Fisher House offers help in times of crisis

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • Air Force Print News
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNEWS) --  Her kind eyes have seen a lot of joy and sorrow over the years, but Paula Lewis never tires of helping those in need.

A self-professed collector of hugs, Ms. Lewis has been a staple of the Lackland Fisher House since it opened in 1994. She started her association as a volunteer, and after being released from her job as a health educator during an insurance company downsizing four years ago, she was hired as the full-time manager.

"We are here for people when they need us most," she said. "We just try to give them one less thing to worry about during a turbulent time in their lives."

Fisher House is an organization that provides lodging for patients and families of patients hospitalized at military medical centers. The lodging, like the Fisher House here, is either very inexpensive or free. There are now 36 Fisher Houses across the country since the first one opened in 1993.

The foundation was started by Zachary Fisher, a prominent real estate figure and philanthropist. A leg injury barred him from serving in World War II, but he spent the rest of his life giving back to the military. The Fisher House program was created when he learned of people forced to sleep in their cars because they couldn't afford hotel lodging to be near their hospitalized loved ones.

Ms. Lewis said she loves her work and enjoys helping families concentrate on what is most important: being there for their hospitalized family member.

"This has been the most rewarding job possible," she said. "When the guests get good news, it makes me feel so good to share in their happiness. Although, not everybody gets good news, and I just try to be there for them the best I can."

With a background as a former nurse and Air Force wife, Ms. Lewis often becomes a valuable resource to guests. She explains some of the medical terms for guests, or explains how the military works to visitors who may not have a military background. She is also fluent in Spanish, which she said has come in handy a few times.

The Lackland Fisher House was the first built on an Air Force installation and now consists of a compound of three different houses. Currently two houses are being renovated, which has forced Ms. Lewis to make some difficult decisions.

"The hardest part of my job is when I can not accommodate someone," she said. "Right now we are extremely limited on rooms and it is so hard to have to turn people away."

Another challenge is the fact that the house is dependent on donations and volunteers to run effectively. Ms. Lewis said she has an amazing group of people who volunteer at Lackland, but she said she can always use more help.

Master Sgt. Patricia Donatucci, the superintendent of the 37th Wing's military personnel flight relocations office, is one of the house's regular volunteers. She was alerted to the house's need for volunteers by her supervisor and has since found herself performing duties like weed eating, painting, cleaning and moving furniture. She said that she could not think of a better use of her time

"There is such a sense of accomplishment and appreciation that you get for helping out here," she said. "I challenge anyone to visit their local Fisher House and not be drawn into volunteering."

All of the hard work does not go unnoticed by guests of the Fisher House

Tom Pennington has been at the house for 10 months. The 24-year Army veteran found himself staying at Fisher House while his case of tongue cancer is being treated by doctors at nearby Wilford Hall Medical Center. He is doing better now and credits the hospital staff for saving his life.

"(Fisher House) is a wonderful place. The service you receive here is beyond words," he said. "It helps that it is so close to the hospital and the people here are so kind."

Ms. Lewis said she has met many great people during her time at the Fisher House.

"Everybody here becomes so close it is like a big family," she said. "I still hear from people who visited here years ago and it makes me feel good to have been such an important part of their lives."

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