Last week 10 guests came along for the monthly Guests Night Out.  We went to a wonderful place on Beacon Hill (Bar del Corso, to be exact), sat at a big, long table and ate "family style". Conversation and laughter kept pace with the pizza consumption and it was a delightful evening. More than once a guest exclaimed how good it was to get away from the hospital. There's a certain kind of giddiness that sets in during these events as the guests reconnect with being 'normal'. 

On the way back to the Fisher House one of the guests - who has been in the House for a couple of months - was regaling the newcomers with the other delights that awaited them. "Did you sign up for massage? Charles is AMAZING! It's going to change your life. And the donuts! We have donuts every Friday morning!" 

What we offer our guests is very simple: groceries, donuts, massage therapy, a dinner out...On the face of it these do not seem life changing or earth shattering. But if there are groceries in the House guests don't have to worry about finding a store or spending money they might not have. Twenty minutes of chair massage with the Amazing Charles may mean a tension headache eases or a better night's sleep is possible. The craft classes and dinners out help clear the mind and rejuvenate the spirit. All that easing of stress and sleeping better and eating a good meal adds up to a person who is better able to care for her patient because she has taken care of herself. And that is a big deal. 

As I was thinking about all this one of the new guests said, "I cannot believe there are people who make things like this happen". "There are," I assured her. "Generous, wonderful people".

"They sure are," she said.  "Please thank them for me".

So on behalf of Karen - and all the families who are touched by your gifts of time, treasure and talent - thank you! 

Look at all those beautiful, happy faces.  That is the result of a recent Craft Corner extravaganza at the House. 

The story begins with our volunteer, Kimberly. She works for the FAA, her husband is a Veteran. Their first encounter with Fisher House was coming in to prepare Christmas dinner for the families in 2013. Since then she has looked for other opportunities to support the guests. She knew about Corks and Canvas and approached the owners, Lisa Cryder and Stefanie Hare, about doing something at Fisher House. These fun events typically take place in restaurants or wine cellars. Participants receive instruction from an artist as they enjoy libations and paint one of many offered themes. But Corks and Canvas also take their show on the road and Lisa, who has known Fisher House for a long time, and Stefanie jumped at the chance to bring the fun to Fisher House. Working closely with Assistant Manager Carrie Barnhart they crafted an event for our guests, deciding on the "Seattle Skyline" theme. On Saturday, July 12, instructor Ann arrived with paints, canvases and inspiration to lead an enthusiastic group to their inner Van Gogh. Kimberly came along and made delicious virgin margaritas with fresh strawberries and limes.

"It was absolutely fantastic," Carrie said.  "It was a great experience and everyone had so much fun". She said that one guest, Vicky, took her finished painting to her husband's hospital room and ever since people have been asking to have it. "They thought it was done by a professional artist," said Carrie. "She keeps telling me about all the people asking her how much she's willing to sell it for!"

Studies suggest that creative pursuits help a person to relax, distract one from daily cares and thereby reduce stress.That's why Craft Corner is such an important guest program. As a guest once put it, "My mind feels so free". Using their hands and employing a different part of the brain allows our guests to take a break from their worries and connect to sources of inspiration. Sometimes they even end up with a masterpiece!


Carries says that she's working with Lisa and Stefanie to provide "Corks and Canvas" on a quarterly basis. Someone needs to alert Sotheby's.

There is a pattern to life in a Fisher House. Guests get up, grab some coffee and head to the hospital. They might come back for lunch but many times they are at the hospital until dinner time, returning only to eat, maybe watch a little television, fall asleep then start it all over again. That's why our Fisher House staff are always designing new programs and opportunities to give our guests a break from the House-hospital-House routine. 

Tonight we are reviving GNO - Guests Night Out. It gives the families a break from the hospital and out into the city for a new adventure. Ten guests have signed up for tonight's event, which is dinner at the fabulous Via Tribunali in Georgetown. The Friends of VA Puget Sound Fisher House foot the bill; all the guests have to do is enjoy themselves.

Past events have included a spa night, going to the movies and some very fun dinners. The guests relax in a whole new way, they experience a new neighborhood (often guests are intimidated by Seattle driving so they never even leave the VA campus during their entire stay) and they get to feel pampered. (Don't we all love it when someone else pays for dinner?)

Would you like to help with GNO?  We hope to do it monthly and can always use suggestions (and connections) to make this event something special for our deserving families. Send me an email if you have some ideas!   

Molte grazie!