2018 Year in Review Video

See some of the highlights of “Family House magic” in action in 2018! We are so grateful to our amazing community for the tremendous support that allows moments like these to happen, making Family House a home away from home for families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

https://youtu.be/q2SVDHyqwsw

Staff Spotlight: Karen Banks

Name: Karen Banks

Where did you grow up?
Born in Southern California, but raised in the East Bay.

Position at Family House:
Director of Volunteer Programs

Reason for working at Family House:
I absolutely love helping our families and seeing the joy on their faces. They are going through such an emotional time in their lives, and it means the world to me if we can bring them some joy, even just for an afternoon.

Favorite thing to do in San Francisco: 
I love running around the city and have run the full San Francisco Marathon.

What makes you special?
I try to have compassion for everyone I meet, and learning is an ever-evolving process. My favorite quote is, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't.” – Bill Nye

What's the story behind the photo?
In 2015, I took my first trip to Canada, and went to visit Butchart Gardens in Victoria. It was the most gorgeous and mesmerizing botanical garden that I have ever been to.

A Letter from CEO Alexandra Morgan - We're Moving!

We are so excited to open new doors of compassion in Mission Bay – serving 80 families per night with the same compassionate community that has been the Family House hallmark since 1981.

The new Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House boasts features long requested by families, and was designed from the ground up with families in mind. The new LEED-Platinum Certified Family House has a 9,200 square foot outdoor meditation courtyard, fitness center, teen room, comfortable communal living and dining facilities, laundry, parking, and much more. Brand new beds were fabricated and so generously donated by European SleepWorks; play space furniture was a fabulous gift of Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids; all furnishings for the new house were selected for the comfort of our families to create the feeling of a home away from home.

It costs $90 to house a family for a night; the average length of stay for a Family House family can range from 5 weeks to 6 months or more. Please consider making a donation to help families of children with life-threatening illnesses. Without Family House, many of these families would not be able to receive life-saving treatment at UCSF. Your donation means a great deal to families who most need our help.

I hope you will consider joining over 2,000 volunteers annually who give generously of their time – it is the best gift you can give. Please visit http://familyhouseinc.org/volunteer.html to learn more.

Thank you, all, for making The Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House a place of care, compassion, and community!

Volunteer Opportunity: Family Breakfasts and Family Dinners

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then we need your help to make sure our heart is full of love! Family House families are constantly on the go between the hospital and Family House, and making sure that the whole family is eating right is a challenge.

Providing a continental breakfast is an easy way to help ease the stress for families and start their day off right! In the evenings, Family Dinners are a gift to parents who may not have the energy to cook a healthy meal for themselves and their children. It’s a great way to give parents a night off and let them unwind and reconnect with all of the families at Family House. Bring board games or an arts & crafts activity to make it a fun time for everyone!

Family Breakfasts and Family Dinners are an excellent volunteer opportunity for a small group of volunteers. You can bring and serve a pre-made meal, or bring the ingredients and cook in our kitchen!

BREAKFAST:
* Plan for 20-25 people
* Arrive at 8:30am to set up
* You are welcome to use the kitchens at Family House to prepare your meal or heat up food
* Buffet style breakfast from 9:00am-10:30am in all 3 kitchens
* Clean up at 10:30am-11:00am (pack and distribute leftovers throughout the house, and straighten up communal areas)
* Please bring: Coffee, creamer, sweeteners; juice; fruit; bagels or pastries, spreads for bagels; disposable cups, plates, napkins, and utensils; 6 large resealable containers for leftovers

DINNER:
* Plan for 20-25 people
* Arrive at 4:30pm to set up
* You are welcome to use the kitchens at Family House to prepare your meal or heat up food
* Set up tables and chairs for additional seating
* Buffet style dinner from 5:15pm-6:30pm
* Clean up at 6:30pm (pack and distribute leftovers throughout the house, straighten up communal areas, put away tables and chairs)
* Please bring: Beverages (wine is OK); ice; disposable cups, plates, tablecloths (for 2 6’ tables), table decor (optional); 6 large resealable containers for leftovers
* Menu ideas: tacos; chili bar with cornbread; soup, toasted cheese sandwiches, salad; breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes, sausage, etc.); baked potatoes with toppings (cheese, sour cream, broccoli, bacon); homemade pizza with toppings; sandwich bar; hot dogs with salads/sauerkraut; meatloaf and potatoes; vegetable/meat lasagna; sloppy joes; spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread; salad bar; soup and salad; stir fry

With your help, Family House families will be able to take better care of themselves during their time of crisis. For more details, or to sign up, please contact our Volunteer team: Karen Banks: kbanks@familyhouseinc.org or Tarence Dixon: tdixon@familyhouseinc.org, or fill out our Volunteer Application.

 Thank you for your support!

Family House Family Stories: Moua's Memories

Watch the latest Family House Family Stories video: Moua’s Memories 

Learn more about the incredible families we serve at http://www.familyhouseinc.org/about-us.html

Family House Family Stories: Brian Beating Cancer

Watch the latest Family House Family Stories video - Brian Beating Cancer

Learn more about how you can help kids like Brian defeat cancer:
http://www.familyhouseinc.org/donate.html

Rockstar Volunteer: Neely Metz

Neely Metz is an exceptional volunteer. She is willing to do whatever is possible to help the families at Family House. Despite being just 14 years old and a full time student at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, she has had many roles at Family House. She has helped host family dinners, arts & crafts activities, has done outreach for Family House at community events, and has helped our Operations staff in making sure items are stocked for all our families to use.

She is extremely compassionate, good with children, and hardworking. Her dedication to the families is admirable, especially for her young age. Neely is patient, kind, easy going, organized, and responsible for getting a job well done. She is certainly a leader and leads by example. She takes on every task head-on and has an understanding of the bigger picture at hand.

We would like to acknowledge Neely Metz for her volunteer service at Family House. On behalf of the families and staff, we THANK YOU for your help in making Family House a better place. We know your heart is here.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Family House at http://www.familyhouseinc.org/volunteer.html

Family House Family Stories: Savannah's Story

Watch the latest Family House Family Stories video: Savannah's Story:

And learn more about this amazing little girl at: https://www.facebook.com/prayersforsavannahhope

Nancy & Stephen Grand Family House Construction Time Lapse

Watch the latest Time Lapse video of the construction of the Nancy & Stephen Grand Family House at Mission Bay! This video starts at pre-construction in November 2014 and goes through the end of February 2015. To learn more about the future of Family House, visit http://www.familyhouseinc.org/mission-bay.html

Rockstar Volunteers: Vagaboom

Have you ever tried to stop and smell the flowers?

Our families and staff certainly have with the help from Amanda, a specialist in aromatherapy and botanical remedies made from natural ingredients you would find in the home.

Amanda came to Family House from a nonprofit called Vagaboom whose mission is to supplement diminished arts and physical education in schools, community centers, and women’s shelters.

We were lucky enough to have Vagaboom artist and therapist Amanda working with Family House throughout February. She taught patients, families, and even staff how to stop and relax through art and creative activities using your sense of smell to guide you through the process.

“It’s a smelly world out there,” said Amanda, "we should take the time to stop and smell something that we enjoy, that calms, and heals." Families got to make their own body scrubs, perfumed oils, and facial masks to take with them wherever they go.

Amanda believes that these small things can make our bodies relax, and can be incorporated in our everyday lives, no matter how hectic things get. We thank Amanda and Vagaboom for their support in making the families’ experience just a little easier at Family House.

Family House Family Stories: Frankie's Family

Watch the most recent Family House Family Stories video, Frankie's Family.

Kids and Art + Family House

Kids and Art is one of our newest partnerships. Since last summer, Kids and Art has provided art, music, and wellness activities for the families on a monthly basis. The Kids and Art foundation believes in providing empowerment, encouragement, and creating memorable experiences for families and their children undergoing cancer treatment.

Founder Purvi Shah knows firsthand what it is like being a caregiver - her son was diagnosed with Leukemia at 3 years old. “Being a cancer family myself, I know how stressful life has been. I also know how uncertain life is on a day-to-day basis. Art has been an outlet, an escape and that is what we want Kids & Art to do for the children, their families, and their care circle.”

Kids and Art has provided a high caliber of artists, musicians, and therapists who spend time with the families and provide an unforgettable experience for the families who stay with us.

Thank you Kids and Art for all your support for the families in crisis and strengthening the Family House community!

To learn more about volunteering at Family House, visit http://www.familyhouseinc.org/volunteer.html

Nancy & Stephen Grand Family House at Mission Bay - First Cement Pour

Family House staff joined Nibbi Brothers General Contractors for the first cement pour of the foundation of the Nancy & Stephen Grand Family House at Mission Bay! The new Family House is scheduled to open in Spring of 2016.  Learn more at http://www.familyhouseinc.org/mission-bay.html

Getting Your Priorities Straight by Cory Farley

This powerful article first appeared in the December 1983 issue of Family Focus, the Family House newsletter, and it's still relevant today.

    Let the lawn go unmowed. Put the sprinkler on the tomatoes instead of watering them by hand, or leave them to wither. Let that last bit of work wait until Monday, and get home on time tonight. There are things that are important and things that aren't, and it's time you figured out the difference.
    This burst of philosophy, sappy as it may sound coming out of the blue like this, has been painfully learned: I've spent much of the last three weeks prowling the pediatric ward at Moffitt Hospital in San Francisco, and I've come home with an awareness of mortality I didn't have even in Vietnam.
    I was there- this is only to forestall speculation, not to beat my breast in public- because my wife and I learned early this month that our 2-year old son has leukemia. Just a few years ago, that was a death sentence. Now the five-year survival rate is about 70 percent, and many of those cases are presumed cured. Matt's getting good treatment, and we're optimistic he'll do well.
    But the things I've seen since June 2 have changed the way I will live the rest of my life.
    I wish no one else ever had to endure a month like this, or the years of treatment we pray are still to come. But the fact is that your chances are the same as ours were- 1 in 23,000 for leukemia; higher or lower for other catastrophes. And if I can pass along what I've learned, it may help those who have to face these tragedies- as well as those who don't.
    On balance, I think I'm about as good a father as I can be. Like everybody else, I sometimes cut the grass when my son wants to go fishing or watch football when he wants to play it. But I've also skipped parties to take him on picnics and gone to work at 6 in the morning so I could play with him in the evenings instead of working late.
    And we've been lucky, in a way. We've met parents this month who won't get a second chance. Kids get brain tumors, they get aplastic anemia, they're run over by cars and burned in fires and they go for rides with nice strangers. To some of their parents, a 70 percent chance of survival looks like immortality.
    Here's something to think about. Of all those people, not one expected ever to be pacing the halls of Moffitt Hospital, not any more than I did; no more than you do.
    Four weeks ago I thought- as you probably do- that the most serious "disaster" we'd face would be mumps, or maybe a broken leg. Leukemia was what happened to those kids you read about occasionally who get a trip to Disneyland courtesy of some local service club. But families like yours and mine- careful with prenatal nutrition, adamant about proper diet (Matt had never had a soft drink until we had to force fluids in the hospital), safety-conscious- bad things don't happen to us.
    Wrong: They do. Not just cancer, but all kinds of tragedies. And not just to kids, but to adults as well. My chance of being killed in a car crash, which I never even think about, is statistically five times greater than Matt's was of developing leukemia. You probably don't worry much about accidents at home, but there are twice as many fatalities in the home each year as there are new cases of leukemia.
    The point of this is not to scare you, but to urge you to look at your life. If you knew you had a 30 percent chance of dying in the next five years, or that one of your kids did, would you do all the niggling things you should do, or the things you want to do? Would you cut the lawn this weekend, or go to the park and fly a kite? Paint the bathroom or take a picnic lunch to Lake Tahoe?
    But, you say, we're all healthy, and the house is a mess.
    Why should that make a difference? In 20 years, your kids aren't going to remember if the kitchen floor was shiny. But they'll remember you had time to push them on the swings.

Mighty Mason – Looking Back

Mason H and his family stayed at Family House after his initial diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease, an autoimmune disease. Family House talked with Mason’s mother, Sara:

FH: What were your first memories of learning that Mason had Crohn's Disease? 

Sara: His initial diagnosis was Crohn's, but then the immunology department at UCSF did some testing on him, and they told us there's a very rare chance that he has a genetic disease called IL-10 Receptor Deficiency. He's the tenth noted case in the entire world. That's how rare it was, but the disease mimicked Crohn's. His GI tract was attacking itself basically. He was always in a lot of pain. 

It was a long road just to get to that diagnosis. Before we just thought this is something that he was going to have to live with and deal with. Then they told us that there was a cure, and the bone marrow transplant should take care of it. It was incredibly frightening, but we also saw a little light at the end of the tunnel.

 

FH: What was the most challenging aspect of those early days?

Sara: As a parent, the one thing that you want to do for your children is to protect them and help them, and there was just nothing we could do. We couldn't fix the problem ourselves, and that was just the most frustrating thing. Not knowing exactly what it was, and just watching him in pain all the time. It was incredibly hard. It tested our faith very, very much. 

FH: How did you first discover Family House?

Sara: One of the social workers in the hospital had mentioned it, that Family House specifically helps kids who are immune-compromised, which was what we’d need post-bone marrow transplant.

It was nice to see a place that had all of the comforts of home. Everybody was really helpful, and friendly, and very accommodating, especially Paul in the front office – he was just so warm and friendly. I remember when we were waiting outside and Mason was really, really sick. Paul came out and was really helpful and tried to calm us down. He was like that the entire stay. He checked on us. He always asked us how we were doing. He gave Mason a teddy bear right before we left.

We wouldn't have been able to do it without Family House, honestly, because we were there for quite a while after his transplant and because we live four and a half hours away in Reno. They needed us to be close because we had to do blood work every three days. It was a blessing that Family House was there.

We stayed at Family House for five weeks post-transplant before we got the clear to come back home. And we'd had a few stays prior to that as well, when we were doing all the pre-transplant testing. You need quite a few trips back and forth. We always had a place to stay.

FH: Was there anything that surprised you when you first started staying at Family House?

Sara: They have pictures of some of the kids that have stayed there, and it makes you realize that you're going to make it through. You see the kids. Some of them have sent in pictures afterwards once they’re well. I think that was a pleasant surprise, just to be able to see their journeys, and know that there is an end to it.

One of the hardest things - there's really no one else that truly understands what you're going through unless they're going through it, or have gone through it. People can sympathize, but there are very few people that can actually empathize with you. Meeting some of the families, and hearing their stories, it was definitely helpful. But when you have people there that know exactly what it is, it's somehow comforting.

FH: How is Mason doing now?

Sara: He's doing amazing! It's like nothing ever happened. He's four, and he had his first organized sport this year. We put him in soccer. He's just blossoming. He's growing, and he's just really happy. He's like the happiest kid ever.

FH: Is there one thing that you wish other people to know about Family House?

Sara: Just that it really is home away from home when you're in that kind of situation. It's more comfortable than staying at a hotel. You have all of the comforts of home. You've got your kitchen there. You've got your living room. There are tons of movies and toys to play with. They have volunteers going in and out of there cleaning the place all the time. It's incredibly clean. It's just a huge blessing that it's there. It's one of those places I wish more people knew about, and contributed funding to. I try to tell as many people as I can about it. There are people who want to do their end of year tax deduction, giveaways and I'm like, "Donate to Family House. They're really actually helping families."

To donate to Family House, please visit: https://familyhouse.ejoinme.org