Fisher House families are often living through some of the most difficult days of their lives. Facing illness or injury, Servicemembers and their families often spend their days in and out of the hospital and are under an incredible amount of stress. Sometimes, residents just need somewhere to sit quietly alone to gather their thoughts, take a break and relax. Thanks to Home Depot, residents at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fisher House now have a place set aside for just that.

More than 40 volunteers from 10 local Home Depot stores converged on the home’s backyard July 21 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.”

The project was made possible by an $8,000 grant courtesy of Team Depot, a Home Depot program that helps give back to the community and build relationships, said Kevin Finger, manager of Home Depot store 4708 in Olympia. JBLM Fisher House Manager Jodi Land worked closely with Sarah Waller, associate support department supervisor at store 4708, to put together an idea, plan the project and make it happen. “To have ($8,000), it will be done right and will last,” Land said. “They did a really great job.”

Resident Catherine McGeorge, who is recovering from surgery for an Islet cell tumor, took advantage of the new space over the weekend. “It’s great to be able to get outside and do the things I enjoy doing,” she said. “It makes it more like a home.”

By: Melanie Casey

By Valerie Kostka

The stories of the Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Fisher House are love stories. They are stories of a husband injured in Iraq returning home to be nursed back to health with his wife by his side, a premature baby fighting an infection as her mother watches on, and a father comforting his son as he prepares for another round of chemotherapy. On a day usually reserved for lovers, Fisher House guests, staff, and volunteers celebrated Valentine’s Day as a family, sharing the stories that brought them together.

Guests flocked to the kitchen and conversations hovered over an impressive spread of fresh fruits, savory spiced meatballs, and freshly baked cookies. They spent time chatting and eating, savoring the rare moments of festivity in a house usually quiet in the afternoons. “Most of our families are at the hospital all day caring for their loved ones so we don’t see them often,” said Nikki Wasierski, operations assistant for the house. With a break in their routines, guests relaxed in the dining room.

Seated at one table, Jennifer Hahn held her 10-month-old daughter Lily. Balancing a bottle in one hand and Lily in the other, sharing her memories of giving birth to her newest daughter, Dakota. Born 12 weeks early, Dakota weighed only 4 pounds at birth. Jennifer has being staying at the Fisher House since December. Her days consist of constant trips to Madigan Army Medical Center to sit in the neonatal intensive care unit and watch Dakota’s slow and steady breaths grow a little deeper with each visit. Big sister Lily spends most of her time with her father, who lives an hour away in Bremerton while serving in the Navy.

Jennifer’s story is all too familiar for Navy Airman Ruth Nzimiro. She is also a guest at the house while her 10-day-old son, Ramine, receives medical treatment. Born 13 weeks early, Ramine weighed only 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Today, the two moms swap birth stories and cell phone pictures, updating each other on their babies’ condition.

Parties at the house are more than a chance for sweets and giveaways, although there are plenty of those to go around. “They bring everyone back to the house. It’s a great chance for everyone to get together and see who is here,” Nikki said. “Because of their schedules many families only see the others in passing. This is a great way for them to have some fun and relieve stress.”

“The house is its own family,” volunteer Melanie Casey said. “We share in each other’s struggles and try to help in anyway we can.” So for one afternoon, the Fisher House was able to replace IVs, blinking monitors, and doctor consultations with fresh flowers, gift baskets, massages…and a lot of love.

For party pictures and more JBLM Fisher House love stories, become a friend on Facebook.

The Fisher House would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their time, services, and donations.

• JBLM Flower Shop
• Soldier’s Angels
• The Fort Lewis Ranger and NW Airlifter
• Dupont Chiropractic
• Glenda Smith
• Debra Roper

Annual party brings smiles, cheer to residents

Having a loved one in the hospital is difficult at any time of the year. During the holidays, when focus is on family and togetherness, it can be even tougher.

Staff and volunteers of the Joint Base Lewis McChord Fisher House brought a little levity – along with some holiday cheer – to their residents on Friday during the home’s annual Christmas Party.

The house, which provides free accommodation to family members of ill and injured servicemembers, was festively decorated for the season. Sparkling garland and lights, candles, wreaths and a brightly lit tree in the living room helped bring a feeling of home to the house.

“It’s a fantastic thing,” said Pat Haldorson, whose son, Sgt. Raymond Haldorson, is a Ranger assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment on JBLM and is recovering from a gunshot wound at Madigan Army Medical Center. “I don’t know how to describe it.”

No Christmas party would be complete without a visit from Santa, and the Fisher House party didn’t disappoint. Jerry Johnson, one of Santa’s elves who retired from the Army in 1985, stopped by to help families celebrate the season. Family members took their turn sitting on Santa’s lap as helper elf Herb Schmeling, a longtime Fisher House and USO volunteer, bestowed them with gifts, including stockings stuffed with coloring books and crayons, gift bags filled with a toiletries and gift cards. Wounded servicemembers each received an “angel quilt” hand crafted by a USO volunteer.

The goodies were provided by America’s Credit Union; the United Services Organization at McChord Field; the Captain Meriwether Lewis Chapter of the Association of the United States Army; Support America’s Armed Forces; The Ranger newspaper; and Armed Forces Bank.

“We’ve done this forever,” said Karen Schade, community relations representative for ACU who was on hand to help distribute gifts to the families. “It’s another way for us to give back. We’re honored to be a part of it. It’s one of my favorite events.”

Fisher House strives to be a “home away from home” for its residents, who are often facing some of the most difficult days of their lives. The event is held annually to help bring some cheer into the house, said Operations Assistant Nikki Wasierski. “Being away from home with a loved one in the hospital is always difficult, but even more so during the holidays. This is our small way of hopefully putting a smile on their faces.”

Mission accomplished. “The people here are wonderful,” said Pat Halderson. “It’s so homey, not at all like a hotel. In the morning you hear Reveille and know you’re in the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

“It’s just …” added her husband, Lee, taking a moment to reflect on his son’s predicament along with the generosity shown by Fisher House and its volunteers, “It’s just nice.”

Pictures can be found on our Facebook!

By: Melanie Casey