Feed the Fisher House.4

When I was asked by John to join his cause, Feed the Fisher House, I was apprehensive for two reasons; I am continuously busy and didn't know how much time I could really offer and I have no real connection to the military world and hadn't even really heard of Fisher House Foundation. However, as I accessed the Fisher House website and listened to John's story, I knew that I not only had something to bring to the table, but I could also learn a lot in return. John's suggestion to go to the VA Puget Sound Fisher House alone, however, caught me by surprise. I thought it would be better to go as a group, take notes, discuss etc. But at his urging, I did what he asked and went alone. This past Saturday I looked up the VA Puget Sound Fisher House address and drove myself down to Beacon Hill, expecting to be at the house for a couple of hours. When I arrived, I found, to my dismay, that the house was closed. There are no staff members on the weekends, only guests, and they enter with a card/ key system, which meant I was virtually locked out. I stood at the doorway for a few minutes, trying to decide how to make the best use of my time. As I turned to leave, an elderly couple exited the house. Kathleen and her husband (whose name escapes me unfortunately) are guests of the Fisher House, as he is an inpatient at the VA hospital for work on his jaw. When I mentioned who I was and why I was there, they graciously took me inside to show me the House and to inform me that the staff was not there and what hours I could reach them. The house itself was immaculate... granite counter tops, wood flooring, washer and dryer, all the amenities a family could need. When my tour was done, the two of them stood with me outside for many minutes, relaying their story to me and answering my questions. They are from Idaho and the VA hospital there could not do what they needed, nor was there a Fisher House to support her. Her husband had been here for many months and she was never able to see him, until a spot at the Fisher House opened up and she was able to get a ticket to come here. Though she spends most of her waking time with her husband at the hospital, she was emphatic that the Fisher House was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. She told me of the beauty of the rooms, the easy access to amenities, the connections between the families, the meals they share, and the overall peace she feels when she walks in the House. It warmed my heart to know that though these two people were struggling both physically and financially, there was an institution in place that was willing to relieve some of that burden. As I shook their hands and watched them walk arm in arm down the path toward the hospital, I knew that this was exactly where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing. I received something more valuable then a tour from a staff person of the Fisher House; I spoke with someone who is directly impacted by the generosity of the Fisher House, who could definitely benefit from what John and I and the others are trying to do. I feel, now more than ever, that this is a worthwhile cause and I cannot wait until the day that we can reach our goal and set a new, higher one! (*** Note ... the VA Puget Sound Fisher House welcomes anyone who wants to visit the home. But because this is a private residency, please respect the privacy of the guests and rules of the home by calling ahead of time to make an appointment for one of the staff to show you the home. Call Lorraine if you're interested in visiting the house, 206.277.3950. ***)
Thank you,
Beth Schustek