Faces of Howie’s House Stories
Past guests Sarita and Mark Felder stayed at the House for many months both before and after Sarita received a life-saving lung transplant. The couple were immensely grateful for the care and support they received during their stay, and wanted to give back to other families like theirs that rely on the House every day.
To show their gratitude, Sarita and Mark organized a wish-list drive at their local synagogue to collect much-needed pantry items for the House. Thanks to their community, hundreds of dollars’ worth of wish-list items were donated to stock our pantry!
Thank you to Sarita, Mark, and their generous community at Temple Shalom in Succasunna, NJ for your amazing contributions!
Before arriving at the House, Jim Healy’s journey was filled with many challenges.
Jim’s negative reaction to medication following a knee replacement in 2019 led to him developing pulmonary fibrosis. His worsening condition brought him to Philadelphia to be evaluated for a lung transplant. During that process, the tests revealed he had colorectal cancer, requiring treatment and a period of remission. Jim received treatment for his cancer and was listed for a lung transplant in 2024, 5 years after his initial diagnosis.
In August of last year, Jim received the call he waited so long for. Unfortunately, his surgery came with severe complications, leaving him hospitalized for nearly 80 days, 65 of which he spent completely immobile.
In October, Jim and Solange left the hospital and came to stay at the House.
“It was wonderful… the House was the perfect transition from the hospital. There were so many people who had lung transplants that I could trade stories with and learn from,” he shares.
“The fact that my wife didn’t have to worry about planning meals and running to the supermarket every day was incredibly helpful for her spirits and her time, and therefore my recovery,” explains Jim. He continues, “She was so busy managing everything. It was so nice to come back from the hospital and be able to relax and then go down for dinner.”
Having access to the kitchen and meals prepared by volunteers made a huge difference during their stay.
Jim has traveled and lived all over the world – with home bases in Brazil, Mexico, the US – and says that post-transplant he is looking forward to slowing down and spending time with his wife, three children, and five grandchildren.
When Jim Hughes was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in 2023, it came as a shock to him and his family. He was immediately placed on oxygen and told he would need a lung transplant to survive.
Jim and his wife, Louanne, traveled to Philadelphia after local transplant centers in the Boston area turned him down due to his complex medical condition. He was listed for a lung transplant in November of last year and has been staying at the House ever since.
The couple says the House instantly felt like home. “It’s like moving back to the neighborhood you grew up in – the people here are so warm and friendly. It’s really a huge benefit for the psyche and for your own rehabilitation,” Jim explains.
Due to Jim’s condition and a recent diabetes diagnosis, the kitchen at the House has been crucial for Louanne to prepare healthy meals tailored to his needs.
“I can create a diet for him in the kitchen that meets his needs, and that’s truly priceless,” says Louanne.
A talented cook, Louanne depends on the kitchen, cubbies, and her personal fridge space to prepare nearly every meal for both of them.
As Jim’s mobility is limited, the convenience of the kitchen has made all the difference on his journey.
“I can’t get around, and I can’t go to a restaurant. If we were in a hotel room without access to the facilities here, our lifestyle would be completely different,” Jim explains.
An updated kitchen will make it easier for Louanne and Jim to navigate the space, allowing them to spend less time cooking and more time focusing on what matters most: Jim’s care.
“[The kitchen] makes it so I don’t even have to worry about that component, it gives me more time to do other things that I have to do as a caregiver,” Louanne says.
Jim and Louanne also value the knowledge and services they’ve received at the House, which have been vital as they navigate this challenging journey. The couple, who recently celebrated their 41st anniversary, remain hopeful and eager to return home to spend time with their three children and five grandchildren
Those who have followed us for a long time might remember Matthew Brown, better known as “Mattman”, who came to stay at the House over 10 years ago when he received his life-saving heart transplant at just 5 years old.
Matt quickly became a House favorite, running around with his Batman cape and larger than life superhero personality. Since his transplant, Matt and his mom Kelly have continued to return to the House for follow-up appointments. Kelly has also stayed connected to mission, most recently through her talent as an artist by participating in our Strokes of Kindness Art Contest!
Matt, who is now 15, and Kelly recently came back to the House for a follow-up, and we had the chance to snap a picture with them and Kelly’s beautiful submission to last year’s art contest.
If you’re interested in joining Kelly and participating in this year’s Strokes of Kindness Art Contest, click here to learn more about how you can participate: https://ow.ly/6qRM50UPSGY
Dear Friends,
I hope you are having a restful holiday filled with good food, shared memories, and quality time spent with loved ones.
I am grateful to be celebrating a new lease on life for both myself and my husband, Don, who received a life-saving lung transplant. Just two years ago, however, our future was much less certain. During the 2022 holiday season, I was staying at Gift of Life Howie’s House while Don remained in the hospital, undergoing his lung transplant and recovery.
Despite being alone for many weeks, I never felt lonely. Someone at the House always offered a smile, sat with me, or provided encouraging words.
I will never forget waking up on Christmas morning and finding a lovely Christmas gift bag outside my door. Knowing I wasn’t alone brought tears to my eyes. After being at the hospital all day, I was welcomed back to the House that evening with a delicious Christmas dinner, in their beautiful and festive dining room.
Two years ago, we received our Christmas miracle – a lung transplant for Don. Since then, we have enjoyed precious memories – celebrating our granddaughters’ birthdays, traveling, watching our daughter renew her wedding vows, and so much more.
None of this would have been possible without the generous gift of Don’s lung donor, the resources we received during our journey, and the many people like you who make this important mission possible.
If you haven’t done so already, please consider helping families like mine who will be away from home today. My husband and I will forever be grateful for the care we received at the Gift of Life Howie’s House, and with your gift, you can ensure other families will receive the same support.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Warm regards,
Linda Price
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?
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.
As we wrap up #NationalCaregiversMonth, we’d like to continue the theme of giving thanks by sharing this heartwarming quote from Dana Nelson, a past guest and transplant recipient, about his wife and caregiver, Donna.
“Donna is very important to my transplant journey; she keeps me grounded and focused. She puts up with my mood swings, comforts me when I’m feeling down, she handles problems with insurance, and makes sure I keep my appointments straight. We have been married for almost 25 years, and we never thought our lives would change in an instant. She has been strong and courageous throughout this whole rollercoaster of a ride. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side, she’s the best.”
Please shout-out a special caregiver below to show them how thankful you are!
In honor of National Healthcare Hospitality Week and the House’s 13th Birthday, the House seeks to acknowledge a very familiar face and guiding force of the mission, Jan L. Weinstock, Esq.
Jan is a Philadelphia-area native and received an undergraduate business degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to receive her law degree from Villanova University and began working with a large Philadelphia law firm in the Healthcare Law department.
Around the second year of practice at her firm, she was introduced to Gift of Life Donor Program, then called the Delaware Valley Transplant Program, as an external client. Jan worked closely with House founder and former President of Gift of Life, Howard M. Nathan, and recognized his “incredibly high standards” and “his commitment to the families and to doing the right thing”.
She continues, “For years Howard said, “It would just be easier if you would come and work directly with me”, and about 23 years ago I did make that decision to transition from being a partner in this large firm to being general counsel for Gift of Life… and I have never once regretted that decision.”
Her career with Gift of Life spans more than 30 years, with monumental accomplishments that continue to impact thousands of lives. She mentions that extending the Gift of Life’s services to be able to open the doors of the House is one of the personal highlights of her career.
“When I joined Gift of Life part of my responsibilities at the time were to locate and oversee the construction of our new headquarters, as well as a “Family House”, now of course Gift of Life Howie’s House. The House represents our completion of the circle of care because we have always provided excellent care to the donor families, but this was our first opportunity to provide this type of support to the people going through the transplant journey. It was amazing the day we opened it up.”
Jan also emphasized how impactful her first Donor Family Remembrance Ceremony was, which provides the opportunity to recognize the families that supported organ donation in the prior year.
“It is momentous to me because it is a celebration of humanity, no transplant would happen without a decision to give the gift of life after the passing of a family member or loved one… These ceremonies show the families that we’re not in it just for a single moment, we are with them for the journey.”
When it comes to how she spends her time outside of work, she explains, “As long as I am outside, I am happy.” Jan loves running, hiking, traveling, and has even competed in various triathlons. She says her next goal would be to complete the swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco Bay.
Jan’s years of dedication to the organ donation and transplant community have been integral to the success of Gift of Life Donor Program and Gift of Life Howie’s House. In her eyes, the House represents the past, present and future of Gift of Life as a whole.
She explains, “The House to me represents the past, the 50 years of service of Gift of Life that supported the opening of House’s doors, it represents Howard’s vision, and the time and energy of our team and volunteers, and the generosity of contributors to actually support the building and day to day operations of the House … and now, 13 years later, to never have turned anybody away due to inability to pay, that’s an extraordinary accomplishment. It also represents the future for those who are awaiting a life-saving transplant – and we will be here to support them in their journey.”
Each year, many individuals are faced with the task of creating a will, yet many might find themselves putting off this important task. With National Make-A-Will Month approaching, there is no better time to address this crucial aspect of life planning. Make-A-Will Month serves as a suitable reminder of the importance of estate planning and ensuring that your wishes are legally documented and honored. The benefits of creating a will extend far past the peace of mind that it provides.
Throughout the month of August, we are encouraging individuals to plan ahead and create/update their will. Creating a will does not only entail distributing assets, but also making sure that your wishes are carried out accordingly. Without a will, the state in which you reside has control over your assets and decides where they should be distributed, which may not always align with your wishes. Having a will reduces stress and heartache for your loved ones who are already faced with grief and loss.
While the process of creating a will may seem long and tedious, it is not as time-consuming as you’d think. With the right legal assistance and resources, the process can run very smoothly.
Here at the House, you can ensure the future success of our mission by joining the Legacy Society for Planned Giving. By making a planned gift, you will help to ensure that we can maintain our affordable fees and a broad array of services for all who need us, now and in the future. Legacy Society Member, Sean, emphasized the importance of giving back. “If you really care about a cause or a charity, its good to be able to donate every year, but when you’re gone, those donations stop. If you care about a cause enough to support it, I think its important to keep supporting it even after you’re gone,” Sean explained. Visit the Legacy Society for Planned Giving page here to learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of the transplant families we serve.
We hope that you will celebrate National Make-A-Will Month this August by making a planned gift to support our mission.
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