Living arrangements

We feel fortunate we can stay in the Gift of Life Transplant House for as long as needed and as long as we follow the rules. It is a non-profit corporation, but there are several nuns here as employees and volunteers.

The house started in a 1911 Georgian colonial house built by one the first Mayo doctors. The original rooms are used as common areas and the original dining room is still used for dining. A 3 story wing was added on to the house several years ago and the design matches the original house. A huge building for more housing has been started across the street and will be done in November.

There are 2 large communal kitchens and 3 dining rooms. Residents provide their own food, but the kitchens have all the equipment needed for cooking. I do miss my favorite bowls and it is hard sometimes to cook with so many people in the kitchen.

Cleanliness is very important to prevent infection. We sanitize surfaces, before and after we work in the kitchen. Dishes are washed by hand with soap and very hot water and then run through a sanitizer.

The second floor of the original house has 4 rooms for patient and care giver. There are quaint sitting rooms with televisions, books, games, and puzzles for all to use on this floor and on all the floors. On 3rd floor, our TV room is in the former ballroom [a small ballroom] and has many of the original features and original woodwork and ceiling beams. There are no TVs allowed in patient rooms to encourage the residents to visit.

A lot of visiting goes on in the kitchens and dining rooms. Most every one is very friendly. We don't always see some of the sicker patients often. Turnover is high because transplant patients can stay here when needed for checkups even years after the original transplant. Some are only here for a couple days and some for months. It patients waiting for organs can be here for months.

Craig and I enjoy being here. We miss being at home and miss Carl, but this is a wonderful place to stay. There are 3 other couples from SD and many others from the Midwest and even a couple from Argentina. Hospital shuttles run Monday through Friday 7 to 5:30 pm. I've been driving Craig the last few days since he needs to be at the clinic when the shuttles start running. It's nice when I don't have to drive, though.

The Rochester community has embraced the transplant house much like Pierre has embraced the Banquet. The Missouri Synod Lutheran Church is a block from the transplant house. The congregation has a ministry for the patients and helps as needed. Many groups bring in an evening meal for the residents a couple times a month.

Last week we had pizza and cupcakes from a Board of Directors member. The Mennonite Girls sang and there was a local story teller here. I kind of felt like we were in a nursing home.

We're on the 3rd floor and have a large room with 2 beds and a private bath. It's much like a motel, but very quiet.

Craig is doing fairly well, but tires easily. That's one lasting effect of chemo and his back pain. He remains optimistic and we both expect all the procedures will go well and he will be in long term remission when this is all over.

We are very thankful for the support and prayers from family, friends, and coworkers. We know people in many states are praying for Craig. We counted our blessing when we learned one patient had 14 months of chemo and came here 3 weeks after it ended. He went through the week of testing and found his tumor had returned larger than before in those 3 weeks. Gail