Dear Fisher House,

Thank you for letting us stay here and visit our Daddy. It has been a long time since he went to war in Afghanistan and was hurt really bad. Thank you for the toys, pillows, blankets, and food and coloring books. We really like playing on the toys outside and in the living room. Brooklynn loved watching “Elmo goes to the doctor”. Sydney loved the homemade brownies and Cole loves the kid size bathtub in the bathroom. We love our Daddy and miss him so much. Thank you.

The Houghland Family

This is our last night at the Fisher House. We’ve been here for 7 weeks and 6 days. Our baby boy, Gabriel Lyle, was born 11 weeks early. He was 2 pounds and 12 ounces, 15 inches long. A complete nightmare. There wasn’t a reason for his early birth, he just wanted to come out and be with his family I guess.

The Fisher House was a home away from home. A calm and peaceful place to go to after spending hours in the NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit). We are truly blessed to have stayed here! Our son is 5 pounds 1 ounce now and 17 inches long. We are taking him home tomorrow!

Thank you Fisher House and Staff! God bless you.

The F Family

Sunday, August 29, 2010

To My Wonderful Fellow Guests:

So many times it would seem too hard to go on – much easier just to give up hope.

Each time I think I have reached that point, someone – often one of you – offers a kind word, a shoulder to cry on, a prayer, a hug.

And then I realize that i’m not in this alone; we each have our own burden, but kindess and compassion make those burdens lighter – or even transform them into gifts.

Please know how much you have helped me and how much I wish only the best for you on your own paths.

With much love and gratitude,

A Fisher House Family

Fisher House guest Seth Theriault plays on the bouncy house. Seth was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in March 2007 and has been a frequent guest at the Fisher House while receiving treatment at MAMC.

In the photo Grace Parker Sortland, born April 26 at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa., gazes at a photo of her parents, Navy Petty Officer Andrew and Carmen Stanton, May 14, 2010 at the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Fisher House is amazing,” Andrew Sortland said, “A life saver.” Grace and her twin brother, Owen Arthur, were born to Sortland and his wife, Carmen, eight weeks prematurely on April 26 at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa. Both babies will stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a few more weeks.   Andrew and Carmen Sortland, who live more than an hour away in Bremerton, are making their temporary home the JBLM Fisher House, located nearby. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without Fisher House,” Andrew said.