Rose Hill House
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Rose Hill Hospitality House
My sister was recently very ill, she had pneumonia in both of her lungs and was placed in ICU at a hospital called St. Mary's in Grand Junction, CO. My sister lives in Moab Utah which is about 120 miles away from Grand Junction. I currently live in Oklahoma (about 11 hours away from Grand Junction.) I left on a Thursday morning for the hospital and arrived later that evening after a very stressful trip. There was a lot of confusion going on over the condition of my sister days before I left and I should have been there sooner. My 18 year old niece was there taking care of her mom by being by her beside, my mother was doing my sisters job as a courier for banks and hospitals, (seven days a week) and my sisters husband was working (he works a lot of long hours.) My niece was there alone for the most part. My niece could not stay in the room with her mother when she was placed in ICU and ending up staying the night in the hospital waiting room. A nurse had noticed that my niece had slept in the waiting room and approached her with the idea of putting her on a waiting list for the hospitals Rose Hill Hospitality House. My niece was able to get a room in that house immediately.
I would like to share a little bit about this house with my friends, family, and fans.
Rose Hill Hospitality House is guesthouse accommodations for family and patients of St. Mary's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. Accommodations are based on medical, financial and personal circumstances. It is a non-profit organization with paid and volunteer staff. It is located conveniently about half a block from the hospital with staff that are eager to make your stay as relaxing for you as possible.
In the winter of 1994, cars and vans with blanket shrouded windows became a common sight in the visitors parking lot at St. Mary's Hospital. People from out of town with ill family members were sleeping in their vehicles to remain close to their loved ones.
Envisioning a place where families could sleep, shower, and re-energize themselves after often exhausting hours at a patent's bedside, St. Mary's Hospital opened the doors of Rose Hill Hospitality House on March 23, 1998. Within seven hours of opening, thirty guests filled the house.
Since that first day, Rose Hill House has provided a comfortable, home like setting where families can have a rest from the the often critical concerns for the health of a loved one. In the past ten years, Rose Hill House has served more than 14,000 guests from 48 states and 29 foreign countries. As the regional medical center and primary care provider between Denver and Salt Lake City, St. Mary's has seen rapid growth over the past decade. This growth creates increased need for patient care space which means an increase in the need for a safe. comforting environment for patients' family members.
I was relieved to know that when I arrived in Grand Junction that my niece had talked with the staff at Rose Hill House to ask permission for my daughter and I to stay in the room she was currently staying in. The trip was obviously not planned and money was scarse for everyone. We were welcomed into the house with open arms. The room my niece was in had a double bed and we got a roll-away bed from the staff. We were comfortable and well taken care of. The staff went out of their way to make sure that we had everything we needed to be comfortable.
Rose Hill House became a place of solace for me in the few short days that I was there. The staff always had a kind word and were eager to listen if you needed to talk. After the hectic days of spending my time at the hospital I would go back to the house, take a hot bath or shower, fix myself a cup of hot chocolate or spiced cider and sit out on the patio while taking in the stars. This became my nightly routine, I could relax, be by myself and release the stress of the day. I am very thankful that I was able to have that time.
My sister made remarkable steps in her recovery and was released to go home on Sunday afternoon. I left Rose Hill house on Monday morning and returned home that evening. I was not able to leave a donation at the time of my departure, as I had just enough money to buy my gas for the trip home. I wish that I had been able to do something for this great place and great people who had done so very much for me and family. I did take a donation envelope with me and plan on sending money as soon as possible.
Rose Hill House is currently trying to expand. The need for more rooms is great, as many people have to be turned away for lack of space. The expansion would include four new double bedrooms, five new single bedrooms and two handicapped accessible bedrooms that will add to the eleven rooms that already exist.
I will never forget the generousity shown to me here at this little house called Rose Hill. I hope that anyone who reads this will feel the warmth of this place I got to call home for a few days. I will include in this hub, the address to Rose Hill House if anyone might be interested in sending a donation. I know that the current economy is hard for us all, but even you can just send five dollars, it would be enough to buy a box of hot chocolate mix for someone like me who needed that time to relax.
St. Mary's Hospital Foundation
Rose Hill Donation
P.O. Box 1628
Grand Junction, CO. 81502-1628
(The items in bold text was taken from brochures of Rose Hill Hospitality House.)
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Mike, That is crazy. I wonder what the chances are that we would meet today online and have this hospital in common. It's crazy.
They are a great group. I felt very welocme and comforted there. I hope that maybe people will be able to help them out if they can. It's hard for me to able to send them more than a little bit of money, so the next best thing for me to do was write this hub and get the word out.
Well I didn't live there but my youngest daughter did for 3 yrs...and I went to visit her by train many times...Loved the area very much and the mountains were wonderful as well as the river...She left there to go to the college in Ore. to become a school teacher....I have fond memories or Grand Junction for sure ! ! !
and in Seattle they also have a place like what you wrote about...I used to stay there when my sister was dying from breast cancer. And it was wonderful...I will try to send a few dollars in your name for you...G-Ma :o) Hugs
Grand Junction is a beautiful place. G-ma, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your sister but I am glad that you had a place like Rose Hill to go to. I wish that places like these could get more recognition and donations so that they are able to help as many people as possible. Thanks G-ma for offering a donation. If everyine who reads this can send a dollar or two it will sure help thier cause.
Thanks for stopping by, please visit my hubs anytime. (Hugs)
More hospitals need places like that. My father had a heart attack and my family had to drive a long way to where he was. We spent the first night in the waiting room and then the staff directed to an apartment complex the hospital owned for people to stay at so they could be near their loved ones. Like you, we were so thankful.
Those memories stay with a long time.
Rgraf, your right, more hospitals do need places like these. It's always hard to have a family member in the hospital and only adds to the stress when you have a financial burden too. The other great thing is that the staff was ready to talk if you needed a shoulder to dry on or a friend to just listen. It was a great place, I hope I never have to return of course, but if I do, I know I will have a welcome place to go.
Gwendy: This is a lovely peice, full of warm and loving sentiments. Rose Hill sounds like a great place, and I can imagine what a relief it was for you to be able to stay there. (Funny we both wrote about charities at the same time).
My wife and I donate to St. Judes in Memphis, the famous children's hospital (Danny & Marlow Thomas) and they have a similar program.
Rose Hill is such an important program, and I hope you inspire many to donate a little something to them. Then think of all the good you have done for them!
A truly lovely peice, Gwendy.
Gwendy - Iam so happy to see that you have been treated so nicely. Surely it is a place to recommend. You know something when I was a child and my grand father was ill in the hospital I felt like being a nurse when I grow up. Alas ended up being an engineer..hehe.
CR, it was truly a wonderful place. It is funny how we both wrote about charities at the same time. Great minds think alike. St. Judes is a lovely charity. The work they do for children is incredible. I do hope that this hub gets lots of attention and that people will be willing and able to give, I believe it is such a worthy cause.
Thanks Chris, not just for your kind words, but also for your friendship, and you are the best! HA!
CW, you would have been a great nurse, I cannot think of anyone more caring and concerned with the well being of others as you are. Besides you have that great personality that would make patients smile and feel good.
Gwendy - Thanks for the compliment. I guess I wanted to be many things between the ages 0f 6-12 (being a nurse then a school teacher and so on)..hehe. I think I can be good most of the times but sometimes the people closest to me like my bro or my mom get upset with me since I get too moody or emotional with them.
GM: No...you are!
CW: You would have been a mean nurse. You would be like "did you remember to take your pills?" and "I'm going to have to tell the doctor on you," and "turn off the television, it's nap time." Just kidding. You would have been a great nurse!
I have never had the urge to be a nurse, ever. I don't have the patience for it, and besides I have a really weak stomach and I would pass out at the site of blood. Just talking about it make my tongue feel like it's swelling. Yuck.
I think I only wanted to be a mommy when I grew up, which is basically what I am now.
CW, that is what family is for, if you can't get moody and emotional with them then who can you get moody with? That's the great thing about family, you may not always agree and get along, but they will always love you.
CR, You are!
Sounds like Ronald McDonald House here in the Washington, D.C. area. I am glad that they helped you out. They need alot more of these places.
Hey CW I was going to be a Nurse too. I even took the entrance exam and ranked in the 95 percentile-and then they closed the school for lack of funds. I never did be a nurse but I was a SAHM and had animals too--so I did nursing and vet, just didn't get paid money. lol
Christoph - I know you don't mean that I will be mean (just a play of words)..hehe But you are right I can be quite bossy to people Iam close with and I have to work on that.
Gwendy - Yes thats so true. The people we care a lot we tend to point out and be pointed out. But at the end of the day when we all realize the intentions behind we realize that's what being a family is.
Btw you both are the best and end of discussion (no more arguments on this)...hehe
Showing my bossy side again..LOL
LG - That was a brief passing phase when my grandfather was in hospital and I was 9 (but when my bro had a cut from his bicycle fall then I freaked out at the sight of blood and that was the end of nurse dream). Btw what is SAHM?
Lady G, what is SAHM?
It is like Ronald McDonald house, but for a smaller community. I wish they were able to be as recognized as Ronald McDonald houses and could get more donations, They depend mostly on people who stay there and from local donations.
CW, I beg to differ. I am sure that Shades will be here any minute busting me for that crime but that's ok. You and CR are the best and it's my hub so I will always get the last word. HA!
Stay At Home Mom.
Ok, now I feel stupid.
I am not sure how I didn't get that, wow.
That's OK, just one of those moments!
Lady G, it was a brain fart. I wonder if they make an antacid for that?
lol
LOL Gwendy, I wouldn't bust you for anything after a hub that is as just purely good as this. And I mean "good" in the manner of "goodness," the kind of thing that speaks of pure souls and beautiful hearts. See, this is what I meant when I said you were the kind of person who would "just be there" for others on that "Word" hub. I read some of the things you do and write about and sometimes just think, "God, I'm such an a-hole," compared to you. Just the way you think and behave speaks more and does more for the active persuit of goodness than all the preaching of a thousand mouths. I'm glad there's people like you who actually act on behalf of goodness rather than those of us who mostly theorize about it all the time.
Gwendymom - a really lovely and heartfelt hub- thank you for sharing this with us all -Rose Hill sounds an ideal place to unwind and have time out from the stressful and tiring time sitting by the bed of someone you love. Marvellous news that she is home again. You have such a committed family - everyone pitching in - that is what family really is all about!
Here in Australia at the Hospice my stepdaughter and her husband were able to be - thankfully - with her mother as she was dying; but as there was no visitor accommodation they brought in blowup mattresses and bedding and slept on the floor next to her. Luckily the rooms are big and airy - they also have beautiful views of the lake - and the staff really kind and caring. cheers and thanks
Shades, AWWW. I really had to be there for my sis, she needed me and her daughter needed me, she was scared. I really wish I had of been there sooner.
Shades I would never in a million years consider you an a--hole. I think you are a truly great person with a great sense of humor and a talent for words that I am envious of. I guess I act and do because well, basically I don't have anything better to do. And what is wrong with theorizing? How else can someone come up with the answers if noone is thinking about them?
Ajcor, Thank you. If only you knew my family, to tell you the truth it was a struggle to get everyone to come together and help. I guess I have always been the mother in my family, even to my mom. She called me crying and I had to calm her down, I also had to ask her to remain calm when we went ot see my sister in ICU so that she didn't upset my sister. I also had to chew her butt for not doing my sisters job one morning. I guess I am been used to the responsibility for a long time now and it will probably always be that way. I have always had to be the strong one, the calm one and so on. So it was nice to have that house where I get away in the evevings with nothing but my thoughts and hot chocolate.
I am glad that your stepdaughter was able to stay with her mother. It is very important for family to be there. I believe here people are now able to go home to die and hospice sends nurses to the family home to help the patient be as comfortable as possible in their last days.
Shades and Ajcor, Thank you both for coming by and reading this story, I appreciate you guys more than you know, and am so glad I found you guys here on HP.
Thank you for your lovely thoughts towards us your friends Gwendymom. I appreciate you also - and thank goodness you are such a tower of strength towards your family and friends!
cheers to you gm.
Ajcor, your welcome. Cheers to you also.
That's sweet of you to say, but I'll take one doer of good things over 50 theorists any day lol. I'm glad I got to know you on here too. :)
What a heart warming hub Gwendy. This place sounds wonderful, and a great thing for the relatives of seriously ill people. Having slept by my late Husband in a chair by his bed for two weeks in the hospital, I would have been truly grateful for such a place to sleep in.
What a treasure that house is! Everybody's right ... every hospital needs one.
Am very glad your sister's doing OK, and hope you now have lots of space to take care of yourself!
Shades, your so damn cute!
Misty, Thank you. I wish you could have had a place like the Rose Hill House.
Marian, your right, every hospital needs one. Maybe with more attention things will be set into motion for a hospitality house to be avaiable for every hospital. I am glad she is doing better and my family is taking pretty good care of me. Thank you for taking the time to read this and comment.
Brilliant hub
gwendymom! Great information here. But it is also very thought provocking. It is a shame that these things happen. I hope things improve for you & your family. I am really sorry for all you had to go through. I think that these things happen way more then they should for too many families. At least the Rose House was very good at fulfilling your needs & helpful. That is comforting for situations like these. Appreciate the inspiring hub. Keep up the good work!
marketingmergenow
Hi Gwendy,
How fortunate you were to have experienced such a place. This brings to mind that there are so many worth-while causes in this country that don't get the recognition they deserve. I'm glad you wrote this hub because I'm more than certain it will inspire people to go out in their own communities and see how they can help.
My granddaughter has had two surgeries in the past two years at NYC University Hospital. There is no facility nearby for families to stay, so we slept in the waiting room. There is a Ronald McDonald House, which I called, but it's only for families of children with terminal illnesses.
A very nice hub, and thanks for sharing.
I wonder if Rose Hill can get major corporate sponsorship, like the R McD houses. I've spent nights in hospital on folding cots and reclining chairs during my daughter's surgeries. At that time, the RMcD house was affiliated with a different hospital in the same town, so it wasn't an option for us. As Trish pointed out, R McD houses provide the services families need, but they do not meet the needs of all who need them.
Thanks for writing about your experience, GM. We never know when we'll have to spend nights away from home to be with someone we love who is in the hospital. Hospitals don't help us prepare for this as well as they could.
Marketingmergenow, thank you. This are now going really well for my sister, she is home and almost back to her normal self again. She is still resting and trying to take it easy, so I'm sure it won't be long before she is 100% again. Really I just can't say enough great things about Rose Hill House, it was wonderful. I hope that they are around for many many years to come.Thank you so very much for reading and taking the time to give such great comments and praise, I appreciate it.
Trish, I was very fortunate to have such a great place to go. I hope that this hub does inspire people to go into their own communities and do whatever they can for the charity they choose. There are so many worth while causes out there. I know with the economy in it's current situation makes it harder for people to give but really there are other ways to give than money, for example time. Many places do not enough volunteers. Some places may also except used clothing, blankets, or food donations. There is always someone out there who has a need for something, so I guess it's just a matter of choosing how people would like to give. I think everyone should at one time or another.
I had no idea that Ronald McDonald house was for the families of the terminaly ill. Was it just that particular one or all they all that way?
Thanks for coming by and commenting. I hope your grandaughter is doing well. You might ask the hospital if they have a place like Rose Hill house or at least give you a list of motels/ hotels that will give discounts to family of patients being treated at the hospital.
Sally, I really don't know. It would be nice if they could. Your right about hospitals not being able to provide everything the could and I wish more places had a house like this for families. I know that some will at least try to let a family member stay in the room with a patient, but it isn't available everywhere. I guess I was really really lucky to have found this place, and the least I could do is try to spread the word and try to get them a few donations and a little exposure, but I do owe them much more than that.
Thanks for stopping by. As always Sally, I love hearing from you.
Hi Gwendy,
I don't know if other RMc houses allow for families of children going through surgeries. The hospital did allow the parents to stay in the room, but since there was only room for Mom and Dad, I went to the waiting room. Thankfully both times it was just a one-night stay. The first year we did find a Howard Johnson's that offered discounts, but we opted not to put out the money for just one night. So, we just kinda roughed it.
Again, a very nice hub and nice tribute to Rose Hill House :)
Hi Gwendy,
I work at St. Mary's Hospital Foundation and a staff member at Rose Hill House passed along this wonderful article you wrote about Rose Hill. I wanted to let you know that we did raise enough money for the expansion and, in fact, are having the Opening Blessing and Reception later this month! It is so beautiful...I wish you could see it. Also, I wanted to ask you for your permission to share your article at the blessing ceremony. It would mean so much for our donors to hear how much their contributions mean to individuals such as yourself and your family. Please let me know... The opening event is March 18th. Thank you! www.stmarygj.org/about/foundation
Cmoyer, I am so very glad that this hub is being shared. I really wish I cold be there too, and am so glad that the money was raised for your expansion. I would you to share this article, it would mean a lot to me. I would love to say a big thank you to you guys for all that you do. I know Rose Hill and the staff have brought much comfort to those who have ailing family members. What a marvelous job you all do.
It is so heartwarming to hear that Rose Hill is still functioning and still provides a place of solace and community to those whose loved ones are infirmed. I was one of the original people who opened to doors to families. We tried to make everyone feel that they were at home. I personally remember one cancer patient, Brownie was his nickname, who gave me something scriptural to remember...you never know when you might be entertaining angels. I took that message personally, and sought to be that "angel" that may have been needed to calm fears or add reassurance that God indeed was in control.
May God continue to bless Rose Hill and it's inn of comfort.
Mike the salesman 3 years ago
wow You will NOT believe this, but I was born in Grand Junction , in St Mary's hospital! .. I gasp aloud when I started reading your story! So, i do know one thing..that hospital has been there many years! lol.. Sounds like a great group! Way to get the word out for Rose Hill...