Discovering Family Comfort, Safety, and Lifelong Friendship at Family House.
4 minute read
For most families, home is a place of comfort and a safe space where they can unwind after a long day. But for families facing a medical crisis far from home, that comfort often feels out of reach.
That was the reality for Alex and Cassandra Walter, a young couple from Altoona, PA, whose lives changed overnight when Alex was involved in a devastating car accident. His injuries were severe, leading to complications that required a liver transplant—a journey that brought them to Pittsburgh for medical care.
Their days quickly became filled with hospital visits, long nights in waiting rooms, and the overwhelming uncertainty of what lay ahead. The emotional weight was heavy, and the financial burden only added to their stress.
That’s when they found Family House and everything changed.
Casandra remembers the first time she walked into Family House. “It didn’t feel like a hotel. It felt like a home,” she recalls. From that moment, Family House became more than a place to sleep, it became a lifeline. Here, they found warm meals, a caring staff, and a community of people who understood their struggles.
Alex and Casandra weren’t alone anymore. They formed lifelong friendships with fellow guests, bonding over puzzles, shared dinners, and late-night conversations about life, loss, and hope.
“We’ve met people here who have changed our lives forever,” Casandra says. “Even when we’re not staying at Family House, we still keep in touch.”
Staying in a city far from home also comes with a cost—but thanks to Family House’s Family Assistance Program, the Walters received the financial support they desperately needed to continue Alex’s recovery without the stress of hefty lodging bills stacking up.
Beyond financial relief, Casandra found emotional strength in weekly support groups, particularly those led by Liver Education Advocates, a community partner of Family House. For her, these educational and emotional support groups were a source of hope.
“The hardest part of this journey was feeling isolated. But at Family House, I found a community of people who truly understand what we are experiencing.”
For Casandra, traveling to a large, unfamiliar city alone while Alex remained hospitalized at UPMC Presbyterian was intimidating. But Family House gave her a sense of security she did not expect.
“Knowing Casandra felt safe here made a world of difference for me,” Alex shares. “While I was in the hospital, I had peace of mind knowing she was in a place that cared about her and our children’s safety and well-being.”
For their three children, Family House provided a home-like environment where they could cook meals and spend time together.
By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to families like the Walters when it’s needed most.
Support Family House: familyhouse.org/donate
