In nearly every culture the ladybug is a symbol of good luck.  For the Seti-Horton family, the ladybug could also be considered a symbol of VA Puget Sound Fisher House.  It started with the first Cupcake Day.  While the staff struggled to color the icing the proper shade of grass green for the garden themed cupcakes, guest Heidi Seti guided her grand-daughter, Folasade, and some other children in the making of marzipan ladybugs.

“We had marzipan all the time when I was growing up in Germany,” Heidi laughs, “but I’ve never tried to make a ladybug before”. 

Heidi served twenty-two years in the Army with the majority of her service as a recruiter and guidance counselor.  Currently she works for the Department of the Army as a budget analyst at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.  In April of 2009 she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and brought to VA Puget Sound Health Care System for treatment.  Her daughter Mercedes stayed at Fisher House while Heidi was in-patient at the medical center.  When Heidi was released to begin her chemotherapy she moved into Fisher House as well and Mercedes passed the care-giving baton to her sister, Kim Horton. 

“We knew what to expect,” says Kim.  “We had stayed at the San Diego Fisher House for two weeks in 2004, when my brother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.  But to be honest, the level of service and amenities at the VA Puget Sound Fisher House are greater than we could have imagined”.

Kim’s five year old daughter Fola is staying with her mom and “Omi” (German for “granny”) and is a happy, busy presence in the house.  She pops into the office, always wearing a smile and bringing a hug.  Fola is always the first to offer help if someone starts to whip up something in the kitchen.  “I like Cupcake Day,” says Fola.  “It was fun to make the ladybugs with Omi”.   

“I like the garden, too,” says Fola.  “It’s the most beautifulest garden I’ve ever seen.   My friend Audrey and I found a real ladybug on the tomatoes and Miss Lorraine said it was a good friend for our garden”.   

While the family appreciates the proximity of the house to the medical center and the care Heidi is receiving there Horton says the best part about being at the Fisher House is that her daughter calls the house ‘home’.  “I thought she would have a hard time adjusting to the change, but Miss CeCe, Miss Lorraine and the long-term guests in the house have really made Fisher House a home for her”.

Horton adds, “I kiddingly refer to the Fisher House as a ‘cruise ship on land‘ because of the plethora of activities and amenities that are offered to my family.  It really helps to have a place to relax while our family lives through mom’s illness”.

“There is something very special about having three generations of a family in the house,” says Manager Bagrow.  “Watching them love and support each other in a difficult time is an inspiration. And I don’t know what it is about this family and ladybugs but Fola just made us a ladybug stepping stone for the garden.  I know we’re never going to forget them but it’s lovely to have a permanent reminder of our ‘ladybug family’”.

Fola with the ladybug stepping stone she made for the Fisher House garden.