GOD PROVIDED US WITH BEAUTIFUL THINGS: HOPE LODGE AT BALTIMORE

As some of you may know, I have returned to Williamsburg, VA, and Erica is back home in Charlotte, NC.  We had gotten into Williamsburg on Wednesday, January 25th.  

Before I tell you about all the crazy things that has happened since I have returned, I feel that I need to devote an entry about the American Cancer Society (ACS) Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Currently the ACS has 31 Hope Lodges across the United States, and these programs provide those of us with cancer and our caregivers a free place to stay during treatment so we can focus on getting better.  As the website notes: The place has “comfortable guest suites with private baths along with a communal kitchen, dining area, laundry rooms and many places to either gather or find a quiet respite… Hope Lodge guests don’t just find a place to stay – they find a community of support and an emotional connection with others facing the same journey.”

And it was exactly what the website had stated and then some!  The staff there was phenomenal and very personable.  Everything was well organized so that it was a very smooth transition from arrival to departure. 

The Lodge even provided different activities that helped to bring us out of ourselves, including dinners sometimes provided by different church groups or ones that were donated.  One evening, a local musician had performed for us. 

The guests were just as inviting.  There were at least 2 couples who seemed to be part of a welcoming committee: Frank & Marie and Kathy & Andrea.  It is not that anyone designated them for that job; it was just who they were—always welcoming and expressing care to each person with cancer and to their caregiver.

Cancer can make you feel totally alone at times but being at the Lodge surrounded by loving staff and caring guests brought to life Psalm 68:6a “God places the lonely in families”. 

It was a beautiful time that filled me with mixed emotions when I had rung the bell and departed to my next adventure in my cancer treatment.  Thank you again Hope Lodge of Baltimore and American Cancer Society for making my visit such a treasured time.

The program relies on donations from individuals like you and me as well as from organizations so I hope that you will consider donating whatever you can.

https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html

COMMENTS WHEN BLOG WAS FIRST POSTED ON CARING BRIDGE SITE:

Tina Nicholson: Kim, thank the Lord for your experience at the Hope Lodge! How wonderful that you could stay for free in such a supportive and comfortable environment. May you continue to be carried in His everlasting arms as you journey forward.

Cindy Fisher: Thanks for letting us know about the Hope Lodge system and providing a link to their donation site, Keem! Definitely a worthwhile cause. They provide a wonderful service to cancer patients!