Tranplant Patients are Twice Blessed by Baylor, Junior League
When Joe Olsen’s first round of
chemotherapy didn’t fully rid his
body of leukemia, his oncologist
gave him three options: 1) give the
same chemo treatment a second try
and hope it might work; 2) quit
treatment altogether, which would
mean cutting his life short; or 3)
going through a bone marrow and
stem cell transplant.
“I want to live,” Joe told his
oncologist at Baylor University
Medical Center at Dallas. “I’ll try the
bone marrow and stem cell
transplant.”
He knew the transplantation and
recovery would be tough, requiring
multiple appointments with his
oncologist. However, Joe and his wife,
Dorothy, a pediatric nurse, live about
150 miles away in Killeen, Texas.
That’s where the Twice Blessed
House comes in, providing the
Olsens a one-bedroom apartment to
live in during Joe’s frequent
treatments. Located just around the
corner from the Baylor Dallas
campus, Twice Blessed House is a
home-away-from-home for
transplant patients and their families.
Patients who live more than 50 miles
are eligible to stay there for a small
fee while being cared for at Baylor.
Twice Blessed House, which caters
to transplant patients, is a similar
concept to the planned Hope Lodge
Dallas, which will provide housing for
cancer patients who travel long
distances to receive care.
History of Twice Blessed
“By creating these dinners, we’re
“In 1986, we realized that we able to help Twice Blessed House
home-away-from-home during the said Amy Mueller, Twice Blessed
families had to stay in Dallas,” said “Throughout the years, it has been
chief of Surgical Transplant Programs bonds with each other. We also hope
needed a facility that could be a patients have a sense of community,”
many months patients and their project chair for the Junior League.
Göran Klintmalm, M.D., Ph.D., rewarding to watch patients create
for Baylor Scott & White Health.
The Twice Blessed House currently
occupies 46 units of the apartment
it helps give them a sense of normalcy
in such a trying time in their lives.”
The Baylor and Junior League of
complex, The Marquis at Gaston. Dallas relationship is a positive one for
one- and two-bedroom apartments. alike. Junior League members get to
to get quickly to and from doctors’ placements in Dallas, and those who
“It’s just a blessing to be so close,” return year after year. “I know every
The units managed by Baylor include patients and Junior League volunteers
Patients can use the shuttle service select from a number of volunteer
appointments. choose Twice Blessed House often
said Dorothy, who rarely left her woman who’s ever volunteered there
through chemotherapy and the That sentiment goes both ways,
husband’s side, supporting him has absolutely loved it,” Amy said.
transplant. according to Dr. Klintmalm. “Junior
Social Gatherings at Twice sacrifices to help and support
Blessed
League volunteers have made
patients and their families needing
While staying at Twice Blessed the stability and care while recovering
are invited to special outings and home,” he said. “It is truly a
Junior League of Dallas. These get- members have provided the
House, patients and their families from a transplant far away from
weekly dinners organized by the heartwarming gift the Junior League
togethers offer a change of scenery community for more than 30 years.”
from the hospital setting and a
chance to meet other families going
through similar journeys.
“For the families to come and just
sit down and break bread together
has been great,” said Dorothy.
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For more information about
Twice Blessed House or transplant
initiatives, contact Melissa Dalton
at 214.820.2705 or
[email protected].