Amy Morris is no stranger to perseverance. A dedicated professional at MSA, The Safety Company and someone deeply grounded in community, Amy experienced the unknown when her husband, Brian, was diagnosed with a rare cancer—hairy cell leukemia—in the fall of 2023.
3 min read
A plan for immunotherapy treatment for Brian turned into months of unexpected hospital stays and long days inside UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Montefiore hospitals.
Amid the chaos, Amy didn’t just need a place to sleep—she needed support. “I Googled Family House because it was across from the [UPMC Shadyside] hospital,” Amy recalled. “That first night in February, I didn’t know it yet, but I had just found more than a place to stay—I had found peace.”
Over the next 80 nights, Family House became more than shelter. It became her office, her support system, and her calm in the storm.
For Amy, Family House offered something deeper than convenience. “It’s not just a building—it’s safe, it’s secure, and it’s filled with compassion,” she said. “I tried an Airbnb once and couldn’t sleep—I was checking every lock and window. But here, I felt cared for.”
Between hospital visits and Zoom meetings for work, she found small moments of solace: friendly greetings at the front desk, shared volunteer-led dinners with other families, and even visits from therapy dogs that reminded her of home. “We had just lost our dog after Brian got sick. Seeing those dogs made me smile—and it reminded me of Brian’s connection with animals.”
Even amid her hardest days, Amy found ways to stay anchored—to keep showing up, not just for Brian, but for herself.
Brian passed away in October 2024. But his and Amy’s story didn’t end with loss—it grew into purpose.
Four months later, Amy returned to Family House—not as a guest, but as a volunteer. “I came to serve dinner with MSA. I wasn’t in my usual sweats and messy hair bun like when I stayed at Family House, so no one recognized me at first,” she laughed. “But when I said my name, the staff’s faces lit up. That moment—walking back into a place that carried me through so much—was powerful.”
Amy now leads volunteer dinners, organizes hygiene drives with her church, and brings her family into the mission. On what would have been Brian’s birthday, she’s planning a pizza night—his favorite food—served with love to families on a journey she knows all too well.
“A night at Family House is so much more than a bed,” Amy said. “It’s the arranged complimentary Uber transportation to the hospital, the stocked pantry, the morning coffee, the safety, and kindness. When you’re in crisis, those little things aren’t little—they’re everything.”
Every stay is made possible through donations. What many see as a line item or a dollar amount, Amy sees as peace of mind. Dignity. Relief. Humanity.
Amy Morris did not set out to be a symbol of resilience—but that is what she became. Her story is still unfolding, now shaped by purpose and service.
“When you stay at Family House, you become part of a community. And even when your stay ends, that community stays with you,” she said. “Volunteering is how I honor Brian. It’s how I show up for the next person who needs a light in the dark.”
You can be part of that light.
By donating to Family House, you help provide comfort, financial relief, and emotional support to caregivers like Amy when it’s needed most.
Support Family House: familyhouse.org/donate
