A local family donated $100,000 to the National Fisher House Foundation on July 2. The check was presented at the Orlando Fisher House, where the donor (who preferred to remain unnamed) spoke of her son who, in 2007, was a patient at Brooke Medical Army Center located in San Antonio, Tex. Her husband also was a veteran.

When her son was receiving medical care, she was a guest at the Fisher House in San Antonio for about five months. She was impressed by how caring and accommodating the staff was. They  truly went out of their way to meet the needs of every guest.

“I saw young women with babies with husbands that have been wounded, and they were there for long periods, and I can’t imagine what they would have done if they didn’t have Fisher House available. So, it made me realize Fisher House serves a very, very important function,” stated the donor.

She went on to say that it would have been a massive financial burden if she had to stay in a hotel room. Additionally, staying elsewhere would have taken away the convenience of her being right next to the hospital that her son was in. Being walking distance from the medical center was one less thing to worry about. Having a place that felt “home-like” to come back to after spending hours in the hospital was more than she could ask for. Her experience placed the Fisher House Foundation number one on her donor list.

After the presentation of the check, the donor went into the kitchen area of the Fisher House to make the first cut to a cake that was brought by the Fisher House Foundation in honor of her contribution. Others in attendance included members from the board of directors of Friends of Fisher House Orlando. She also carried with her a framed photo of her husband, who had passed away.

Orlando Fisher House Manager Terri Turner expressed that she is very grateful for the donation and that it means a lot to her. Since the donation was placed toward the national foundation, it will go toward construction costs of Fisher Houses that are still being built in the United States. Currently, there are 38 houses under construction across the nation. Since the donor lives in Port Orange and her son lives in Oviedo, Orlando Fisher House was the closest location for the family to present their donation.

There is also a plaque that is placed in each Fisher House that gives credit to the donors and their donations toward the Fisher House Foundation. “It makes me feel great … knowing the community support is there,” Turner said.