TS Family

Dear HavenHouse Staff,

My wife and I are concluding our third visit of your lovely facility. We live in Little Rock, AR and our three year old son, Thomas, is being seen at Children's and Shriner's for his neurological and orthopedic conditions. Each time we stay at HavenHouse we are more blessed by the consistent kindness and professionalism of your staff as well as all of the conveniences available to us. I would like to share with you an example of how we are impacted by the hospitality at HavenHouse.

...It is a month before our trip to St. Louis and we are talking about how much we are looking forward to our upcoming getaway. Even though we have doctor's appts. on most of the days, we look at this trip as a vacation. We are so excited about the seven hour drive, seeing Thomas's doctors again, sight-seeing, and last but not least, staying at HavenHouse. At HavenHouse we have fond memories of the great cooking of Georgia, the kindness of the front desk staff, the Director's willingness to engage in meaningful conversation, the peaceful computer lab, the convenient workout facility, the nice kitchen next to our room, the hospitable snacks/drinks in the cafeteria, and visiting with other guests who are facing circumstances similar to our own.

...Upon our arrival to HavenHouse we were greeted with kindness from the front desk, as usual. We stayed at the Bluebird wing, which is our favorite yet. The staff was as accommodating as ever to us. We were so impressed w/ the consistent kindness and purposeful mission of HavenHouse that God has put it on our hearts to start giving monthly donations.

On a personal note, I really enjoy giving but can be skeptical about what organizations I give to. I like to know that the money is being used wisely and in a thrifty manner. After careful observation and consideration, I'm convinced that any donations made to HavenHouse will be appreciated and used very wisely. We feel blessed to get to share in the HavenHouse mission of helping others and we look forward to our next trip there.

MT Family

I want to thank you again for such a great time last week. It's amazing how well Meghan did with chemo when we get to come back to a relaxing calm and fun environment! She was so happy and has been all week!

Meghan was born April 20th, 2009 with Spina Bifida. Her defect is at the L4-L5 region in her spine causing her to have no function of her legs below the knee and no bowel or bladder control. She was dx with hydrocephalus at 4 months old in august and had to have surgery to place a VP shunt in her head to allow the extra Cerebral Spinal fluid to drain into her abdomen to prevent brain damage. She was also born with bilateral club foot and bilateral hip dysplasia. She has had serial leg castings, ankle cord tenotomy, and brace fittings to correct this. We were just beginning to learn to bear weight and stand when she got critically ill and dx with HLH (hemophagocytic Lymphohisitiocytosis). A very rare immune disorder that allows her immune system to overrun her body. This requires her to come for routine chemotherapy treatments 2-3 times per month and long term she needs a bone marrow transplant that is scheduled for March 29th. She will be hospitalized the whole month of March and April to be dismissed first part of May but must stay in the area to continue close follow up care and treatments. We live 4.5 hours away from the hospital so we will need to stay in a place like Haven House for nearly 3-4 months before we can return home to the rest of our family of 7! With both of these conditions that have no hand in one another, Meghan is a very rare child indeed. She is the ONLY child in the world with both Spina Bifida and HLH. Spina Bifida happens to 1 in 1000 births whereas HLH is 1 in 1.2 million people. She had better odds winning the lottery!

AM Family

We found out this past year that our adopted four year old twins have a form of Muscular Dystrophy called Charcot-Marie-Tooth. We were accepted to be seen at the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis the first week in January 2011.

Once we got the notification we immediately booked a hotel close to the hospital. We received a "discounted" rate but it was still $65 plus tax. A couple of weeks later I get a phone call from the Median Shrine in Wichita. They said they would book a room for us at the HavenHouse. We were thrilled and canceled our hotel reservation.

My husband and I have never traveled to St. Louis and let me tell you traveling with two 4 year olds is quite an adventure. It had snowed the night before so the roads were not completely clear. What we planned on being a 7 hour drive turned into at 9 hour drive. When we got to St. Louis, we were exhausted. It was 6:30pm and we hadn't eaten, hadn't been out of the car much and were just ready to relax.

When we walked into HavenHouse we couldn't believe how friendly the lady at the desk was. She quickly processed our paperwork and showed us to our room. Then she said the word that got all of our attention - FOOD :) The HavenHouse staff had 4 beautiful boxes of barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans with rolls ready and waiting for us. We just had to heat and eat. What a weight lifted off our shoulders! We didn't have to get back out into the dreaded cold for a car ride to find a fast food place to eat!!! What a blessing!

After dinner we did a little exploring and found the gym, playroom, craft area and library. Our kids ran and ran and ran!! Then we painted, played games, played with the toys and borrowed a couple of library books for a bed time story. We all slept like babies!

The next morning we got up and ate a nice hot breakfast and were on our way to our first Shriner's appointment. The appointment lasted until 1pm, so we were so thankful we had a good breakfast to get us off and going for the day.

Since then we have stayed at HavenHouse one other time and everything was just as great as the first time (I think I had the best cinnamon toast I have ever had in my life!). And no words can explain the love I feel for that gym, it is a life saver for kids that need to burn off some energy!

For the future it looks like we will be staying at least 4+ more times. We have some surgery coming up and will probably even stay a couple of nights soon. We look forward to staying at HavenHouse again as long as there is room!!

It is such a relief to know that HavenHouse does so much to help families deal with these doctor's visits. It is truly a burden lifted off of our shoulders and for the HavenHouse staff to treat you like family is an amazing gift. We appreciate what you have done for our family and for so many other families in need.

May God continue to bless the HavenHouse, all the staff and families who stay there.

AS Family

Alex and his twin sister Grace were born approximately three (3) months early and weighed 2 pounds 6 ounces and 2 pounds 4 ounces, respectively. Shortly after his birth, he suffered an intercranial hemorrhage and was ultimately diagnosed with cerebral palsey. He has had multiple surgeries and suffered with physical difficulties as well as academic struggles. The daily struggle and frequent obstacles make for a difficult path on a regular basis for Alex and our family. Watching your child work hard to accomplish tasks we all take for granted or get left behind by normal kids is heartbreaking. Being able to come to St. Louis and receive the best care possible has truly been a blessing. I include staying at the Haven House as a part of that blessing. Every trip to St. Louis is difficult both logistically and financially despite the fact that we are blessed with resources to make this all happen. Being able to stay at the Haven House provides an exceptional level of comfort and stability and helps make the trips more productive, beneficial and fun for Alex. The staff are first rate and exceptionally helpful. Everyone from Ms. Georgia to Paula and Kathy who make the experience wonderful. I know you are all busy, but your efforts to help support the Haven House are worth your time and energy.

Thank you so much for all that you have done for my family and especially for Alex.

AR Family

After an horrific work-place accident that almost claimed my life (and several limbs), the trauma professionals in my hometown knew that the greatest hope of saving me laid with the region-leading trauma specialists at St. Louis University Hospital. A helicopter flight from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis landed me into the blessed, skilled hands of numerous doctors, surgeons, and nursing professionals at SLU Hospital, extraordinary healing hands that rebuilt my face, saved my shattered arm and leg, and nurtured me each night and every day back from the proverbial "brink of death" and on forward toward the "horizon of healing." Excellent care and first-class facilities enabled me, after only four weeks at SLU, to move on to St. John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital for four more intense weeks of recovery and rehab (learning to stand and walk again, and testing my brain to find out if all "connections" survived the thirty-foot fall to concrete). When Discharge Day drew nearer, and outpatient therapy and follow-up appointments with St. Louis-area specialists filled my calendar, it became quite clear that I needed to stay close to St. Louis for a "little while" longer.

HavenHouse St. Louis afforded me that option: since November 19, 2010, HavenHouse has been providing my Ohio-resident Mother with an affordable, safe, conveniently-located, supportive "home-away-from-home." And, after almost a month there, and with the encouragement and co-operation of the HavenHouse staff, my Mom was confident that my staying at HavenHouse (even though I was still wheelchair bound) was our best "Plan B" for the situation. By the time I return to Cape Girardeau, taking yet another forward step toward full recovery, I will have stayed at HavenHouse St. Louis for more than fifty nights. Without HavenHouse, I simply would not have been able to afford the total costs (of hotels + food + laundry + emotional support + ...) of staying in the St. Louis area after my hospital stays ended, nor would I have been so well-cared for by the "new family" that I gained while at HavenHouse. Paula, Ryan, Amy, Mary, Pat, Gwen, Lori, and so, so, SO many others on staff at HavenHouse truly make these "convenient lodgings" a real HOME. From the abundant home-cooked meals, to the clean, cared-for surroundings, and especially to the sincere, respectful greetings from the staff/family each day, the people who comprise HavenHouse St. Louis are the truest form of "gifts from God." They are the "Charity of the Century!"