Wright-Patt's Fisher Houses provide compassionate care, free housing for hospital patients Published Sept. 11, 2024 By Matthew Fink 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Karen and Christopher Gannon have been married for nearly 30 years, four of which were at the tail end of Chrisopher’s career as an Electronic Warfare Technician in the Navy. While Karen found the life of a Navy spouse difficult, she said that she never failed to go to the pier to watch Christopher’s ship leave on its next trip out at sea. In 2000, Christopher retired from active duty and the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to start their lives as military retirees. 240731-F-IU965-1031 A statue of Fisher House Foundation founders Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher sits near the entryway of Fisher House II on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 31, 2024. Between 2018 and 2022, the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patt accommodated over 2,000 families and provided over 8,500 days of lodging which resulted in over 840,000 dollars in savings for the families. Nishanov said that each member of staff is critical to managing the needs of a diverse population of patients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Everything changed in 2017 when a doctor spotted a small tumor in Karen's left lung during an unrelated MRI. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, initially receiving treatment at nearby Kirtland Air Force Base and then radiation therapy at the University of New Mexico. After a while, her tumor was labeled dormant and the couple moved to a house near Indian Lake, approximately 20 miles southeast of Lima, Ohio. All seemed well until 2020, when Karen collapsed on the couple’s front lawn. Christopher rushed her to Wright-Patt Medical Center, where they received the news they perhaps dreaded most: Karen's tumor had spread. She had stage four lung cancer. Fortunately, not all was lost. As it turned out, Karen's body was uniquely receptive to a brand-new immunotherapy drug that was offered on Wright-Patt. In order to receive the treatment, however, the couple would need to make the three-hour, round-trip drive every three weeks. “I said, ‘oh my God, we’re going to have to stay in a hotel every three weeks!” said Karen. “All we have is Social Security and a military pension. It’s going to cost us a fortune.” Unbeknownst to the Gannons at the time, their answer was waiting for them on a quiet street within walking distance of the hospital: the Fisher Houses. A unique charity organization Fisher Houses provide free lodging to families of active-duty service members, veterans, and retirees like the Gannons while they or their loved ones are receiving medical care at a nearby military or VA hospital. They are meant to serve as a "home away from home," allowing families to stay together during critical periods of treatment and recovery. The Fisher House Foundation was established in 1990 by Zachary Fisher, a prominent philanthropist, and his wife, Elizabeth Fisher. The concept of the Fisher Houses arose from their friendship with Pauline Trost, wife of Adm. Carlisle Trost, the Chief of Naval Operations at the time. Mrs. Trost observed the challenges military families faced when they had to travel long distances to receive medical treatment but had no affordable places to stay. The Fishers responded by donating millions to construct comfort homes for these families. Since the first Fisher House opened at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 1991, the program has expanded significantly. Today, there are almost 100 Fisher Houses located across the U.S. and in Europe, near military hospitals and VA medical centers. Each home offers between eight and 21 suites, complete with private bedrooms and bathrooms, shared kitchens, laundry facilities, and living rooms. As of 2023, the Fisher House Foundation has served over 430,000 military and veteran families and saved them an estimated $575 million in lodging and transportation costs. A small but mighty team There are two Fisher Houses on Wright-Patt, appropriately named Fisher House I and Fisher House II. Built in 1994, Fisher House I is considered a first-generation house and has seven guest rooms. It is currently closed for renovation and will reopen this fall. Fisher House II was built next door in 2011, has 12 guest rooms and is fully handicap accessible. Diyor Nishanov is the manager for both houses, and he works with a small team of three employees: Marilyn Vazquez, the assistant manager, Tim Adkins, the operations assistant, and Carol Wallace, the housekeeper. Together, they provide logistical support much like hospitality staffs do at hotels. “We all do a little bit of everything,” said Adkins, who has been working at the Fisher Houses for 15 years. “We help check the guests in, input their information into our system, perform maintenance, stock the kitchen, do inventory, groundskeeping. Things like that.” “We don’t really divide the labor,” added Nishanov. “We all have titles, but we try to cross-train so we can perform each others’ work if needed.” Between 2018 and 2022, the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patt accommodated over 2,000 families and provided over 8,500 days of lodging which resulted in over 840,000 dollars in savings for the families. Nishanov said that each member of staff is critical to managing the needs of a diverse population of patients. “The staff here are wonderful,” said Liz Mayeux, the spouse of an Air Force retiree who has been staying at the Wright-Patt Fisher Houses regularly for five years. “They keep the house clean, and if you need anything, all you have to do is ask and it appears.” 240731-F-IU965-1004 (From left) Fisher House staff Tim Adkins, Marilyn Vazquez, Diyor Nishanov, and Carol Wallace pose for a photograph outside Fisher House II on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 31, 2024. Between 2018 and 2022, the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patt accommodated over 2,000 families and provided over 8,500 days of lodging which resulted in over 840,000 dollars in savings for the families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res ‘They have been a godsend’ Initially given less than a year to live, Karen Gannon is now on her fourth year and sixty-fourth cycle of immunotherapy treatment. While they credit Wright-Patt Medical Center with saving her life, Karen and her husband estimate that the Fisher Houses have saved them nearly 10 thousand dollars and given them incalculable peace of mind. “Everyone should know about the Fisher House,” said Karen. “It is a great, relaxing place. They have been a godsend. It is our second home, it really is.” Christopher agreed, saying that his experience with the Fisher House has made him feel more welcomed and appreciated than anything else in his 24 years since retiring from active duty. “I have always had a special connection with Wright-Patt,” said Christopher. “My first daughter was born here in the eighties, my grandmother worked here, and my father also spent time here. Now, they are saving my wife’s life. This whole experience has taught me that you can always depend on the military to have your back, even as a retiree. The Fisher Houses are representative of that.” To learn more about the Fisher Houses on Wright-Patt, visit https://www.wpafb.af.mil/fisherhouse/. To request a room or explore volunteer opportunities, calls are taken Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 937-257-0855. Any calls or voicemails left after 4 p.m. will be returned on the next business day. To donate to the Fisher House Foundation, visit https://www.connect.fisherhouse.org/.