Testimonials

Dear Heidi and Kevin, Thank you so much for opening your home to me during this hard time. You guys have truly made me feel like family while staying here. I look forward to our paths crossing on another journey. Your Friend and Guest,

My husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in early September 2013. Within a week and a half his oncologist had an appointment for him at Mayo. It was determined he was a good candidate for a bone marrow transplant. After three and a half months of chemo at home, he began his journey at Mayo on January 6. We have been blessed for his transplant to have been very successful and our journey being shorter than anticipated.

It has been so nice to have a home-away-from-home here at Evy’s House. I firmly believe he healed much faster having such a comfortable place to live and recover. Our thanks to Jodie and Greg for being so helpful through our time in Rochester.

A sincere thanks,

Its name truly communicates the meaning, mission, and atmosphere of this fine facility. Serenity House Network provides a special housing option for transplant patients that is not otherwise available in the Rochester area. Serenity House Network makes the transition into the real world from hospitalization easy by providing a clean, safe environment. Greg and Jodie truly understand what many transplant patients need as I will further discuss.

I had been hospitalized at Saint Mary’s Hospital from July 3rd, 2013 until December 12th, 2013. I received a heart transplant on November 28th. For my family and for myself it had been a long journey. We were all tired. We needed a warm, nurturing environment for all of us to heal. I craved solitude after months of not having this in the hospital. The thought of having to share a common living area with others, and not being able to have my entire family stay with me at the spur of the moment was not acceptable for me. My son was too young to visit at many of the facilities. It was holiday time and because we rented through Serenity House Network, we were all able to stay together. We cooked several holiday dinners, and opened presents in our private living room. There was even a Christmas tree provided by Jodie and Greg. While we were not home, this became home, and for all of us it was the best Christmas we had ever had. We were back to being the wonderful family that we are. We were happy and joyous. Serenity House Network helped to give this back to us.

Serenity House Network provides a warm, environment that feels like home. My daughters often refer to it as going “home” when they visit me from their colleges in Northfield. The SHN duplex we rent is in a safe neighborhood which is close to grocery stores, movie theaters, the hospital, clinic, post office, etc. The apartment has three bedrooms, two full baths, a kitchen, living room, and a den. There are two televisions that are equipped with cable, as well as internet which provides access to netflex, hula, etc. It is beautifully appointed with laminate floors, new beds, new couches, dining room table, and comfortable recliners. The kitchen has new appliances, including dishwasher, microwave, stove, large refrigerator, blender, toaster, coffee maker, etc. Dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils, silverware, and glasses are all provided. The linens and bed spreads are beautiful and tasteful. The towels are thick and soft. It is so nice that nothing needs to be purchased unlike when someone moves into an apartment or a house which may also have a lengthy lease. There is a washer and dryer on site so that I can wash my towels daily which is important post-transplant.

Serenity House Network has focused on the need to provide a clean environment. The laminate floors are the first step since they can be thoroughly cleaned unlike carpet which many places use. They request that no shoes be worn inside. They provide vacuum, swiffer, wet swiffer to clean as well as all the cleaning products that are used for transplant patients at the hospital. They also come into the apartment once a month to do a thorough cleaning. Serenity House Network is extremely responsive to any problems that may arise. Someone is usually over to access the problem with in an hour. They also provide snow removal services as well as helping families to move in if there is a need for such services. They are kind, friendly, compassionate people who truly care about others.

They provide an environment that is peaceful, and restful which everyone who has visited me notices. The apartment is bright and sunny. It is an environment that promotes healing not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally. I wish more transplant patients were aware of this fabulous option. I hope and wish that Serenity House Network continues to grow so that more transplant patients can take advantage of this fine facility. I am a physician and my wife is a nurse, and we are both impressed by the high quality of service that is offered. Jodie and Greg’s reward is knowing that they have succeeded in creating a family-oriented environment which promotes healing for transplant patients and their families in a way that no other option in Rochester seems to be able to do. The name says it all, Serenity House Network.

Sincerely,

January-February 2014

We stayed in the James apartment for 30 days while undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplant patients undergo very high doses of chemotherapy that wipe out their immune systems. During the recovery process, patients need extremely clean environments due to compromised immune systems and the patients are often very sick and uncomfortable. In addition, families are away from home for extended periods, spend a large amount of time in the apartments and have special dietary needs that make cooking very important. Serenity House Network has provided a safe, comfortable and clean environment for our family.

When we learned that we would be in Rochester for at least one month for this procedure, we visited many different properties, including extended stay hotels. We determined that Serenity House Network was far and away the best choice for us for several reasons, including: the extremely clean environment as a result of high standards and excellent rules for transplant families (including no shoes and no pets in the apartments and special cleaning processes); the ability to accommodate more than one caregiver at a time (we had two caregivers for the duration of the time here) and more flexible visiting policies than at other transplant housing; furnishings designed for transplant patients, including comfortable beds and furniture; laundry; and attention to detail so that the apartments were designed for transplant families to be most comfortable and safe. In addition, it was more affordable than other options.

Our Serenity House Network apartment has enhanced our stay in Rochester, and we could not imagine staying anywhere else. Greg and Jodie have been supportive and attentive and it has been wonderful to be near another family going through the same thing.

January-February 2014

My stay at the SHN Holly’s House Erin apartment has been the best part of my stem cell replacement procedure. Staying here enabled me to welcome several caregivers into a place that allowed them to relax along with me as much as possible after the daily appointments and other chores were complete. We had compared and shopped from among the other local transplant housing options, but SHN offered us the most for the best price. Each of my caregivcrs stayed for about a week. Some of them even got a little remote work done for their jobs while I was resting after my medical appointments. When I think of the other major competitors we looked at, I don’t believe my caregivers would have had that option.

SHN offers such a homey, quiet, personal space, one really does feel “at home” as much as possible under otherwise challenging circumstances. I liked the Erin apartment quite well. For a variety of reasons, I prefer to write this anonymously…but that is a reflection on my career not on the Erin apartment or SHN. I would definitely return to SHN in the future if/when I need to. Thanks again Greg and Jodie.

October 23, 2013 – February 2, 2014

We were blessed to find the Serenity House Network. It was a perfect fit for us. Being able to have room for our family to stay with us was such a plus. The short distance to the Mayo Clinic and the hospitals worked out so well. All the goodies and the Christmas tree were such welcome surprises! We’ll never forget the kindness and thoughtfulness! Thank you Greg and Jodie.

We are so thankful for getting to stay at the Michael apartment these past couple weeks. It was such a blessing and just what our family needed. Thank you so much for providing a place like this. Blessings,

December 11-January 25, 2014

Having a house to come to during all my treatments was such a blessing! Having a place just like home helped me greatly during my recovery. During my bone marrow transplant I was able to get breaks and it was great to be able to come “home” as a break from the hospital. The place was so clean and everyone was extremely helpful whenever we had a question or concern.

We can’t thank you enough!

We were so happy to have a nice place like White River House to stay during my stressful first visit to Mayo Clinic. We really appreciate how clean the Priscilla apartment is and we were really thankful to have the garage. Thanks to all the Serenity House Network people who provide such a great service to patients and family members going through upsetting times. You truly are a blessing.

Thank you so much,

November 17-December 31, 2013

When I think of our stay at Serenity House Network’s Holly’s House, I think, ” peace, calm, and comfort”. This has been a wonderful place to recover during and after my Stem Cell Transplant. My daughters have been my Caregivers and having a separate bedroom from Mom has been a lifesaver. I’m sure, at my sickest, I was a little bit grumpy. At least they had a door to shut. Thank you, Serenity House Network, for the books, bread and pie for Thanksgiving. Our amazing friends, Donna and Greg, brought the Thanksgiving Dinner and cooked for us here in the Holly’s House kitchen. It was hard to be away at Christmas but again Serenity House Network dropped off a Christmas Tree and a gift bag of goodies. I have been singing Serenity House Network’s praises at Mayo to anyone who will listen. Thank you for sharing your home with us.