delicious meals, and over $11 million of welcoming, subsidized care to thousands of families since it opened its doors in 2011.
However, places as special as the Family House don’t appear out of thin air. It takes a spark of imagination, generous funders, and years of planning and persistence, to turn pioneering concepts like this into reality. And in the case of Gift of Life Family House, that reality is due largely to the vision of Howard M. Nathan.
Howard is a towering figure in the world of organ donation, having served Gift of Life Donor Program for 43 years, 38 as its leader. Under his leadership, Gift of Life has grown into the largest and most successful organ donor and transplant network in the nation.
Alongside this work, Howard has spent over 20 years realizing the Family House vision, an idea that began very close to home. In 1991, Howard’s sister Martha needed a liver transplant, and Howard saw first-hand the challenges facing not only transplant patients, but the families that support them. In waiting room conversations with families, Howard discovered that worries about finding affordable lodging and meals were additional sources of stress for families already faced with the challenges of caring for a loved one.
Howard’s vision and determination, paired with the generous support of thousands of contributors, has made the Family House not only a place of warmth and support for people navigating some of the most stressful periods in their lives.
In gratitude for all of these accomplishments, and his tireless dedication to the organ transplant field, Gift of Life is proud and delighted to announce that on June 29, 2022, the Family House was officially renamed Gift of Life Howie’s House.
“I am very honored that Gift of Life Family House is being renamed Gift of Life Howie’s House.” said Howard during his remarks. “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.”
Make a gift to provide a lasting tribute
Beyond Measure: The Howard M. Nathan Impact Fund will benefit the Gift of Life Howie’s House both now and into the future, and is an opportunity to honor Howard with a personal or corporate contribution, in thanks for his outsized influence on donation and transplantation. The Beyond Measure fund will ensure that Gift of Life Howie’s House remains a welcoming home away from home, and continues to fulfill its commitment that no family be turned away for inability to pay.
Every donation to the Fund is a symbol of gratitude to Howard, and a promise to support transplant families and the future success of the House – and we hope you will join us!
Gift of Life Howie’s House, celebrating its 11 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.
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