Fisher House Email From Wayfarer

 

Big Dog,

As you know, my Dad was recently diagnosed with cancer. I’ve just returned from staying with him and Mom while he was in the hospital recovering from a radical cystectomy. Thanks be to God (and the doctors and nurses), all went well and he is on the road to recovery. But that is not the reason I am sending this email. I am hoping that you, through your blog, can help me get the word out about something.

I would like to sing the praises of and perhaps advertise for an organization known as Fisher House. I’ll give the URL in a moment, but just let me tell you that this organization runs lodging houses for veterans and their families near, and in association with, VA hospitals. In other words, while a veteran is in the hospital (usually a VA hospital, but nearby hospitals as well), their family can stay at one of these houses in lieu of local hotels and such. The cost is literally a few bucks a day (some are even free, and the fees can even be waived in hardship cases) and the accommodations are first class! I’ve stayed at many fine hotels over the years, and under the same circumstances as I’ve explained above, I’d choose Fisher House over any of them!

We stayed at the Stratton VA Fisher House (http://www.fisherhouse.org) which was a couple of hundred yards away from the hospital where my Dad was a patient. While reservations are required (there are only so many rooms), you can stay as long as necessary. The rooms are very spacious, two full or queen size beds, TV, dresser, closet, private bath, etc.. There is a communal kitchen with all new appliances, flatware, cookware, pots, pans, dinnerware, utensils, and supplied common items such as spices, condiments, some veggies, and the like. A huge refrigerator/freezer and separate cupboard space allows a family to lay in a supply of food so that fast food or restaurant dining is by choice rather than necessity. Additionally, at least at this house, local volunteers bring in a lot of baked goods – cookies, cakes, scones, breads, etc.. And, this being the Christmas season, the manager of the facility, in conjunction with some local volunteers, prepared an entire Christmas ham dinner with all the “fixin’s”. It was in the refrigerator, all sliced and ready to microwave for a wonderful dinner. Eat in the kitchen or in the formal dining room, and relax afterward with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace in the library. I almost hated to leave!

You can read the entire story at the URL above (and I strongly encourage you to do so), but briefly Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher did very well in business. They wanted to do something for their country and decided to give help and comfort to it’s greatest asset – it’s military forces; the men and women who, past and present, have given so much to keep this the greatest country on the face of the earth, bar none!

While I pray that you, and any veteran reading this, never need avail yourselves of hospital care, if the need arises, Fisher House will be there to help out you and your family during those difficult times.

Wayfarer