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!
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!
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