In addition, we have many other national and international patients who face similar stress as they try to recover from serious illnesses and negotiate their living situations. It is not uncommon to see families sleeping on the chairs in thersity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Adjacent to the Ronald McDonald House on Old Mason Farm Road is property owned by the University. It is our intent, with the support of the University, to build the facility next to the Ronald McDonald House since our missions are very similar. Of particular concern is that a patient s immunosuppressed status makes them unable to use the internal hospital motel as bathrooms are shared.
Immunosuppressed patients face long recovery periods and often face tremendous financial pressure.
Pittsburgh conducted a feasibility study that indicated transplant patients quality of life significantly improved within a home-like setting. The greatest resource used will be the land acquisition and use next to the Ronald McDonald House on Old Mason Farm Road. By locating the facility there, Family House will be in close proximity to the hospitals and have available shuttle service provided by UNC Hospitals. After completing the project, we plan on opening available rooms to other services, i.e. oncology, who also may have housing needs. Within the community, we are tapping volunteers and using their community knowledge, time, and individual resources to help with each stage of development.