Family House

Amy Morris is no stranger to perseverance. A dedicated professional at MSA, The Safety Company and someone deeply grounded in community, Amy experienced the unknown when her husband, Brian, was diagnosed with a rare cancer, hairy cell leukemia, in the fall of 2023. 3 min read A plan for immunotherapy treatment for Brian turned into months of unexpected hospital stays and long days inside UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Montefiore hospitals. Amid the chaos, Amy didnt just need a place to sleep, she needed support. I Googled Family House because it was across from the [UPMC Shadyside] hospital, Amy recalled. That first night in February, I didnt know it yet, but I had just found more than a place to stay, I had found peace. Over the next 80 nights, Family House became more than shelter. It became her office, her support system, and her calm in the storm. For Amy, Family House offered something deeper than convenience. Its not just a buildingits safe, its secure, and its filled with compassion, she said. I tried an Airbnb once and couldnt sleep. I was checking every lock and window. But here, I felt cared for. Between hospital visits and Zoom meetings for work, she found small moments of solace: friendly greetings at the front desk, shared volunteer-led dinners with other families, and even visits from therapy dogs that reminded her of home. We had just lost our dog after Brian got sick. Seeing those dogs made me smile and it reminded me of Brians connection with animals. Even amid her hardest days, Amy found ways to keep showing up, not just for Brian, but for herself. Brian passed away in October 2024. But his and Amys story didnt end with loss. It grew into purpose. Four months later, Amy returned to Family House, not as a guest, but as a volunteer. I came to serve dinner with MSA. I wasnt in my usual sweats and messy hair bun like when I stayed at Family House, so no one recognized me at first, she laughed. But when I said my name, the staffs faces lit up. That momentwalking back into a place that carried me through so muchwas powerful. Amy now leads volunteer dinners, organizes hygiene drives with her church, and brings her family into the mission. On what would have been Brians birthday, shes planning a pizza nighthis favorite foodserved with love to families on a journey she knows all too well. A night at Family House is so much more than a bed, Amy said. Its the arranged complimentary Uber transportation to the hospital, the stocked pantry, the morning coffee, the safety, and kindness. When youre in crisis, those little things arent little. Theyre everything. Every stay is made possible through donations. What many see as a line item or a dollar amount, Amy sees as peace of mind. Dignity. Relief. Humanity. Amy Morris did not set out to be a symbol of resilience, but that is what she became. Her story is still unfolding, now shaped by purpose and service. When you stay at Family House, you become part of a community. And even when your stay ends, that community stays with you, she said. Volunteering is how I honor Brian. Its how I show up for the next person who needs a light in the dark. You can be part of that light. By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to caregivers like Amy when its needed most.  Support Family House: familyhouse.org/donate 

Sandy Long, from Altoona, Pennsylvania, first came to Family House in 2021 following her diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Accompanied by her mother, Patricia, Sandy underwent a thyroidectomy procedure that included the removal of her thyroid and eight lymph nodes, five of which contained cancer. While she initially followed up locally, complications from COVID and lung issues brought her back to Pittsburgh for ongoing care. Over the past two years, she has returned to Pittsburgh, and to Family House, every three to six months for appointments and monitoring, including yearly ultrasounds to track potential recurrence in her lymph nodes. From her very first stay, Sandy found comfort and support at Family House. When Family House transitioned to its new Liberty location, Sandy and her mother were initially uncertain about what to expect but were immediately impressed by the welcoming environment, attentive staff, and expanded amenities, including the daily healthy breakfast program. Sandy shared that the nutritious options allowed her to start long appointment days with energy and even provided snacks to take along for later. Sandy also relied on Family Houses transportation services, noting the free transportation to local hospitals eased the stress of navigating Pittsburghs busy streets. Financially, Sandy benefited from Family Houses family assistance program, which was crucial as she is no longer working and faces the challenges of multiple serious medical conditions. The support of the program allowed her to access essential medical care in Pittsburgh that would have otherwise been difficult to manage. Since I am no longer working, if not for the financial assistance at Family House, I wouldnt have been able to make it work, mentioned Sandy. Beyond practical support, Sandy valued the personal touches at Family House. She enjoyed the therapy dogs, quiet library spaces, and lounge areas where she relaxes between appointments. A passionate crocheter, Sandy also created small handmade gifts for other guests, bringing moments of joy and comfort to those facing their own medical challenges. Sandy described the staff at Family House as genuinely caring, always ready to answer questions, assist with needs, or simply provide a listening ear. She emphasized that these personal connections, combined with the services and amenities, allowed her to focus on her health and well-being during difficult times. Reflecting on her experiences, Sandy said, I have nothing negative, only high praises. Everyone there is kind, thoughtful, and truly wants to help. Family House has made a challenging journey so much easier for me and my mom. By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to patients and their caregivers when it is needed most.   Support Family House:familyhouse.org/donate 

For more than a decade starting in 2015, Ivan and Kayla Halls lives have been shaped by a long, often difficult medical journey. Their journey brought them to Pittsburgh, and to Family House, where they found not only comfort and care, but a true community. Kayla was first diagnosed with fatty liver disease ten years ago, a condition that gradually progressed to non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Her local gastroenterologist warned her that a liver transplant would be necessary within a decade. Over the years, as Kaylas health declined, Ivan, her husband, became her steadfast caregiver, navigating countless hospital visits and late nights in emergency rooms as her condition worsened. Five years ago, the couple was referred to UPMC Montefiore to begin the transplant evaluation process. Though Kayla was extremely ill, her disease had not yet progressed to the point where a transplant could be approved. With liver disease, it has to be the last thing you do, Ivan recalled. Still, the couple continued making the trip to Pittsburgh from the town of Dawson, PA for evaluations. During one of those visits to Pittsburgh, the Hall family discovered Family House. Upon entering the doors of Family House, Ivan described the facility as the best place you could ever go to. During one of their early stays, Ivan and Kayla attended a liver transplant support group. We met two patients who had just had their liver transplants, Ivan said. Talking to them and asking questions helped prepare us, and me as a caregiver, for what was ahead. Years passed, and Kaylas condition unfortunately deteriorated further, however, she was eventually approved for a living donor transplant. Miraculously, their son, Ivan Hall Jr., turned out to be a perfect match. On April 3, 2025, both Kayla and Ivan, Jr. underwent surgery at UPMC Montefiore. Ivan recalls the day with awe and gratitude: My son did wonderfully and is fully recovered. My wife had some complications, but she pulled through. With those complications, Kaylas recovery required a prolonged stay in Pittsburgh, 63 days in total, which the couple spent at Family House. During that time, Ivan experienced the full scope of Family Houses community and care. The biggest thing for us was the support system, Ivan shared. Family House isnt a hotel; its a wellness center. You meet people who are going through the same thing: liver transplants, kidney transplants, cancer treatments, and heart surgeries. You talk, share stories, and help each other heal. He remembers nights spent in the community rooms working on puzzles with other guests until the early hours of the morning. Thats therapy, he said. It helps you get through it. Family Houses amenities and programs made daily life easier. Ivan praised the free Daily Healthy Breakfast Program, providing nutritious meals that take into account transplant patients special needs, as well as the spotless cleanliness of Family House that made him feel safe. He also relied heavily on Family Houses transportation services. For people who dont know Pittsburgh, those shuttle buses are lifesavers, he said. And the drivers are phenomenal. They go above and beyond for every guest. Beyond the basics, Ivan appreciated the emotional and spiritual support offered by staff and volunteers. The Halls also took part in Family House community events, including recitals, barbecues, and special dinners provided by volunteers. People dont realize how important that is, Ivan said. Its not just about food. It gives caregivers like me a little emotional break. Today, Kayla is in post-transplant care and doing remarkably well. The couple recently returned to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2025 for her follow-up appointments, grateful for how far theyve come. Looking back, Ivan reflects on what Family House meant to him: If youre going to Pittsburgh for medical treatment, stay at Family House. If you dont, youre missing out. Its not just a place to sleep, its a home away from home. Without Family House, none of this would have been possible. By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to patients and their caregivers when it is needed most. Support Family House:familyhouse.org/donate

When Katie Fitzpatrick called her father, Bill Fitzpatrick, from Pittsburgh in March 2024, the fear in her voice is something her father will never forget. At the time, Katie was a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, far from home and suffering from severe abdominal pain. Without hesitation, Bill dropped everything and made the four-hour drive from Philadelphia, expecting to stay just a couple of days to be by her side. Those few days turned into 28 long and emotional ones. Katies initial diagnosis of a UTI was later followed by a ruptured ovarian cyst during her second emergency room visit in three days. Over the next several weeks, she endured four separate hospitalizations at UPMC Montefiore and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, including a terrifying battle with sepsis. For Bill, the helplessness of watching his child suffer was beyond words. Being close to Katie, however, came with unexpected challenges. Having left work years earlier to care for his daughter and his other children through complex medical needs, finances were already stretched thin. Midway through Katies first hospital stay, Bill ran out of money for lodging. One night, with nowhere else to go, he slept in his car in a UPMC parking lot. Everything changed when a compassionate nurse told Bill about Family House. From the moment he arrived, Family House became his lifelineand his home. In 2024 alone, Bill made seven trips from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, spending more than 100 nights at Family House. Each stay provided far more than a roof over his head; it offered comfort, stability, and a welcoming community of people who truly understood what he was going through. Some even became lifelong friends. Most importantly, Family House gave Bill the strength to show up for Katie when she needed him most. With the help of supportive services such as financial assistance, daily complimentary breakfast, transportation to and from the hospital, emotional support groups, and volunteer-led dinners, he was able to focus fully on being the best caregiver possible for his daughter. Bill often says that the exceptional hospitals and medical professionals at UPMC helped save Katies life, but Family House saved his. Without Family House, I dont know how I would have made it through those months or how I could have supported Katie through some of the scariest moments of her life, and my own., said Bill. By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to patients and their caregivers when it is needed most.