Over the course of a year, there are so many moments that truly capture the spirit of this house and inspire us all. We have taken a loving wife in who slept in the chilly parking garage on the night of her husband’s transplant to help the family save some money. We have shared a home with patients who couldn’t breathe without supplemental oxygen and watched them breathe freely after double lung transplants. We have welcomed old friends from across the country because UW Health is one of the finest transplant hospitals in the country for their condition. We have witnessed the miracle of a stroke patient regain the ability to walk and talk when it was feared that may never return. With strict Covid restrictions in place, we have served as the loving family to caregivers when a loved one has passed away. We had the good fortune to witness a grateful recipient meet their donor family for the first time in person. We have gathered around a computer screen to emotionally say our final goodbyes to a transplant friend who passed away from Covid. We have seen dear friends who were barely clinging to life be brought back to life thanks to the skilled hands and great care at the hospital.
Throughout all the pandemic related challenges, we have safely and effectively continued to care for our transplant families when they have needed this house and the caring atmosphere it provides now more than ever. On a typical morning, a group of guests will safely space themselves out around our dining room table and share stories of the day. These conversations are often emotional, powerful and extremely personal. This house has always been at it’s very best in providing the much needed community to help celebrate great days, offer support in stressful days and give unconditional love in some of the saddest days imaginable. This is truly a difference-making place.
Even with the ripple effects of a pandemic still lingering, we are so grateful to be open to serve guests. We have seen a 75-80% increase in guest stays this year since the onset of the Covid in 2020. In many ways, life has returned more to normal for this house and our families. As a transplant family ourselves that has to be even more mindful of our health, we appreciate everyone for their continued understanding of life-saving safety protocols and those who have so loyally supported RHTH to help keep this house very much operational and excited for the future when other non-profits have struggled mightily to survive the impact of Covid. We thank you all!
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Dear Friends,
On behalf of our Restoring Hope Transplant House staff, volunteers and family of guests, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. May your holidays be blessed with moments of togetherness, happiness and gratitude!
With thankfulness in our hearts for the holidays ahead, it was never more evident than a recent night here at Restoring Hope. As families gathered at safe distances around the dining room here that night, they took turns filling posters with well wishes and signatures. These are the traditional posters we print off and give to each family on Transplant Day. There is always a buzz of excitement and anxious tension in the air on Transplant Day. It fills the house with such a sense of togetherness as all of the families rise in support of each other especially on the big day. On this particular occasion, however, there were two families with life-changing transplants scheduled.
If you have been through the transplant journey, you know how special it is to receive “The Call”. They are moments and conversations you will never forget! On that evening, one of our guests drove his wife the 4 hours to the hospital after they received their call for a new heart. After getting her settled in at the hospital he checked in here that night. It had been such a frantic day that he clearly never took the time to eat. We quickly presented him with a Covid safe meal, showed him around the house, introduced him to some housemates, presented him with their poster which touched him deeply and then showed him to his room so he could get a little sleep before their early morning transplant.
The alarm was set for 4:40 am this morning to wish them all well. Like our guests, we never really sleep well the night before a transplant. Their journeys are our journeys and these are family moments for us all. We share in the excitement and anxiety of it all. To meet and send off people who have struggled so mightily with their health on the morning of their transplant is a moment I wish you all could experience. These are the days they have been waiting for…a chance at last to enjoy a significantly higher quality of life not only for themselves but for their families. To share moments like these with people you grow to love embodies all that being thankful is all about. Collectively, your love and support for this house and these families makes these miracles possible. We are so grateful for all you have done to help make this house a home!
Gratefully,
Cindy Herbst
Executive Director
Restoring Hope Transplant House
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Expansion Update: Waiting On Historic Construction Costs & Supply Chain Delays |
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RHTH has raised over $1 million for our construction efforts. Given the impact of Covid, the fundraising over the past couple years has been incredible. With the guidance of our leadership and construction team, we continue to raise major funds to reduce our overall construction debt while waiting for the historic pandemic construction costs to return more to normal.
Similar projects are currently 30% over the initial budget and with significant supply chain delays. We continue to make helpful connections for additional donated supplies and materials and will continue serving families in need until these return to more stable levels. We are obviously very excited about the future and eager to get back to moving forward with these plans and our fundraising momentum as soon as it makes financial sense for the long-term.
Our collective efforts for this project continue in earnest behind the scenes. If you have any helpful ideas, connections or donors of interest, please contact Cindy at 608-831-1726.
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The Transplant Journey: You Are Not Alone! |
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One of our favorite things about Restoring Hope has always been introducing guests to other people who have gone through life with the same rare condition and had the same transplant. From the heart, kidney autotransplant, double lung and even to battles with cancer shown here, it is such a great joy to see these interactions, conversations and friendships be built through the transplant journey and staying here at RHTH. We are so thankful for that sense of caring community! |
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Welcome Home Daddy: Motivation For A Better Life After Transplantation |
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Pictures of a young Texas girl welcoming her dad back home to the airport in Texas absolutely melted our hearts. This young lady's dad came all the way here for a kidney autotransplant and hadn't seen him in about a month. Motivation is a huge part of the healing process. No better motivation than this. We also appreciate the kind words following their most recent stay:
"Over the past couple years, Restoring Hope Transplant House in Wisconsin has become our supportive home away from home when the search for a cure for Josh and his very rare LPHS led us to Madison and the University of Wisconsin Hospital.
During Josh's two procedures in Madison, RHTH has been such a blessing to our entire family throughout this journey. We have met so many incredible people there and even shared a home with others who had Josh's rare condition. It is a special place that has always made us feel at home even when we're a million miles from Texas."
-Crystal (Texas Transplant Caregiver)
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Your Safety During Covid Is Important To Us! |
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As transplant families, having a place you feel safe at during Covid is of the utmost importance. It really meant a lot when a small group safely gathered around the dining room table with kidney recipient Chicago Doug and he turned to some of our guests and said:
“I have friends and family in Wisconsin who I could stay with but I always prefer to stay at the Transplant House where I feel safe and always sleep well before my appointments!”
As a transplant family ourselves, that really meant a lot to us!
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"Coming Here Always Lifts My Spirits" |
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2021 has been a particularly challenging stretch for our Washington Island friend Valerie, but she is a relentless fighter. In her amazing life, she has battled three different forms of cancer, had a bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant and has battled GVHD in the eyes.
Having had a bone marrow transplant in our own family a few years ago, we are always eager to share updates, stories and experiences with guests like Valerie. So many of the things we deal with on this journey are so very similar. There is so much comfort and love amongst people who have so many overlapping life experiences. These are the people, moments and community that make this place special not only for guests but for us. It's not always easy. The built in support system here has gotten us through some very challenging health related hurdles and I'm sure the same can be said of our guests who have called RHTH home over the years.
As Valerie checked in again last week for a series of appointments on a chilly November night, she turned and said, “coming here always lifts my spirits!” People like Valerie inspire us daily!
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The Importance Of Caregivers |
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Caregiving can be really hard work sometimes and we feel that this house is often at it's best in the appreciation and compassion we show to our caregivers. The visual of the daily hospital stickers lined up on the lamp in an RHTH bedroom from an Iowa husband who visited his wife each day as she went through chemo and a stem cell transplant is a very powerful reminder of just how important it is to be present and available each day! |
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Thank You Lowe's In Plover! |
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When Lisa from Wisconsin Rapids was staying with us, our washing machine all of a sudden started acting up and having issues. Within hours of her husband's heart transplant, Lisa was working their connections and getting us a brand new washing machine donated courtesy of the good people at Lowe's up in Plover. They even personally delivered it within days and set it all up for us. The spirit of community here at this house is what truly makes this place special. Many thanks to everyone involved for this great gift! |
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Thank You Lions: Serving During A Pandemic |
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With heartfelt thanks to our Lions Club friends throughout Wisconsin and beyond who continue to find ways to support Restoring Hope and our transplant families even through the many challenges of a pandemic. Just last week, members of the Pickett Lions Club stopped by with a load of supplies and to pay off the next two months of our heat bill here at RHTH. That is a huge deal for us given the chilly months ahead. It would be impossible to acknowledge every club and member, but please know how grateful we are for your friendship, kindness and generosity. May you all be blessed with a festive Thanksgiving! |
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RHTH Family Gives Back With Fundraiser |
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Joe received a double lung transplant with us recently. Prior to transplant, he was on supplemental oxygen for just about any activity. His transplant has completely changed his life for the better. His extended family and friends were so grateful for their time at RHTH that they recently held a fundraiser in their hometown of Kenosha that raised several thousands of dollars to support the house. Thank you all! |
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CWGOL Scavenger Hunt Supports RHTH |
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We appreciate our friends at Central Wisconsin Gift of Life for once again hosting their fun-filled scavenger hunt event this fall. It was great to see some RHTH guests participate and donate to the cause as well. Thank you all for your heartfelt support of RHTH. Your dedication to supporting the transplant community is appreciated by all of us! |
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With gratitude to all of our amazing neighbors during this time of giving thanks...especially our great two year old neighbor Warren who was always so helpful watering the flowers for us. We appreciate you, bud! |
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RHTH Video: In Case You Missed It! |
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For those who missed our new RHTH video from earlier this year, please give it a watch and share with any others who may be touched by our mission or interested in staying here as a transplant family. |
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Give The Gift Of Thanksgiving |
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A Thanksgiving Message From Eric - Our House Manager (and new Green Bay Packers Owner) |
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"I have had the good fortune to be with RHTH since we first opened our doors to guests in 2013. I have shared this house with nearly every single family who has ever walked through these doors. We have shared some of the greatest days ever, some of the most gut-wrenching days imaginable and everything in between. I am thankful for your friendship and the times we have shared. As I have evolved in my position over the years, I have come to realize just how thankful I am for you all because you have given me a great purpose in life and somehow brought out the very best of me in the process. What I do is what I was meant to do. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, please know how truly thankful I am for you all! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!" - Eric |
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Follow Eric's RHTH Updates on Facebook |
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For more frequent updates on Restoring Hope Transplant House, please follow all of the updates Eric makes on a regular basis to the RHTH Facebook page linked above. Thanks for following! |
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CONTACT RHTH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CINDY HERBST
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Thank you for your interest in Restoring Hope Transplant House and our transplant family friends who call it home. We appreciate you taking the time to read through our e-newsletter updates and following our progress.
If you would like to learn more about RHTH, please call me at 608-831-1726 or email me at the link below.
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Thanks For Reading Our Updates! |
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