Q&A
What is a transplant house?
A transplant house is a “home away from home” for patients who are in the Madison area for organ, bone marrow or other transplants. A transplant house is not a medical facility. It is a caring environment that offers high quality, affordable accommodations for patients and their adult family members/caregivers. In addition to physical housing, the House offers hospitality, compassion and hope to support the healing journey for the patient and family. The support is provided by a small core staff, many volunteers and through interaction between other families facing the same challenges.
Restoring Hope Transplant House will be designed to offer both private and community space. The facilities will foster and support independence by providing shared kitchen and laundry facilities. Each guest will have a private room but may share a number of common areas where they can interact with the other guests.
The House is designed to serve patients and caregivers only. While we would like to be able to accommodate whole families, infection risk is a concern while patients are healing.
Mission statement: Restoring Hope Transplant House will provide a supportive home environment for transplant patients and their caregivers while in Madison prior to and following organ or bone marrow transplant.
Vision statement: Restoring Hope Transplant House will be a ''home away from home" for adult patients receiving organ or other medical transplants in the Madison area. This private 16-bedroom facility will offer hospitality, compassion and hope in a setting that will allow patients and caregivers to feel comfortable on their healing journey
Why is it needed?
Transplant procedures are complex and can involve considerable time away from home as patients await and prepare for procedures and recuperate afterward. Some of a patient’s time in the area is spent at the hospital, but some is spent at local hotels while receiving outpatient care. The scope of medical care and the out-of-pocket costs can create additional challenges during what is already a very difficult time for patients, their families and their caregivers. The House will offer patients and their caregivers a sense of community during an often long and difficult process.
How many people could be served?
Approximately 550 solid organ and bone marrow transplant procedures are performed in Madison each year. Since most of those procedures are performed for people who live outside the Madison area, at a minimum there is an estimated need for accommodations for days to months for patients and caregivers. Transplant surgeons and program staff in Madison have long seen a strong need for this type of facility to come to the Madison area and are eager to refer patients and help where they can.
Are there other transplant houses?
Yes. There are houses like this around the country, but none serving Madison. Regionally, The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, Minnesota supports families and transplant patients served at Mayo Clinic. Kathy’s House serves people in the Milwaukee area. Both organizations have been extremely generous in sharing their start-up strategies and operating cost information to help the Madison project get off to a healthy start.
Who is behind the effort to offer a transplant house in our area?
The inspiration for ''Restoring Hope Transplant house" came out of a devastating diagnosis of multiple myeloma for Wes Herbst. The support and hope the Herbst family received at The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester gave the whole family hope and encouragement. It became the family's dream to bring such support to the Madison area to support the world-renowned transplant program available here. Wes Herbst’s son, Brian, and daughter in law, Cindy were moved to pursue a local House to share the gift of courage, hope and life with other families.
Restoring Hope Transplant House is supported by three staff members, a board of directors and many volunteers. The UW Hospital and Clinics Bone Marrow and Organ Transplant teams have been involved in the Transplant House since its founding. We will be the referral of choice for UW Hospital. We are part of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Middleton Chamber of Commerce and University of Wisconsin Cancer Council. We also have strong relationships with all Donate Life partner organizations.
Who is managing the effort to make this House a reality?
A non-profit corporation was formed in the name of Restoring Hope Transplant House, Inc., who purchased the house. The management team of Restoring Hope Transplant House, led by Executive Director Cindy Herbst, has surrounded themselves with an exceptional team to guide them, including a CPA with expertise in non-profit organizations and experienced attorneys. The board of directors for the House includes devoted members from the Madison area that have previous board experience as well as members involved in transplant and construction fields. They have the enthusiastic support of local transplant care providers.
What is needed from individuals and the community to open the doors of Restoring Hope Transplant House?
The vision for Restoring Hope Transplant House is one of community serving community. Volunteer support will be an essential part of getting the House operational and maintaining it once the doors are open. The Herbsts envision the house “belonging” to the community in the best sense, giving as many people and businesses in the area as possible the opportunity to participate in supporting the community of transplant families.
Click HERE to learn more about how you can help us get our doors open.
What will it cost to operate the House?
Operating projections have been developed based, in part, on the operating experiences of two comparable transplant houses, The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, Minn. and Kathy’s House in Milwaukee, in addition to costs tailored to this particular property and dwelling. A full budget pro forma is available for review.
What sponsorship opportunities exist?
Sponsorship opportunities include individual or corporate naming rights for various rooms and other donations in the House. A donation of just $30 will cover the cost of one night of lodging for a patient and caregiver who are unable to pay. Please click HERE for more information on giving opportunities.
In addition to modest revenue generated from guests of the House, funding will be pursued through endowments, grants and aggressive local fundraising.
When will the house open?
The opening date will depend largely on the success of the volunteer contributions and fundraising efforts. Please click HERE often for construction and renovations updates.
A transplant house is a “home away from home” for patients who are in the Madison area for organ, bone marrow or other transplants. A transplant house is not a medical facility. It is a caring environment that offers high quality, affordable accommodations for patients and their adult family members/caregivers. In addition to physical housing, the House offers hospitality, compassion and hope to support the healing journey for the patient and family. The support is provided by a small core staff, many volunteers and through interaction between other families facing the same challenges.
Restoring Hope Transplant House will be designed to offer both private and community space. The facilities will foster and support independence by providing shared kitchen and laundry facilities. Each guest will have a private room but may share a number of common areas where they can interact with the other guests.
The House is designed to serve patients and caregivers only. While we would like to be able to accommodate whole families, infection risk is a concern while patients are healing.
Mission statement: Restoring Hope Transplant House will provide a supportive home environment for transplant patients and their caregivers while in Madison prior to and following organ or bone marrow transplant.
Vision statement: Restoring Hope Transplant House will be a ''home away from home" for adult patients receiving organ or other medical transplants in the Madison area. This private 16-bedroom facility will offer hospitality, compassion and hope in a setting that will allow patients and caregivers to feel comfortable on their healing journey
Why is it needed?
Transplant procedures are complex and can involve considerable time away from home as patients await and prepare for procedures and recuperate afterward. Some of a patient’s time in the area is spent at the hospital, but some is spent at local hotels while receiving outpatient care. The scope of medical care and the out-of-pocket costs can create additional challenges during what is already a very difficult time for patients, their families and their caregivers. The House will offer patients and their caregivers a sense of community during an often long and difficult process.
How many people could be served?
Approximately 550 solid organ and bone marrow transplant procedures are performed in Madison each year. Since most of those procedures are performed for people who live outside the Madison area, at a minimum there is an estimated need for accommodations for days to months for patients and caregivers. Transplant surgeons and program staff in Madison have long seen a strong need for this type of facility to come to the Madison area and are eager to refer patients and help where they can.
Are there other transplant houses?
Yes. There are houses like this around the country, but none serving Madison. Regionally, The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, Minnesota supports families and transplant patients served at Mayo Clinic. Kathy’s House serves people in the Milwaukee area. Both organizations have been extremely generous in sharing their start-up strategies and operating cost information to help the Madison project get off to a healthy start.
Who is behind the effort to offer a transplant house in our area?
The inspiration for ''Restoring Hope Transplant house" came out of a devastating diagnosis of multiple myeloma for Wes Herbst. The support and hope the Herbst family received at The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester gave the whole family hope and encouragement. It became the family's dream to bring such support to the Madison area to support the world-renowned transplant program available here. Wes Herbst’s son, Brian, and daughter in law, Cindy were moved to pursue a local House to share the gift of courage, hope and life with other families.
Restoring Hope Transplant House is supported by three staff members, a board of directors and many volunteers. The UW Hospital and Clinics Bone Marrow and Organ Transplant teams have been involved in the Transplant House since its founding. We will be the referral of choice for UW Hospital. We are part of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Middleton Chamber of Commerce and University of Wisconsin Cancer Council. We also have strong relationships with all Donate Life partner organizations.
Who is managing the effort to make this House a reality?
A non-profit corporation was formed in the name of Restoring Hope Transplant House, Inc., who purchased the house. The management team of Restoring Hope Transplant House, led by Executive Director Cindy Herbst, has surrounded themselves with an exceptional team to guide them, including a CPA with expertise in non-profit organizations and experienced attorneys. The board of directors for the House includes devoted members from the Madison area that have previous board experience as well as members involved in transplant and construction fields. They have the enthusiastic support of local transplant care providers.
What is needed from individuals and the community to open the doors of Restoring Hope Transplant House?
The vision for Restoring Hope Transplant House is one of community serving community. Volunteer support will be an essential part of getting the House operational and maintaining it once the doors are open. The Herbsts envision the house “belonging” to the community in the best sense, giving as many people and businesses in the area as possible the opportunity to participate in supporting the community of transplant families.
Click HERE to learn more about how you can help us get our doors open.
What will it cost to operate the House?
Operating projections have been developed based, in part, on the operating experiences of two comparable transplant houses, The Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, Minn. and Kathy’s House in Milwaukee, in addition to costs tailored to this particular property and dwelling. A full budget pro forma is available for review.
What sponsorship opportunities exist?
Sponsorship opportunities include individual or corporate naming rights for various rooms and other donations in the House. A donation of just $30 will cover the cost of one night of lodging for a patient and caregiver who are unable to pay. Please click HERE for more information on giving opportunities.
In addition to modest revenue generated from guests of the House, funding will be pursued through endowments, grants and aggressive local fundraising.
When will the house open?
The opening date will depend largely on the success of the volunteer contributions and fundraising efforts. Please click HERE often for construction and renovations updates.
