Philadelphia’s seven transplant centers draw patients from across the country. Along with them come families uprooted from their homes. There’s a special place where many stay called Howie’s House.
Gina Adams and her daughter Kemiyah of Harrisburg, Pa., were recent guests. They told us how their transplant journey started in Harrisburg.
“I was in my room, Kemiyah recalls.
She was listening to music the day before Thanksgiving, when out of the blue…
“I remember kind of like falling, like off of the bed,” she says.
“She was lying on the floor, crying,” Gina says.
“The words that’s coming out of her mouth just doesn’t make sense,” she explains.
Gina didn’t know till the next day at a hospital that her 15-year-old daughter was having a stroke.
“There was a blood clot on her brain,” she says of her surprise looking at her daughter’s CT scan.
A clot brought on by heart failure.
Within hours, Gina, Kemiyah, and brother Kane left Harrisburg for Children’s Hospital, where doctors said Kemiyah needed a new heart. For Gina, 100 miles from home, Howie’s House became an oasis. It’s the brainchild, and named after, former Gift of Life CEO Howard Nathan, inspired by out-of-town families he and his mother met when his sister got a liver transplant.
“That struck me at that moment, that part of the transplant process is that families have to be cared for,” says the Howie’s House founder.
“In general, hospitals don’t have hospitality for family members,” he adds.
Since opening in 2011, Howie’s House has provided 100,000 nights for families awaiting transplants or follow-up visits.
“We’re thankful for them because we’re able to have something to eat every day and somewhere to sleep,” Gina says.
Dinners are made by the Home Cook Heroes.
“Every night at 6 o’clock, there is a home-cooked meal by volunteers in our great kitchen,” Nathan says.
Transplant families meet, share stories, and support each other there. There’s also an exercise room, a game room, and organized activities. Now back in Harrisburg with a new heart, Kemiyah made a happy return to high school. “Without that gift she wouldn’t be able to attend school,” Gina says gratefully. Howie’s House is full almost every night, so someday it may have to be expanded. But right now, the Gift of Life is focused on new organ donors.
If you haven’t signed up as a donor, it only takes a few minutes.
Last weekend, our friends over at @beeablessingnj hosted their annual Friends for Life fundraiser at the Collingswood Grand Ballroom and it was a huge hit! The theme was Lights Camera Action and attendees came dressed for the occasion in various movie and TV costumes. This special event raised funds for Gift of Life Howie’s House and the Bee a Blessing Scholarship fund.
The Clendining family continues Bee a Blessing, Inc. in memory of their two siblings, Jan and Michael, who were both transplant recipients, and in honor of their mother, Rose, who is a living donor. We are grateful to the family and their entire community for their continuous support of our mission!
Check out these photos on our instagram from the event and let us know which costume is your favorite!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAE0gBPNNQY/
National Estate Planning Awareness Week (NEPAW) was established in 2008 to highlight the importance of estate planning and ensure more people understand how to protect their financial assets and their loved ones. This year NEPAW will be held from October 21st through the 27th. This week serves as a reminder for individuals and families to take action and prepare for the future.
An estate plan is a thoughtful legal arrangement that allows you to guide the management of your financial assets, medical choices, and other responsibilities in the event you are unable to do so or at the end of your life. Essential elements include a will, power of attorney, and beneficiary designations for retirement accounts or life insurance policies. Estate planning ensures your wishes are carried out and provides security for your loved ones.
Why is Estate Planning a Vital Component of Financial Wellness?
Estate planning is a crucial part of financial health for several reasons. It allows you to direct how your assets are handled, ensuring that your loved ones are taken care of according to your wishes. With proper planning, you can also reduce estate taxes and avoid the costly probate process, which can delay asset distribution. And by making provisions for minor children or dependents, you ensure their well-being and future financial stability. A well-crafted plan prevents family disputes and provides clear guidance in the event of incapacitation or death.
Despite its importance, many Americans are unprepared. In fact, according to Caring.com 67% of Americans do not have an estate plan and 73% of parents with children under 18 have no legal plan in place. These statistics underscore the need for greater awareness and action.
Supporting Gift of Life Howie’s House Through Planned Giving
Gift of Life Howie’s House offers a meaningful way for individuals to support families in need through The Legacy Society for Planned Giving. By including the House in your estate plan, you can ensure that transplant families continue to receive the care and support they need for years to come.
Planned giving contributors, like Sean Rhoads, who chose to leave a legacy with the House, often do so out of gratitude for the profound impact the organization had on their families. Sean shared, “I know that by giving back to Howie’s House, I’m helping to provide a place for families going through a journey like ours.” Through estate planning, donors can continue supporting an organization close to their hearts while also securing their own financial wellness.
Join the Legacy Society Today
To learn more about how you can leave a lasting legacy at Gift of Life Howie’s House, please visit our Planned Giving page and discover how simple it can be to include a charitable gift in your estate plan. With your support, the House can continue to provide a “home away from home” for transplant families when they need it most.
We’d like to give a special shout out to our friends at Organ Recovery Systems, who not only cooked a meal for our families tonight but also recently supported our Home Cook Heroes Program with a generous pledge of $100,000! Organ Recovery Systems has been a partner in caring for transplant families at the House since 2011, and we could not be more grateful for their support of our mission.
“Supporting Gift of Life Howie’s House is a true privilege – their unwavering dedication to caring for transplant patients and their families is nothing short of inspiring, and Organ Recovery Systems is honored to play a small part in their incredible mission. Our team especially loves participating in the Home Cook Heroes Program, where we can offer comfort through meals and contribute to the sense of community and care that Howie’s House provides”, says Kayla Andalina, ORS team member.
Thank you to Organ Recovery Systems for more than 13 years of steadfast support for transplant families at the House!
The staff at the MTF Edison, NJ location organized a collection of wish list items that were most needed at the House. President and CEO, Rick Hasz, drove the shuttle with members of the Development team, Abby Wells and Sara Cohen, to stuff the shuttle and bring it back to the House!
MTF Biologics is a valued partner of Gift of Life and also supports the House through the Kidney Open, the Donor Dash, and by regularly volunteering as Home Cook Heroes.
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