Liver Transplant Recipient Shown Comfort At The Gift Of Life House Pays It Forward For Thanksgiving
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Delaware woman who received a liver transplant in Center City earlier this year received lodging and support from the Gift of Life House in Center City so today -- she and her family are paying it forward.
Two years ago, Joanne Brusich traveled from Delaware to Jefferson Hospital in Center City to see a specialist after getting ill from treatments from Hepatitis C. She contracted the disorder in the 1970s during a blood transfusion. But what she and her husband learned was during that visit was devastating.
"It was frightening," she says, "we had no idea."
Brusich's diagnosis -- liver cancer. The course of treatment chemo and a liver transplant. She was to be admitted to the hospital immediately.
"We were speechless," says Brusich, "we were in this hotel room by ourselves and we sat on the beds just staring at each other."
And so the journey began. Months of travel and hotel room stays. Until Brusich learned of the Gift of Life Family House at 4th and Callowhill.
"What a difference being surrounded by people who understand what you're going through," she says.
The Gift of Life Family House provides lodging, meals, transportation and support to transplant patients and their family. Brusich and her family stayed there for two months after her transplant in January.
"They were always asking "is everything okay, you feel okay," says Brusich, "you don't have that in a hotel. you're just sitting in a room."
So today, Joanne Brusich and 25 members of her family will provide Thanksgiving dinner to 50 transplant patients and families at Gift of Life.
"Everything's going to be home made, we're cooking it all there," she says, smiling, "we just want them to know that we care about them and we know where they're coming from."
Today marks the 10 month anniversary of Joanne's transplant. For more on the Gift of Life Family House go to www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org.
