The Patriot Magazine Volume 3 Issue 1 by Fisher House Foundation

2012 Volume 3 • Issue 1

fisherhouse.org

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION, INC. TM

IT'S BEYOND TIME—

to take care of our own

how to treat a hero

New home openings

Augusta takes care to new levels

And a groundbreaking UK experience

The first lady pitches in Easter celebrated in style with Bo in tow

About Fisher House Foundation, Inc. The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military families in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation builds and donates “comfort homes,” on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times—during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease or injury. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves about 17,000 families, and has made over 4 million days of lodging to nearly 160,000 families since the program originated in 1990. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses operated by the Army, Navy and Air Force. No family pays to stay at any Fisher House! In addition to constructing new houses, Fisher House Foundation continues to support existing Fisher Houses and help individual military families in need. The Foundation is also proud to administer and sponsor Scholarships for

Military Children, Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship, the Hero Miles program, Team Fisher House, and co-sponsor the Newman’s Own Awards program and the Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program. By contributing to the Fisher House Foundation or any individual Fisher House facility, you can make a difference in the lives of America’s service members, retirees, veterans and their families when they need help the most. Fisher House Foundation and individual Fisher Houses depend on public donations to continue our important work. If you designate your contribution for a specific purpose or Fisher House, 100 percent of your donation will be allocated for that purpose. Furthermore, Fisher House Foundation never discloses the names of its donors to any other individuals or organizations, and does not solicit contributions by direct mail or telephone. Once constructed, each Fisher House is given to the U.S. government as a gift. Military service secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the homes. Fisher House Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, builds new houses, assists in coordinating private support and encourages public support for the homes. Donations to Fisher House Foundation and/or individual Fisher House facilities are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Fisher House Foundation has earned the highest rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator, an independent nonprofit evaluator. Fisher House Foundation has also received an A+ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

In Memoriam: Fisher House Remembers Belle Espisito

Social Media Support

Fisher House Hits the Jeopardy!

Guest FamilyProfile— The Crabbe Family

Ken Fisher Received Highest DOD Award for Public Service

Dedications

Fisher House Coming to the UK

Hero Miles: Feeding the Meter

Jay Leno’s Celebrity Tractor

It's Beyond Time—to Take Care of Our Own

A First-Rate Visit

Team Fisher House: Behind the Scenes

Radio Update

Gunn H.S. Sisters: Palo Alto

House Round-Up

Future Fisher Houses in Action

Down Range

Fisher House Directory

Letter from Ken Fisher Dear Friends,

Ken and Tammy Fisher

Fisher House Foundation by the

Numbers

$192 Million Savings for Families in Lodging and Transportation Cost Chairman and CEO Ken Fisher Editor Cindy Campbell ASSOCIATE Editor Ashley Estill

4 Million Days of Lodging Offered

layout and art direction ds+f www.dsfriends.com Address all correspondence to: The Patriot Fisher House Foundation 111 Rockville Pike Suite 420 Rockville, Maryland 20850

160 Thousand Families Served

Phone: 301 294 8560 Fax: 877 294 8562 Email: info@fisherhouse.org The cover is a compilation of photos to accompany the stories of inspirational military service men and women, their families and those who support them.

www.fisherhouse.org

This past January, I had the privilege of standing on a terrace at Parliament to announce a partnership that would bring Fisher House to the United Kingdom. We spoke of the special relationship between our two countries and we spoke of the responsibility we have in honoring the sacrifices that were made in preserving the freedoms our two peoples hold most dear. In April, we traded our words for shovels, as we broke ground—and made that concept a reality. Fisher House Foundation is proud to partner with two distinguished British charities: Help for Heroes and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity to make this program available to our greatest allies. We anticipate that this house will be completed by this time next year. Since the last issue of the Patriot we have completed houses at Salt Lake City, Utah; Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska; and Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We have broken ground for a Fisher House in support of the South Texas Health Care System and their new Level One Polytrauma Unit. We are making final preparations to begin houses for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System in Gainesville, Florida. On any given night over 700 families can call Fisher House their "Home Away from Home." While Fisher Houses will always be at the heart of our programs, I am proud of the other programs we have developed with your support. Our scholarship programs are now in their 12th year and will surpass $10,000,000 in scholarship grants awarded. 6,739 sons and daughters of military families have been blessed through the generous support of Defense Commissary Agency business partners and others wanting to make a difference through education. We continue to work with the National Military Family Association to provide scholarships for military spouses and this is our second year of the Heroes Legacy Scholarships established through the generosity of President and Mrs. Obama. This very special program supports the children of our Fallen Heroes and those who have become 100 percent disabled since 9-11. You can find out more about these programs at our web site: www.fisherhouse.org. I am most grateful to our donors. It is their generosity that allows us to step forward when we see an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those we are so privileged to serve. Very truly yours,

Ken Fisher Chairman, Fisher House Foundation

The statistics in this graphic date from 1991— Fisher House Foundation inception.

Cover photos provided by the Crabbe Family, Jay Leno and Ashley Estill. The Patriot • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1 • 2012

Social Media Support Fisher House Hits the Twitter Love

Facebook Feedback

Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger @Call_Me_Dutch @FisherHouseFdtn Congrats!! Fisher House does amazing work for our military families—especially the Hero Miles program! Spanky Gibson @SpankyGibson @KenFisherFHF thank you for the follow Sir. I appreciate all your family has done including giving me a home while at WRAMC. Paul Rieckhoff @ PaulRieckhoff President, Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association @KenFisherFHF Thanks for the follow, Ken. And for all your good work. You and your dad are a true inspiration to us all.

My nephew Sean Walsh was killed in Afghanistan last week. I stayed at the Fisher House in Dover during his dignified transfer. I have never experienced such compassion and love from strangers. During this dark time in my and my families’ life, they were there to smile and laugh at the stories we told of my nephew and cried with us in his passing. The shock and horror of losing a loved one in combat is one I am sure they have seen and will see all too much. Please tell them thank you for making us a part of their family and they will now forever be a part of ours. Thank you. —Tim Morgan I want to thank the Fisher House family for being there for me during my husband’s stay at the Houston VA hospital. We were 480 miles from home, but the other families staying there made it feel as much like home as possible. They were all an awesome bunch of great people. God Bless and our prayers to you all.

Photo by Brendan Mattingly

—Sheila Dockins

Remembering

Belle Esposito

It is with great sadness that Fisher House honors the memory of the late Belle Esposito, who served as manager of the San Diego Fisher Houses for many years. She touched many lives and will be missed. Thank you Belle for your years of service and support for our service members, their families and Fisher House Foundation. 2

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Thank you for providing such a wonderful and comfortable place to stay. I was able to stay by my husband's side during his long recovery and take a break without feeling like I was too far away if something had happened. You relieved much stress for me personally and it was comforting being around people that understood. Semper Fi. —Mindy Rick Rush Thank you so much Fisher House in Augusta, GA. We could not have made it without all of your support and care. You are now a priority in our lives to find ways to support this Foundation once our son has recovered and we can put our best foot forward to start. Meanwhile I am spreading the news with our Facebook friends to support such a wonderful cause for our Wounded Warriors! —Barbara Links

Fisher House Foundation is blessed to have the support of many generous individuals. One such individual is Captain Brendan Graham, stationed at the San Antonio Military Medical Center. Captain Graham was recently on Jeopardy! and is donating a portion of his threeday stint to the Foundation. “My father-in-law was a Navy Captain stationed in Japan and received cancer treatments at Tripler Army Base in Hawaii. This was before Fisher Houses and he had to go alone,” said Captain Graham. “I know how important Fisher Houses are, not only to wounded warriors and their families but also to those receiving treatment for cancer, MS, and other conditions that require our military to go to various hospitals outside of their duty stations. I also walked by the Fisher Houses every day when I went to work in Bethesda, MD. Seeing them reminded me of how important they are. My wife and I hope many people will join us in supporting Fisher House.”

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guest family profile Corporal Justin Crabbe Story by Ashley Estill Photos by U.S. Air Force / Ken Wright

Name: CRABBE Family House: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center— Bethesda, MD

Home State: CALIFORNIA Military Branch: MARINE CORPS

There was no way that the Crabbe family would be away from Justin during this critical time. It’s been about six months since Maureen Crabbe received a phone call no one is ready for. That August phone call would forever alter her life, and the lives of her family. Her son, Corporal Justin Crabbe, USMC, was wounded in Afghanistan with an IED blast that caused him to lose both legs. Following his August injury, Justin was sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland to recover. Right behind him were his mother Maureen, father Cliff and sister Jennifer. From California, there was no way that the Crabbe family would be away from Justin during this critical time. The family remained with Justin and once their orders ended after 13 weeks, Justin became an out-patient and more questions regarding the Crabbe family future loomed. Cliff would stay in Building 62, a wounded warrior barracks, with Justin so he could be there to physically help his son. Meanwhile, Maureen and Jenn weren’t sure what would happen to them, but the only thing they were sure of is they weren’t going anywhere.

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“ Every day we’re together. We can take breaks and shifts; it helps especially when appointments are nonstop. We got to see him as a family walk.” “Jenn and I wanted to stay here as a family because we feel that’s the most important thing for Justin to heal,” Maureen said. “Once our orders ended, Jenn and I sort of became homeless and that’s when we found out about the Fisher House.” Blessed to get a room, Maureen and Jenn found a temporary home in the beautiful 20-suite comfort home that was within walking distance from their son and brother. As a family they could help Justin, attend medical appointments, therapy and enjoy some of the more simple pleasures in life like barbecues and spending the holidays together. Maureen and Jenn reminisced about what brought them to Fisher House; Maureen sipping on a cup of coffee in the wellappointed dining room of her new home.

The Crabbe family during a Christmas party at the Commandant’s home.

“I think Justin enjoys us all being here, we’ve been so close by,” Jenn said. “Every day we’re together. We can take breaks and shifts; it helps especially when appointments are nonstop. We got to see him as a family walk.” Justin has made incredible progress and the past few months have been busy for the Crabbe family. The entire family was able to go home to California during the holidays to be with family and their dog, Boomer. Following the Christmas break, Justin returned to Bethesda with Cliff to continue therapy. Unfortunately Justin developed a heart problem, but doctors were able to administer some medication instead of Justin having surgery. Justin was doing well enough that he was cleared to visit Hawaii to see friends that he hadn't seen since being deployed and attend a Warrior Ball.

Justin and his sister Jenn at a Warrior Ball in Hawaii back in February.

After a whirlwind experience, it seems that life is calming down for Maureen, Cliff, Jenn and Justin. Cliff has since returned to work in California; leaving Maureen to be Justin’s non-medical attendant (NMA). Jenn, who had just finished PA school when Justin was injured, remained in California after the holidays to finish her boards and focus on getting a job.

“Let me tell you, these families understand what you’re going through,” Maureen said. “When we first got here, the shock is overwhelming; you don’t realize the fog you’re in. But when you’ve got another family welcoming you and promising you things will get better, it’s amazing.”

Justin is about to get his taller legs and knees, allowing him to be his natural height again.

You can follow the Crabbe family story by visiting their blog, http://thecrabbereport.blogspot.com/ to keep up on Justin’s progress.

“His attitude is so positive, he’s doing really well,” Maureen said. “He is doing well in therapy, walking without his canes and dribbling soccer balls.” Throughout everything, the Crabbe family continues to remember and feel grateful for all the support they’ve received along the way, especially being able to stay in a Fisher House so close to Justin.

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Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz presented Fisher House Foundation Chairman and CEO Ken Fisher the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service on February 16 in Anchorage, Alaska. The highest civilian award given by the United States Department of Defense, Mr. Fisher received this prestigious award the evening before dedicating a Fisher House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

“

“I am deeply humbled by this honor and am thankful to the Department of Defense for recognizing the impact that the Fisher House program has had on more than 160,000 military families in the last 20 years,” said Mr. Fisher. “As proud as I am of our work, it still pales in comparison to the dedication, commitment and sacrifice our military and their families demonstrate each day. They are the true heroes.”

Fisher House Foundation Chairman

and

CEO Ken Fisher

Received Highest DOD Award for Public Service

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”

4 More Fisher Houses It’s been a very busy few months for the Foundation, dedicating four new Fisher Houses since our last issue, providing a much needed “home away from home” for our service men and women and their families.

Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center

Washington D.C. VA Medical Center

Augusta, GA

Washington, D.C.

The epitome of southern charm and elegance, this new 20-suite home was dedicated in October and is the second in the state of Georgia.

Former U.S. Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole joined Fisher House to dedicate the 20-suite home on the grounds of the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center in September. In addition to the support of Charity Works, the brothers of Kappa Sigma, in honor of their brother Bob Dole, were present to see first-hand what their efforts yielded for the Foundation. Through their Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign, brothers all over the country came together to support our service men and women and their families. "The Brothers of Kappa Sigma are so very proud to be associated with the establishment of the Fisher House at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C.,” said Mitchell Wilson, Executive Director of Kappa Sigma. “Our young men were committed to this effort from the start and raised over $230,000 for this important cause. They also contributed thousands of hours in service to make this possible. We were so pleased that this Fisher House was dedicated in honor of our Brother Robert J. Dole. He has done so much for our Country as a leader and patriot. We are pleased to partner with the Fisher House to support our veterans and soldiers who protect our freedoms and liberties every day."

Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson Hospital Anchorage, AK Alaska’s first Fisher House was dedicated in February, a 12-suite home, complete with heated sidewalks and even some Moose in the backyard which have found a new place to graze.

Salt Lake City VA Health Care System Salt Lake City, UT

Augusta, GA

Salt Lake City, U

Dedicated also in February, the 20-suite Fisher House is the first home to honor the memory of a fallen marine, Lt. Col. Chance Phelps, whose story was depicted in the HBO movie, “Taking Chance,” starring Kevin Bacon. Chance’s mom Gretchen Mack, founder of the Chance Phelps Foundation, helped dedicate the home in her son’s honor.

Washington, D.C.

Anc horage, AK The Patriot • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1 • 2012

Fisher House Coming to the United Kingdom

(Left to Right) Mike Hammond, Chief Executive of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Bryn Parry, CEO of Help for Heroes, Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation and Philip Davies, Member of Parliament, celebrate the announcement of the upcoming Fisher House in the United Kingdom.

“Fisher House is dedicated to military families and we go where the need is.”

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Fisher House Foundation has partnered with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and UK charity, Help for Heroes, to launch a new project to support the UK’s service members and their families. The first Fisher House in the UK, this project will be a two-story, 18-suite home for families of patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “Fisher House is dedicated to military families and we go where the need is,” said Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “The United Kingdom has been America's strongest ally for more than a century. So when this particular need came to our attention we knew it was an important project to engage in. We are proud to have helped British families—alongside our British partners in this project—in the same way we have helped American military families.”

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George W. Bush

Jay Leno’s

“LIL TUG”

feeding the meter Story by Tish Stropes, Hero Miles Director

Do you ever wonder if you are making a difference? I do. I wonder. I think we all do. In fact, I think we all resolve to somehow make a difference. Years ago I fed quarters into expired meters and smiled knowing I had just bought someone an extra 15 minutes of “life” before the parking enforcement officer showed up to issue a ticket. It was a little game I played. Simple pleasures. I always laughed when I would get caught by the officer who would tell me I could not put my money in someone else’s meter. Really? Since when? Fast forward several years. Am I making a difference now? Am I still feeding someone’s meter? Absolutely! I wake up not knowing what the day will bring. As a military spouse, and mother of two, my day begins with the routine tasks associated with being part of a family and getting them off to work and school for the day. It is once they are gone, and I am at work, I get to concentrate on my role with the Hero Miles program at Fisher House Foundation. I usually have a basic plan for my day, which often never makes it to completion. But, at the end of the day, when I lay down to sleep, I recap the day. I consider myself blessed with a job that makes an incredible impact and difference in the lives of our wounded, injured and ill service members and their families. I am grateful for the resources and donations by the great citizens of our country. Without those giving people and their donated frequent flyer miles, the Hero Miles program would not be possible.

Simply put, medicine is sometimes not enough. Hero Miles make flights available to get families to the bedside of their wounded, injured or ill loved ones. Some days it is mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. Other days it is husbands, wives, fiancés, children and best friends. No matter who travels, we are bridging gaps in the healing process. Hero Miles keeps families together and after all, “family is the best medicine.” This past year Hero Miles grew 91 percent and issued a record number of tickets. As the word continues to spread about who we are and what we do, Hero Miles continues to grow, helping more families every day. Frequent flyer customers are donating their miles, airlines are partnered and ready to support. My job has given me a new appreciation for both flying and charity. I walk into an airport, look around and say thank you. I know it might sound silly but to me those airline partners and travelers are going the extra mile without realizing the incredible impact they make in the lives of those who benefit from the Hero Miles program. I see them and recognize that they too are “feeding someone else’s meter.” Simple pleasures.

To donate miles or find out more about our Hero Miles program, please visit: www.fisherhouse.org/programs/hero-miles

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Celebrity Tractor for Fisher House Jay Leno’s “Lil Tug” celebrity tractor fetched $535,000 at the BarrettJackson Auction in January, with proceeds benefitting Fisher House Foundation. “Sometimes it’s not the injury that you see. We’ve all seen the burn victims, but a lot of guys come back psychologically scarred and they need our help,” said Jay Leno at the auction, just moments before the winning bid. “100 percent of this money will go to Fisher House.” The New Holland tractor was signed by George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America, a staunch and vocal supporter of America’s military and their families. The Patriot • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1 • 2012

During medical school, there were plenty of aspects of medicine he liked, only nothing that fully grabbed him. It wasn’t until one night when he was in the emergency room and saw a woman who came in that suffered a massive stroke. Sustaining serious injuries and in critical condition, it seemed that the woman would not survive. About a month later, Dr. Hollins was rounding the corner and there this woman was, standing in front of him with a walker, in a track suit and new sneakers.

IT'S BEYOND TIME — to take care of our own Story and Photos by Ashley Estill

When Dr. Dennis Hollins, Chief of the Rehabilitation Medicine Service at the Charlie Norwood VA in Augusta, GA, had the opportunity to take a group of Vietnam veterans through his unique rehab unit, he momentarily held his breath. At the conclusion of his tour, he asked the group if they had any questions. “I was nervous because these guys rehabbing had so much done for them and the Vietnam experience was so different,” the doctor recalled. “So I bit the bullet and asked who had questions.” After, what seemed like an eternity of silence, one veteran in the group finally said, “You know, it’s about time.” This particular veteran’s comment opened the flood gate and all his brothers in battle started sharing their experiences when they got back. According to Dr. Hollins, they felt that their experiences had taught the nation how to treat heroes today. “The most gratifying thing is they embraced what was being done for veterans today,” Dr. Hollins said. “Our experiences in Vietnam won this level of care for these soldiers. Instead of feeling angry or resentful, they embraced it.” In 2003, Dr. Hollins was presented the unique opportunity to create an active duty rehab unit from scratch to help rehab service members coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq. After a significant number of service members came back and needed treatment, the VA and Department of Defense realized they needed a facility to provide rehabilitative services for service members coming back from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The solution was to create a rehab center at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. Because they already had a Spinal Cord Unit,

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“I was stunned. I’m looking at her and she was so happy and I thought, ‘That’s miraculous,’” said Dr. Hollins. “I thought, ‘what is this?’ I found out that it was the rehab unit; took a tour the next day and that was it. God created rehab for me.”

they would add equipment and hire a new staff to create the grassroots facility that would not only help active duty service members, but veterans as well, with one all-encompassing program.

The passion that Dr. Hollins has is not unique to rehab doctors, but it has played a vital role in creating such a successful program—all with a smile on his face. His optimism and spirit is infectious and visible for all his patients and their families to see.

The VA agreed to make the additions with a sharing agreement in October 2003, and in February 2004, they took their first patient. What Dr. Hollins refers to as “rehab’s greatest hits” is the amazing staff that runs their facility.

Julie Brooker has found a temporary home at the Augusta Fisher House while her son Joey, who was in a car accident, is recovering at the hospital and in Dr. Hollins’ care.

“I have to give the staff a lot of credit because people quit their jobs to get here. Nobody had any idea how long this unit was going to last,” Dr. Hollins said. “It was a leap of faith to me. The neat thing is that everyone who came here wanted to work with active duty soldiers in the VA. They just felt this as something they wanted to be a part of.” With little to no turnover, Dr. Hollins runs a facility with three inpatient centers: medical rehab, active duty rehab and a blind rehab center. When new patients entered, in addition to treating physical wounds, each patient was tested for brain injury. When their program was set up, they made sure to have a clinical psychologist on staff because having a heavy mental health component to the center was important. Since the Active Duty Rehab Unit was the grassroots idea of the military and VA, Dr. Hollins was free to adjust the program as he progressed. Without a rule book to adhere by, they were able to twist and mold the program to best serve the needs of their patients. “Originally they thought this was going to be an amputee program, so the plan was to have only an amputee component,”

“Dr. Hollins is amazing,” Julie said. “You can go to him anytime for anything. Every little thing Joey does, he’s ecstatic about.” The feeling is mutual according to Dr. Hollins. He knows the value of having a family’s love as medicine and that love serving as a catalyst for recovery.

Dr. Hollins in the hallway outside the activity center, where veterans and active duty service members heal.

“ Our experiences in Vietnam won this level of care for these soldiers. Instead of feeling angry or resentful, they embraced it.”

Dr. Hollins said. “But we had the mental health background and with my polytrauma background we were able to put together a pretty neat program.”

several other networks for therapy including occupational and speech therapy, psychiatry, psychology, neuropsychology, nutrition and social work.

This program has become the heart and soul of the hospital, providing first-class care for their first-class patients. Dr. Hollins’ program includes a state-of-the-art gym for physical therapy, a pool for aquatic therapy, drivers rehabilitation, blind therapy, and

No matter the need, or how severe the injury, the Active Duty Rehab Unit has plenty of tools and people who are eager to help their patients recover and enter the world fully functional and comfortable again.

“This is one of the best groups of rehab people I’ve ever worked with,” said LTC Louise Johnson. “To see the work they do; people rolling in on stretchers and walking out of here has just been great.” Dr. Hollins was made to do this. With a background in polytrauma and board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, it seems that destiny played a part in bringing him to Augusta.

Kelly Hale is a mother of two, and also staying at the Fisher House while her husband recovers at the hospital. An Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician, her husband Aaron Hale was working on diffusing an IED in Afghanistan when it suddenly exploded in his face. Lucky to be alive, Aaron has now lost his eyesight and has difficulty hearing. Aaron’s positive attitude and the loving influence of his family has served as his motivation to continue the recovery process. “Each day is a struggle, but we press on and move forward,” said Kelly. “We’re really eager to move on to the next step in our life.” Being in the Fisher House allows families to have some normalcy during a difficult time.

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Augusta, Georgia A mixed population, each group relies on the other for support, encouragement and respect.

“It’s definitely a home away from home,” said Julie, as she sits in a chair and reads in the cozy family room. “We all have our own rooms, but nine times out of 10, we end up in the family room together.” Kelly, who was sitting near Julie, echoed her sentiments. “We’ve been in five different hotels and it makes such a difference being in the Fisher House. For one, I feel like I have a family. Though we’ve never met each other, we’ve all experienced the same type of heartache. You just feel at home.”

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Every job has its perks. One of mine is that I get to visit truly amazing families and patients who are staying in a Fisher House. Their resilience and attitude is not only refreshing, but inspiring. When touring the Active Duty Rehab Unit with Dr. Hollins, I met a familiar face. Aaron Hale, whose wife I had spent the morning with at Fisher House, was first walking around with a cane, then hopping on a bike to continue his physical therapy. While on the bike, I had the opportunity to chat with him for a few moments about his family, new technological improvements for the blind and his cooking techniques. Indeed, this newly blind man was describing how he used to—and still—chops his vegetables and everything else. Aaron was joining his wife at the Fisher House later that day to make tacos for dinner. And sure enough, when I returned to the kitchen of the Fisher House, I entered to see Aaron chopping an onion, then cutting cilantro for his salsa. With a grin on his face, Aaron tells me, “We’re cooking tonight. As it turns out, there are a few limitations I’m learning to get around. I’m pretty good at cutting…but I haven’t figured out how to not burn myself.”

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In close proximity to their loved ones, the beautiful 20-suite Fisher House which opened in October 2011, is a close walk to the hospital, allowing patients the comfort of knowing their family is nearby. After sustaining their injuries, their worry is not on themselves, but on their family. “These guys have been out of the country for eight or nine months and now they’re back. They’re supposed to focus on themselves, but they can’t. They’ve got a spouse, or family, so they’re worried about them,” Dr. Hollins said. “But now, not only do they know where their family is, but they’re in a wonderful place. And it’s walking distance. It’s right here.” Fueling their rehab, it does Dr. Hollins and his patients such good to know how much support they have. Military people will set up school for the kids, they have a home in the Fisher House—they have all the support they need to relocate their family during this time. “Having my family here has been monumental,” said Aaron. “Without my wife and kids, I wouldn’t have the motivation. They are the driving force for me to be rehabilitated and continue on.”

Having learned lessons from the past, Dr. Hollins takes pride in his facility that joins together both active duty and veterans. A mixed population, each group relies on the other for support, encouragement and respect. They all use the same equipment, have the same doctors and receive the same high level of care. Their days are similar, with multiple sessions of therapy from a staff who wants to support them. Embracing the past, Dr. Hollins has created a program that has supported his community incredibly well—something he’s proud of.

A Firstrate visit...

“We try to reinforce that our patients may have gone through something horrible, but it was in the service of this higher good,” Dr. Hollins said. “It’s been so effective here because outside society reinforces this. They tell them, ‘we’re proud of you, grateful for you, thank you.’”

Military families had the pleasure of meeting the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama and Fisher House trustee Tammy Fisher during an Easter celebration at the Fisher House at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Mrs. Obama greeted the crowd, then spent time at each table speaking with the children and their parents helping them with their festive Easter crafts. If all that excitement wasn’t enough, the First Lady brought her dog Bo, White House Easter cookies and tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll for everyone.

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Behind the Scenes

Team

Fisher house

with Cathy Cabrey and Stacy Toner By now, our readers are quite familiar with Team Fisher House, the grassroots, online fundraising program of Fisher House Foundation. Now participating in all four major military races (Air Force Marathon; Marine Corps Marathon; Army 10-Miler; Navy Nautical), the program has grown with tremendous strides since inception. The success of this program should be credited to two individuals who not only founded Team Fisher House, but who give the program their heart and soul. Cathy Cabrey and Stacy Toner are the backbone of Team Fisher House and the ladies who work so tirelessly to make your fundraising experience exceptional.

“ Deployments are hard on soldiers and on their families. But had it not been for our husbands’ deployments, Stacy and I might not ever have met, nor trained for a marathon together. Team Fisher House might not ever have been started.” Stories told by Cathy Cabrey and Stacy Toner

Their Story Cathy Cabrey and Stacy Toner met in fall of 2003 through their battalion’s Family Readiness Group. Both of their husbands were deployed to Iraq from Fort Riley, Kansas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Stacy’s husband had command of a brigade reconnaissance troop and Cathy’s husband was Stacy’s husband’s battalion commander. As military spouses, they focused on helping others during the year-long deployment. As individuals, they focused on not only surviving the separation, but thriving as well.

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Their friendship began with a conversation about Cathy dabbling with the idea of running a marathon “someday.” Stacy suggested that “someday” could be now. They became training partners that same week and added a small local marathon nine months in the future to their calendars. Cathy and Stacy quickly found that marathon training gave them much needed time to decompress, and the physical exercise relieved the constant stress of a deployment. It was great therapy. Six months after their successful completion of the Gobbler Grind Marathon, in Kansas City, Kansas the Army moved Stacy and Cathy to different parts of the country, but their connection remained strong. In early 2006, after a particularly inspirational run, Cathy Cabrey presented the idea of a military spouse team at the Marine Corps Marathon to Fisher House; the Foundation was immediately on board. When Cathy called Stacy to ask her to coach this grassroots team, Stacy didn’t hesitate for a moment to say “yes.” The Team Fisher House program was born.

Stacy’s Story

Cathy’s Story

As an active duty military spouse for the past 13 years, my connection to Fisher House is personal. During my own husband’s deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, his units have called upon the support of Fisher House Foundation to support the families of his wounded, injured and ill soldiers. One of my husband’s soldiers was wounded and returned to the States for treatment during OIF I. His wife stayed at the Fisher House adjacent to Walter Reed Army Hospital while he recovered. During these deployments and during our daily lives in the military, I am put at ease knowing that if an emergency medical situation arises, the Fisher House would be there for my own family. As the Foundation says, “A family’s love is good medicine.”

My introduction to Fisher House happened in 2001 when my 10-year-old daughter started getting an allowance. Trying to teach her the importance of giving back, my husband and I encouraged her to give 10 percent of her allowance to a charity. She chose to support Fisher House with a $3 check each month. Several months of donations later, she received a personal letter from Ken Fisher, Fisher House Foundation Chairman and CEO, thanking her for her generosity. We were very impressed with an organization that welcomed and appreciated every gift, no matter how small.

The call I received from Cathy asking me to coach our first team in 2006 was an honor. It was a few years after I earned my master’s degree in Exercise Science, a field in which I enjoyed educating others on improving their health. This was an opportunity to reach out to those with a passion for supporting the military and who were striving for a personal fitness goal; two concepts I am also passionate about. As the years pass, our team continues to grow, and I become more excited for each race season to begin. It is an opportunity to share my knowledge of running and excitement in seeing friends and families of the military become healthier while spreading the word about a wonderful organization doing incredible things for our military families. I am truly honored and humbled to be part of this wonderful organization, to be the coach of such enthusiastic fundraisers, and to be a proud military spouse.

“ As the program grows each year, Stacy and I remember our humble beginnings. We make sure every fundraiser and every donation made through the program, regardless of size, are appreciated.” My family and I moved from Germany to Fort Riley, Kansas in 2003. Three months after landing on the ground and taking battalion command, my husband’s unit was deployed to Iraq in support of OIF I. The conflicts in Ramadi and Fallujah brought many casualties to the brigade. Several soldiers’ families called Fisher Houses their homes-away-from-home while their loved ones were treated at military medical facilities around the world. When I described Fisher House to one wife the evening before she flew to Landstuhl, Germany to meet her husband who was severely injuring during an IED attack, I could sense her relief over the phone. Knowing that she had a comfortable, supportive place to stay during the long road to recovery ahead made a devastating situation a little easier to bear. It was at that moment that the Fisher House mission truly clicked with me.

Deployments are hard on soldiers and on their families. But had it not been for our husbands’ deployments, Stacy and I might not ever have met, nor trained for a marathon together. Team Fisher House might not ever have been started. Stacy and I started out with Fisher House in 2006 as volunteers with no prior fundraising or event-planning experience. By asking a lot of questions, attending more webinars than we can count, utilizing the ideas and suggestions of our team members, and with a lot of support from the Foundation, Team Fisher House has become the program it is today. As the program grows each year, Stacy and I remember our humble beginnings. We make sure every fundraiser and every donation made through the program, regardless of size, are appreciated I am truly grateful for the opportunity Fisher House has given Stacy and me to bring this grassroots fundraising concept to fruition. They graciously allow two military spouses, who live unpredictable lives in ever-changing locations, to give Foundation supporters the tools and resources they need to raise funds and awareness for an amazing organization.

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KSTE/Sacramento morning hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty

Fisher House is

Radio-Active!

And that’s a good thing.

Gunn H.S. Sisters Juggle Academics and Life at the VA Story by Chris Kenrick • Reprinted with permission from Palo Alto Weekly Photo courtesy of Veronica Weber/Palo Alto Weekly

Story by Randall Bloomquist Some of the country’s leading radio stations, personalities and networks are using the airwaves to raise awareness of Fisher House and its mission to support military families in their time of greatest need. In recent months alone, these broadcasters have generated in excess of $1 million in donations to the Foundation. Fisher House is fortunate to count Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the country’s largest radio group, among its friends. In November the San Antonio-based company conducted its second annual Veterans Day initiative to benefit the Foundation. During that week long effort, which culminated on November 11th, some 800 Clear Channel radio stations aired interviews, news stories and public service announcements that explained the Fisher House mission and encouraged listeners to contribute or volunteer. That campaign raised $750,000 from listeners across America while providing $5.6 million worth of media exposure for the Foundation. “Our company is committed to addressing issues that engage and impact our listeners across the United States,” said Jessica King, Clear Channel’s Director of Community Engagement. “A recent study shows that more Americans are involved with supporting troops than any other social issue today, and it is important for Clear Channel to support organizations that our listeners care about like Fisher House.” The unquestioned stars of the Veterans Day campaign were KSTE/Sacramento morning hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty, who raised an amazing $395,000 to help build a second Fisher House at nearby Travis Air Force Base. The popular talk radio duo, who are also 20

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heard on KNEW/San Francisco and KWSX/ Stockton, CA, say supporting Fisher House was a “no-brainer” for them. “Our audience, in their hearts, truly supports military families. Our fundraiser for Fisher House gave the Armstrong & Getty faithful a great chance to put that love and concern into action in a way that would directly help out our wounded warriors, their families and vets in need of care.” “Fisher House’s unbelievable efficiency in using donated money was also really persuasive. It speaks to Fisher House’s real sense of mission that they protect every dollar donated like they do.”

Fisher House is fortunate to count Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the country’s largest radio group, among its friends. Christmas brought another gift from radio as 84 news/talk stations and the Sirius XM satellite radio service aired a Fisher House holiday special called “The Gift.” The threehour program told the uplifting stories of several former Fisher House residents who have rebuilt their lives and are once again contributing to the community. “The Gift” was hosted by veteran radio personality Gil Gross and distributed as a public service by Cumulus Media Networks. The stations that aired “The Gift” also agreed to broadcast public service announcements encouraging listeners to make a year-end contribution to Fisher House.

The result was a surge of awareness of Fisher House during the holiday giving season that helped drive a noticeable increase in donations. “We’re grateful for the support of Cumulus Media Networks and the radio stations all around the country that put their time and resources into making ‘The Gift’ a success,” said David Coker, President of Fisher House Foundation. “The sacrifices our military families make are especially deep during the holiday season, and this program helped Americans understand that sacrifice and what it makes possible for the rest of us.” WTKK/Boston added to the holiday cheer by raising $120,000 during a mid-December radiothon hosted by talk show host Michael Graham, a long-time Fisher House supporter. Radio continues to support military families in 2012. KIRO/Seattle has made a major commitment to raise money and awareness for a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis McChord. WOAI/San Antonio has similarly stepped-up to help build a new house at that city’s Audie Murphy VA Hospital. Several other radio stations, including KSFO/San Francisco, WMAL/Washington, WRVA/Richmond and KTLK/Minneapolis will continue their ongoing efforts on behalf of the Foundation. And keep the radio tuned to your local talk radio station for details on Fisher House’s Memorial Day special, a one-hour program honoring America’s fighting men and women, and their families. The show will be heard on stations across the country courtesy of a public service partnership with Premiere Networks, the country’s largest distributor of radio programming.

When Amber and Julie Jacobson tell classmates at Gunn High School they live down the street at the VA Hospital, they’re astounded that some say they’ve never heard of it. “They know nothing about it,” said Julie, a freshman, who recently tried to explain military life—and the concept of an Army PX store—to a friend who “just couldn’t wrap her head around it.” Since last August, the Jacobson sisters have been living with their mother, Amy Jacobson, in Fisher House, an onsite residence for families of patients at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System. Their dad, Sgt. Martin Jacobson, lives a stone’s throw away in the hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury Unit. A U.S. Army plumber, he was paralyzed from the shoulders down following a beach accident last July in Hawaii, just as he was preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. The disastrous consequences of a dive into a sandbar upended the lives of the Jacobsons, who had spent the last two years on Army assignment in Korea. They abruptly shifted gears, following Martin Jacobson from Hawaii—where they had planned to live while he was in Afghanistan— to the Palo Alto Spinal Cord Injury Unit. “My dad’s the same person he always was— he just can’t move now,” said Amber, 16, a sophomore at Gunn. She and her sister stop to see their father each morning on their way to school. During the afternoons, they settle into his hospital room with their books and laptops, using the wide window ledge as a desk to do their homework. Their older brother, Brandon Jacobson, 21, serves with the Army at Fort Bragg, N.C. Amy Jacobson spends her days trying to support her husband, preparing some of his favorite foods—Filipino dishes, soup, roast beef sandwiches—in the spacious kitchen at

Fisher House and carrying them across the street to hand-feed him. Amber and Julie say their academic transition to Gunn has not been difficult. “My school in Korea was challenging, so it isn’t that different,” Amber said. Making friends was more of a challenge.

Jacobson, 46, is up and about in his wheelchair, after having been bedridden for months and gradually weaned from breathing assistance. He can make phone calls, switch TV channels, send email and surf the Web using voicerecognition technology, a small, circular “mouse” stuck in the middle of his forehead— and other technology.

“People here grew up together. They know “It’s definitely a new lifestyle for me,” each other, and they’re not used to moving Jacobson said. around,” 14-year-old Julie said. “They already “I’ve learned some freedom, but it’s not a lot. have their own groups, and when you come in, After three months of lying in bed, I really you have to find your own friends.” started wondering what use I am, so that’s She finally started feeling comfortable in probably my biggest challenge—being of November, when she got to know classmates use again.” better on field trips to Yosemite and Jasper Of his family, he said, “They’ve been through Ridge. a lot. Having just come from Korea, “We connect “Amber does volunteer work here, and she’s with the Korean kids [at Gunn] very easily,” interacted with soldiers with traumatic brain Amber said. injuries and talked to me about how she can “I tell them what school I went to, and they see the difference. know it.” “She seems to be thankful for what’s left of me.” Amber was surprised, upon joining the Model Since its opening six years ago, the 21 suites in UN Club at Gunn, to find students she had Fisher House have provided temporary shelter known in Korea in the same organization. to more than 3,000 families, according to Palo Alto VA spokeswoman Kerri Childress. “They probably moved here the same time I did,” she said. Many families come through with young Still, it’s tough to put down roots when they know their situation is temporary.

“I keep trying to do sports, but it’s expensive, and I have to get signatures from my old school, and that’s hard because it’s in Korea,” Amber said. The family now anticipates a mid-March departure date for a new home at Travis Air Force Base, but little seems to be certain. Martin Jacobson’s room in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit is decorated with self-portraits by Julie, her drawing of Honolulu’s Diamond Head as seen from Jacobson’s room in the Intensive Care Unit of Tripler Army Medical Center and other family memorabilia.

children, and about 20 have had kids old enough to attend local schools, a Fisher House staff member said. U.S. Secretary for Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki recently approved a second Fisher House for the Palo Alto VA campus, to be built through the fundraising efforts of the Fisher House Foundation and local volunteers. Major donors for the first Fisher House were Palo Alto businessman John Arrillaga, Cadence Design, Inc. and local Rotary Clubs, Childress said.

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houseround-up

SUPPORT

From the skies

The Patriot always loves to check in and see what our Fisher Houses have been up to. Here we outline highlights from houses around the country and in Landstuhl, Germany.

GEORGIA

Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center

CALIFORNIA

Naval Medical Center San Diego

Air Force veterans Tim Dawson-Townsend and Anton Nielsen, both of Hingham, Massachusetts, are promoting Fisher House Foundation from the air by flying their specially-painted Van’s RV-10 airplane around the northeast and beyond. The RV-10 is a kitplane, and was built by Tim and Anton with help from fellow veterans Ken and Tom Smith, over a period of almost seven years. When it came time to paint it, they decided to do something that would not only be eye-catching, but also serve a great cause. So in addition to a red, white and blue with stars motif, they proudly carry the Fisher House logo and web address on the tail of the airplane. The airplane has appeared on display at various airshows, and will continue to do so to spread the word about the great work of the Fisher House Foundation. Look for them at an airshow near you!

Fort Gordon, GA

San Diego, CA On November 9th, the San Diego City Council presented the Fisher House with a proclamation declaring November 9th “Fisher House San Diego Day.” The proclamation which was signed by all members of the City Council was presented to Kristin Palmer, Fisher House Manager and guests, by Councilmember Carl DeMaio. Accompanying Kristin was LCDR Michael Grande of Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Petty Officer Third Class Bryan Fazio. After the presentation all were welcome to address the Council. Petty Officer Fazio took the time to share with them his personal story, and thank Fisher House for housing his mother while he undergoes continuing cancer treatments.

Signal Officers Basic Course Class 006-11 spent a day at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Hospital Fisher House working on the outside of the Fort Gordon home. The white and red platoons showed up around 9 a.m. and began work spreading mulch, raking, pruning, trimming and working on the gazebo. The platoons also cleaned out, organized and developed a loading plan for the shed. After lunch, the focus shifted to cleaning the inside of the Fisher House, deep cleaning each common area.

COLORADO

VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Aurora, CO

David grant usaf Medical center Travis Air Force Base, CA The Travis AFB Fisher House welcomed nine Glaxo Smith Kline volunteers from throughout Northern California to decorate the house before the holidays. Nothing could deter their spirit, even for the guys putting lights on the roof in 45-mph winds. The dedicated crew fixed the Christmas tree, toiling with it for two hours to make it look beautiful and work. Fisher House guests enjoyed the fruits of their labor all season. 22

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When Ben Kreutzer’s brother was injured in Germany, his parents stayed at the Fisher House in Landstuhl to help their son recover. After Landstuhl, Ben’s brother is now recovering at the Fisher House in San Antonio with his wife. To show their appreciation for the Fisher House being a blessing to them during a difficult time, Ben, who is a high school student in Colorado, and his friend, Sam Warne, decided to raise money for Fisher House through an indoor golf tournament. They split the funds between the Fisher House in Aurora, Colorado; Landstuhl, Germany; and San Antonio, Texas. In addition to that, Ben’s family also does catering out of their home and has brought in several meals since then. They are an incredible family that understands what Fisher House is about.

Photo by Scott W. Hollingsworth ILLINOIS

KENTUCKY

Hines VA Hospital

Blanchfield Army Community

Hines, IL

Fort Campbell, KY

Several fifth grade students chose to support Hines Fisher House for their day of service. The Hines Fisher House had 60 fifth-graders come to the Fisher House to drop off their donation and tour the house. They also brought a Christmas tree that they decorated in patriotic colors. Each student decorated a gift bag and filled it with a water bottle, puzzle book, pen, candy, travel mug and holiday card with individualized greetings. These gift bags were given to all guests as they checked in.

Dancing with the Stars winner J.R. Martinez visited Fort Campbell to share his story with the Kentucky Army Community. While there, Martinez visited the guests at the Fort Campbell Fisher House, and even had lunch with the residents.

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OHIO

Wright-Patterson Medical Center MARYLAND

SERVING UP

SUPPORT

Malcolm Grow Medical Center Andrews AFB, MD Once a month the local Chick-fil-A from Brandywine, Maryland delivers dinner for the families at the Fisher House at Andrews AFB. In addition, they also catered their annual Parents and Children Fighting Cancer Christmas Party in December. This party was for military families in the metro area who have children battling cancer. Many thanks to the generous team at the Brandywine Chick-fil-A.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, MD Reprinted with permission from Sharon Mulligan Photo by Sharon Mulligan

Fort Lee, VA Usually the heart of any home is the kitchen. It’s where families gather to share stories, laughter and sometimes tears as they talk about their day. It’s a place where warm meals uplift and provide comfort. The Richmond Fisher House is truly a “home away from home” for families of service members and veterans receiving care at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Medical Center. The kitchen is the heart of the facility as family members gather to talk about their loved ones, share information on programs and grab a bite to eat in between trips to the hospital. After receiving a tour and briefing to better understand the facility and the residents, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Russell Campbell, Advanced Food Service Training Division chief, wanted to offer this as a volunteer opportunity to his students. “ There was a need here at the Fisher House that we thought we could help with,” he said. “It’s a great outreach mission as the skills the students use are in line with the training they are receiving. It also provides us with an opportunity to take care of our military family—both active duty and veterans.” As the six students and three instructors worked as a well-organized team preparing numerous dishes, the mood in the house was one of excitement and anticipation. Residents crowded around the kitchen to watch, ask questions and share stories about their loved ones receiving care in the hospital. 24

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Montel Williams joined guests at the Fisher Houses in Bethesda to cook up some of his well-known favorites. Montel isn’t the only one in his family dedicated to supporting our Fisher House families; his mom, dad and sister join him whenever possible. The family affair includes Montel’s dad, who hand makes nearly 100 crab cakes; his mom and sister who prepare fried fish; and Montel preparing a juice that is both good and good for you. Chef Claire Winslow also joins the dedicated team to help in making chili, salad and rice for the hungry guests.

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH The Red Cross Youth hosts monthly “ Barbecue and Bingo” for the guests at the Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher House. The barbecue is donated by the Fluor Corporation with youths providing drinks, desserts and bingo. The evening, a “tradition” for long term and returning house guests, started years ago when a guest receiving oncology treatment realized what great fellowship she enjoyed at this event. She now donates the bingo prizes. These amazing youth provide great entertainment playing bingo in both Spanish and English.

TEXAS

VA North Texas Health Care System

Brooke Army Medical Center San Antonio Military Medical Center Fort Sam Houston, TX Nikki Sixx, the Motley Crue star, spent time with injured service members and their families at the Brooke Army Medical Center Fisher House. Sixx left feeling “inspired and motivated” and has pledged to continue supporting Fisher House.

Dallas, TX The VA North Texas Health Care System hosted a luncheon to celebrate the third anniversary of the Fisher House. A community event, the celebration included a posting of the National colors by the Franklin D. Roosevelt JROTC Color Guard and a high school student performed the National Anthem. Guests enjoyed musical selections while they feasted on a traditional Mexican buffet. The highlight of the event was special recognition for the Fisher House volunteers for their countless hours of dedication and compassion towards guest families.

The Operation Grow project was carried out by a fourth grade class to create a handicap-accessible garden for the wounded service members at Brooke Army Medical Center.

NORTH CAROLINA

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

Camp Lejeune, NC

Fort Hood, TX

Croatan High School students and siblings, Blake Morris and Cassie Morris and Chandler Nohr and Savannah Nohr, orchestrated a DVD drive at their local high school to benefit the Camp Lejeune Fisher House. The students are part of a newly formed club whose goal is to assist others in any way possible.

NFL Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith visited the Fisher House at Fort Hood, and on behalf of the Hershey Company, presented a check to Fisher House. Their generous donation will help support Fisher Houses around the globe and continue the mission to provide for our service members and their families.

Wilford Hall Ambulatory surgical center San Antonio Military Medical Center Lackland Air Force Base, TX Three-year-old, Hayden W. Goligowski, son of Staff Sergeant Andrew and Whitney Goligowski, spent Sunday afternoon with his mother for “Take Your Kids to Work Day” at Lackland Fisher House, where his mother is the Assistant House Manager. Hayden was armed with his personal yellow school bus while he was briefed by the 341st Operations Company from Camp Bullis, TX on the military Humvees capabilities. Hayden’s father is a drill sergeant with the 321st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base. The Patriot • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1 • 2012

WA S H I N G T O N

Madigan Healthcare System Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA Thanks to Home Depot, residents at the Joint Base LewisMcChord Fisher House now have a relaxation garden. More than 40 volunteers from 10 local Home Depot stores converged on the home’s backyard and constructed a Relaxation Garden complete with paved walkway, colorful flower beds, solar lighting and garden swings. Since the home, which is located about a half mile from the Madigan Healthcare System on JBLM, doesn’t currently have a volunteer gardener, Home Depot volunteers also took the time to trim hedges, rake pine needles and pull weeds. “When we have nice weather, it will be a place the families will use a lot,” said Jessica Thompson, Fisher House operations assistant. “It will give them another way to get out of the house and a place to relax.”

Future Fisher Houses

in Action Why I fundraise...

Dan Buttery for the future Fisher House at the Clement C. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI

— Melanie Casey

Stretch, Breathe

“ I had the honor of serving as a Company Commander for a Combat Engineer unit as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom-1, 2003–04. While we brought everyone home safe from that deployment, the same combat unit (951st Sapper Company) was not as fortunate on their deployment to Afghanistan, 2008–09. They sustained an 85 percent WIA [Wounded in Action] rate with one KIA [Killed in Action] on that deployment.

YOGA

The managers at the Fisher House at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System are always thinking of creative ways to support their families. Whether it’s festive parties, fun décor or even a yoga class, these ladies are truly dedicated to their guests. Outside their home, they have created a yoga space where patients and their loved ones can stretch, breathe and forget about their troubles for a while.

I learned of Fisher House at that time when nearly every family member stayed at various Fisher House facilities in Germany and the U.S. while visiting loved ones recovering from their wounds. My career ended due to an injury sustained while serving in Iraq; however, supporting the Fisher House mission was one way I could continue my service for the men I consider to be my brothers.” —Dan Buttery, U.S. Army Reserves

Photo by Mike Savoia

VA Puget Sound Healthcare System Seattle, WA

VIRGINIA

McGuire Richmond VA Medical Center Richmond, VA Walmart is always a generous supporter of Fisher House and this holiday at the Richmond Fisher House was no different. Workers and volunteers came to the house and provided the festive holiday décor.

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When Fisher House Ambassadors Audrey Fisher and Nancy Edelman visited the Fisher House at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in February, they met the hosts of “The Men’s Room,” a daily program on KISW radio. These hosts, along with Joe, the owner of Elysian Brewing, teamed up in 2010 to brew a signature ale named after the radio program, with proceeds split evenly between the Puget Sound Fisher House and the Fisher House at Madigan Healthcare System, also in Washington. Last year the brewing company raised nearly $100,000 from this ale—which flies off the shelves. The partnership has blossomed and raised both awareness and funds for two Fisher Houses. Other local businesses have learned from their example and are also donating a proceed of their sales to the Fisher House as well.

Gainesville, FL Suzanne Hardy, a physical education teacher at Williston Central Christian Academy in Williston, FL, organized a “Run for the Son” to benefit the Gainesville Fisher House Foundation. Suzanne’s “Run for the Son” quickly turned into a school-wide challenge and now students from kindergarten to sixth grade run laps each Friday as part of the new “Mileage Club” that Hardy established. Suzanne and her students presented Executive Director of the Gainesville Fisher House Foundation, Patricia Fabiani, with a check for $631.50.

Murfreesboro, TN Congratulations to Andrea Lawrence, President of the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation, who was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the Lions Club International’s highest honor. Andy received the award for being a model of “exemplary service to their club and to the community.” Her dedication, enthusiasm and hard work with her community is all to help support a Fisher House in Tennessee.

Photo by Dave Gilo

Milwaukee, WI The Second Annual Fisher House Benefit Motorcycle ride helped raise funds for the future Fisher House at the Clement Z. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Police officers escorted the nearly 200 riders throughout their route.

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down

range The following projects are currently under construction: QE Hospital Birmingham United Kingdom VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Pittsburgh, PA Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital San Antonio, TX Projected 2012 starts: Malcom Randall VA Medical Center Gainesville, FL Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Murfreesboro, TN Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston, TX (second house) QE Hospital Birmingham United Kingdom Future projects with an immediate recognized need: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Tucson, AZ Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Camp Pendleton, CA VA Long Beach Healthcare System Long Beach, CA VA Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto, CA (second house) David Grant Air Force Medical Center Travis AFB, CA (second house) VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Denver, CO (second house) VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven, CT Orlando VA Medical Center Orlando, FL

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Fisher House Foundation is building on its commitment to help military families Ramstein, Germany Tripler Army Medical Center Honolulu, HI Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Chicago, IL Korea VA Maine Health Care System Togus, ME VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Omaha, NE Womack Army Medical Center Ft. Bragg, NC (replacement house) New Mexico VA Health Care System Albuquerque, NM Nellis Air Force Base Las Vegas, NV Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Cleveland, OH Portland VA Medical Center Portland, OR VA Caribbean Healthcare System San Juan, PR Madigan Healthcare System Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (second house) Clement C. Zablocki VA Medical Center Milwaukee, WI

Fisher House Directory

* Please direct all correspondence to the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher House, along with the specific house address. For any correspondence questions, please contact the Fisher House manager directly at the desired location.

ALASKA

FLORIDA

KENTUCKY

NORTH CAROLINA

TEXAS (Continued)

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Hospital 4943 Zeamer Ave. 673 MDSS/SGS/FH Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506 (907) 222-1673 Manager: Jeff Temple jeffery.temple@elmendorf.af.mil

Bay Pines Healthcare System 10000 Bay Pines Blvd. Bay Pines, FL 33744 (727) 398-6661 Ext. 12099 Fax: (727) 319-1106

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital 650 Joel Dr. Fort Campbell, KY 42223 (270) 798-8330 Fax: (270) 798-8804 Manager: Wendy J. Carlston wendy.carlston@amedd.army.mil

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune 4 Recovery Way Camp Lejeune, NC 28547 (910) 450-3885 Fax: (910) 450-3887 Manager: Josie Callahan josephine.f.callahan@usmc.mil

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center I, II, III San Antonio Military Medical Center 1445 Foster Ave., Bldg. 3865 Lackland AFB, TX 78236 (210) 671-6037 Fax: (210) 671-6020 Manager: Ramona Lewis rlewis-fisherhouse@sbcglobal.net

CALIFORNIA VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Blvd. (10AF) Building 512 Los Angeles, CA 90073 (310) 268-4457 Fax: (310) 268-3449 Manager: Sharon Hudson sharon.hudson4@va.gov

Eglin Air Force Hospital 350 Boatner Rd. Eglin AFB, FL 32542 (850) 883-2865 Manager: Ron Gribble ronald.gribble@eglin.af.mil James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 910-3000 Fax: (813) 910-3088 Manager: Paula Welenc paula.welenc@va.gov

VA Palo Alto Health Care System 3801 Miranda Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 (650) 493-5000 x 60384 Fax: (650) 849-1269 Manager: Shelly Foutz-Lowe, LICSW shelly.foutz-Lowe@va.gov

Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th St. Miami, FL 33125 (305) 575-7260 Fax: (305) 575-7261 Manager: Carolyn Soucy carolyn.soucy@va.gov

Naval Medical Center San Diego I, II 34800 Bob Wilson Dr., Bldg. 46 San Diego, CA 92134-5000 (619) 532-9055 Fax: (619) 532-5216 Manager: Kristin Palmer kristin.palmer@med.navy.mil

West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 N. Military Trail—Route 136 West Palm Beach, FL 33410 (561) 422-5554 Fax: (561) 442-8793 Manager: Thompsi Hoff thompsi.hoff@va.gov

David Grant USAF Medical Center 100 Bodin Circle Travis AFB, CA 94535-1804 (707) 423-7550 Fax: (707) 423-7552 Manager: Charlene Hall charlene.hall.1@travis.af.mil

COLORADO VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1954 Quentin St. Aurora, CO 80010 (303) 399-8020 x 2049 Fax: (303) 364-4882 Manager: Joy Weyna-King joy.weyna-king@va.gov

DELAWARE Fisher House for Families of the Fallen 220 Lajes St. Dover AFB, DE 19902 (302) 677-2402 POC: TSgt. Latersa Frazier latersa.frazier@us.af.mil

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington D.C. VA Medical Center 50 Irving St., NW Washington, D.C. 20422 (202) 745-2482 Manager: Kenneth Merritt kenneth.merritt@va.gov

GEORGIA Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30904 (706) 729-5773 Manager: Anne Arnold anne.arnold@va.gov Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center Fisher House Rd., Bldg. 280 Fort Gordon, GA 30905-5650 (706) 787-7100 Fax: (706) 787-5106 Manager: Francisco Cruz fheamc@aol.com

HAWAII Tripler Army Medical Center I, II 315 Krukowski Rd. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 433-1291 x 28 Fax: (808) 433-3619 Manager: Theresa Johnson theresa.johnson@amedd.army.mil

ILLINOIS Hines VA Hospital 5000 S Fifth Ave. Hines, IL 60141 (708) 202-7154 Fax: (708) 202-7155 Manager: Holly Wright holly.wright@va.gov

MARYLAND Malcolm Grow Medical Center 1076 West Perimeter Rd. Andrews AFB, MD 20762 (301) 981-1243 Fax: (301) 981-7629 Manager: Janet Grampp janet_grampp@msn.com Walter Reed National Military Medical Center I, II, III, IV, V 24 Stokes Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814-5002 (301) 295-5334 Fax: (301) 295-5632 Manager: Becky Wood bwood@fisherhousebethesda.org Walter Reed—Forest Glen 2460 Linden Lane Building 173 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 295-7373 Manager: Maurice Borde wrfisher2a@aol.com

MASSACHUSETTS VA Boston Healthcare System 1400 VFW Pkwy. West Roxbury, MA 02132 (857) 203-4000 Manager: Elizabeth St. Pierre elizabeth.stpierre@va.gov

MINNESOTA Minneapolis VA Health Care System I, II 1 Veterans Dr. Minneapolis, MN 55417 (612) 467-5602 Fax: (612) 970-5864 Manager: Marge Oslund mary.oslund@va.gov

MISSISSIPPI Keesler AFB Hospital 509 Fisher St. Keesler AFB, MS 39534-2599 (228) 377-8264 Fax: (228) 377-7691 Manager: Larry Vetter larry.vetter@keesler.af.mil

MISSOURI St. Louis VA Medical Center 1 Jefferson Barracks Rd. St. Louis, MO 63125 (314) 894-6145 Fax: (314) 894-6147 Manager: Rachael Fernandez rachael.fernandez@va.gov

NEW YORK Stratton VA Medical Center 113 Holland Ave. Albany, NY 12208 (518) 626-6919 Fax: (518) 626-5452 Manager: Jerry Jensen jerry.jensen@va.gov

Womack Army Medical Center 12 Bassett St. Fort Bragg, NC 28307-5000 (910) 432-1486 Fax: (910) 432-3825 Manager: Paula Gallero fhwamc@aol.com

OHIO Cincinnati VAMC 3200 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45220 (513) 475-6571 Fax: (910) 432-3825 Manager: Karrie Hagan karrie.hagan@med.va.gov Wright-Patterson Medical Center I, II 417 Schlatter Dr. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 (937) 257-0855 Fax: (937) 656-2150 Manager: Karen Healea karen.healea@wpafb.af.mil

TEXAS VA North Texas Health Care System 4500 S. Lancaster Rd. Bldg. 79 Dallas, TX 75216 (214) 857-2574 Fax: (214) 462-4923 Manager: Lydia Henderson lydia.henderson1@va.gov William Beaumont Army Medical Center 5005 N. Piedras St. El Paso, TX 79920-5001 (915) 569-1860 Fax: (915) 569-1862 Manager: Harry Hicks fhwbamc@aol.com Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Bldg. 36015 Fisher Ln. Fort Hood, TX 78254 (254) 286-7927 Fax: (254) 286-7929 Manager: Isaac Howard isaac.howard@amedd.army.mil Brooke Army Medical Center I, II, III, IV San Antonio Military Medical Center 3623 George C. Beach Dr. Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 (210) 916-6000 Fax: (210) 916-6488 Manager: Inge Godfrey fhbamc@aol.com Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030 (713) 794-8095 Fax: (713) 794-7194 Manager: Frank Kelley frank.kelley@med.va.gov

UTAH Salt Lake City VA Health Care System 690 S. Valdez Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84148 (801) 582-1565 x 2389 Manager: Quinn Kiger-Good quinn.kiger@va.gov

VIRGINIA Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital 9201 Woodbury Rd Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060 Manager: Roxannamaria Calderon roxannamaria.calderon@us.army.mil Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth 853 Fisher Dr., Bldg. 287 Portsmouth, VA 23708 (757) 953-6889 Fax: (757) 953-7174 Manager: Loretta Loveless fishrhouse@msn.com McGuire Richmond VA Medical Center 1201 Broad Rock Blvd. Richmond, VA 23249 (804) 675-6639 Fax: (804) 675-5979 Manager: Wayne Walker wayne.walker@va.gov

WASHINGTON Madigan Healthcare System 9999 Wilson Ave. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433 (253) 964-9283 Fax: (253) 968-3619 Manager: Jodi Land fhmamc@aol.com VA Puget Sound Healthcare System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 768-5353 Fax: (206) 277-1415 Manager: Cecile Bagrow cecile.bagrow@va.gov

GERMANY Landstuhl Regional Medical Center I, II CMR 402, Box 669 APO, AE 09180 011-49-6371-6183311 Fax: 011-49-6371-866679 Manager: Vivian Wilson vivian.wilson@amedd.army.mil

The Patriot • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1 • 2012

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420 Rockville, MD 20850-5000

We put a lot of heart into everything we do. And your support helps make it possible!

For the past 22 years, the Fisher House program has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of military families everywhere. We continue to build and donate Fisher Houses to military/VA medical centers, support existing houses, administer our Hero Miles program, help military families in need and provide scholarships to military children and spouses. At the very heart of our program, Fisher Houses offer a “home away from home,” a place where families can stay and support their loved ones—at no cost—while they receive specialized military hospital/VA medical care. These houses allow the patients and families to focus on what’s most important, the healing process. We encourage you to find out more about the Fisher House program by visiting us online at www.fisherhouse.org or by calling (888) 294-8560.