Emily McWhorter, a 21-year-old college student at the University of North Texas, recently resided in the facility with her family. We stumbled upon Emily in the fall of 2005 when she was undergoing her transplant, indicated because of her Hodgkin's Lymphoma. At the time, her family reportedly had no place to stay while visiting. The CWS Corporate Housing Branch in Austin worked with the JBF to secure housing for this family in need. Emily reached her 100-day marker post transplant and went home in January of 2006 to Texas to resume her college career.

Beginning March 17th 2006, the JBF supported Chris, Kim and Courtney Riddle during their stay in Houston. 34-year-old Chris Riddle of Jonesborough, Tennessee was diagnosed in 2005 with Myleodysplasia. He underwent two chemotherapy rounds at Vanderbilt and was then referred to Duke. Chris was told a double cord transplant was necessary, a procedure not covered by insurance at Duke. Therefore, Chris arrived at MD Anderson on February 8th for an evaluation. He discovered that he was out of remission upon arrival and was admitted to the hospital for more chemotherapy. Chris would need two more rounds of chemotherapy before his pending transplant. And insurance coverage for this procedure was not finalized. In the midst of all of the activity, infections set in for Chris and caused much difficulty. Ultimately, his body was too weak to fight anymore and Chris passed away on May 12, 2006. His entire family remains in our thoughts and prayers.

The next resident welcomed to the Jimmy Burns House was 50-year-old Steven James of Shreveport, LA. Steven and his wife, Kaori (of Japan), work with the International Mission Board serving deaf people in Central Europe. Steven had a blood disorder known as myelodysplastic syndrome and needed a bone marrow transplant at MD Anderson. His transplant took place May 30, 2006. Steven returned home to recover in November of 2006. Aiding in the healing process is Steven's and Kaori's 7-year-old son, Andrew. Our continued best wishes go out to Steven and his family.

Because of the tremendous amount of support generated at The Jimmy Burns Golf Outing on May 19, 2006, we were able to offer residency at a 2nd Jimmy Burns House. 22-year-old Shareeka Hill had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and received an umbilical cord transplant at MD Anderson at the beginning of summer. The apartment she and her mother had been staying in was no longer available to them. With all of their pending medical expenses, we were told they simply wouldn't be able to afford housing in the area. The social worker at MD Anderson informed us that she had run out of options for this family. This is where the JBF stepped in to help. Effective June 27th, 2006, Shareeka's mother began staying at the 2nd Jimmy Burns House. Shareeka joined her mother in early July and spent her summer and fall commuting back and forth daily to MD Anderson on her road to recovery. We were told a virus swept through the hospital and caused a setback for Shareeka. In the end, Shareeka's body was too weak to fight any longer. We're told she died peacefully in her home, lovingly surrounded by her family.

21-year-old Frank Jackson hailed from Pineville, LA. He was diagnosed with AML in June of 2005 and was admitted to MD Anderson shortly thereafter. Frank underwent his transplant on May 31, 2006, and subsequently battled pneumonia on and off. His mother, Annie, quit her job to take on the full-time job as caregiver for her son. Frank was released from the hospital mid-summer and continued to commute back and forth on a daily basis. Medical expenses reportedly depleted much of their savings. Thanks to the contributions from Jimmy's friends and family, we are able to help the Jacksons by covering their housing costs for his 100-day post transplant recovery period and beyond. Frank fought very hard with his supportive family backing his every effort. The disease proved to be insurmountable. Frank died in November of 2006. Our heartfelt prayers go out to him and his family.

62-year-old Janice Chatelain-Woodward is a Katrina survivor who came to MD Anderson from her current home in Fayette, MO. Janice is said to have lost her home in the storm surge, as well as all of her belongings. She was diagnosed in March of 2006 with myelodysplastic syndrome and received her bone marrow transplant mid-July. The JBF was thrilled to be able to lend a hand and perhaps offer some hope to this patient. Janice recovered from her transplant in late 2006 and early winter and got to go home for the holidays. It was surely a Blessed Christmas for the Chatelain-Woodward family!

(No picture available.) On December 21, 2006, we welcomed 37-year-old Maria Ramsey to the Jimmy Burns House. 37-year-old Maria Ramsey of Groves, Texas was diagnosed with AML in the spring of 2006. She underwent a transplant and had experienced an extremely difficult case of graft-vs.-host disease for the past six weeks. Maria's husband Don and sons Aaron, 13, and Jason, 14, had been traveling 90 miles back and forth to support her in her fight. With Christmas just around the corner, we thought it appropriate to offer this family a comfortable place to stay; one close to their wife/mom. Jimmy Burns was at MD Anderson in the hospital just four short years ago. Christmas time is an especially tough time to be there for families. Maria died just two short weeks after her family moved in. God bless the Ramsey family in this very difficult time. Our hope is that the Jimmy Burns House provided some comfort to them.

59-year-old Tommy Birch of Normangee, Texas had a bone marrow disease called Myelofibrosis. He developed chronic graft-vs-host disease following his stem cell transplant on August 30, 2006. In the early part of 2007, he was told he would need about a month's worth of additional treatments. Complications from his procedures, however, crept in and Tommy passed away on January 31, 2007.

45-year-old Glen Price is from Whitehall, Arkansas and received a stem cell transplant in December of 2006 for Chronic Lymphomic Leukemia, CLL. His two children (ages 12 and 15) visited him on weekends when possible, while his wife cared for him full-time during his recovery period. Glen was able to go home in June of '07.

50-year-old Michael Hannaford entered the Jimmy Burns House in March of 2007 and received a stem cell transplant for his Lymphoma. His wife Barbara also received radiation for her brain cancer. And his 16-year-old daughter Beverly is recovering from leukemia, with her last treatment received in December of '06. The whole family got to go home in July of 2007.

65-year-old Lois Turner of San Juan, Texas had a stage 3/4 tumor and needed chemotherapy, radiation, and plastic surgery. She was accompanied in the Jimmy Burns House by her husband Gerald Ray, a disabled and bed-ridden veteran, and by her sons. We were told Lois was, "overwhelmed with the beauty of the apartment!" Lois commented, "I have never lived in such a nice place. This apartment is a sweet blessing. There is so much stress just coping with the disease and the monstrosity of the medical community...you can't imagine how awesome it is to have this spot to call home!" Lois returned to her real home in the latter part of September of 2007. We at the JBF celebrate with Lois and wish her the very best life has to offer!

6-year-old Matthew Rager haled from California and was at MD Anderson in the late summer/early fall of 2007 to treat his rare form of brain cancer. Matthew has a disabled 8-year-old brother with developmental delays who also stayed with him and his parents. This ordeal put a tremendous burden on the entire family, both emotionally and financially. According to Matthew's parents, the assistance from the JBF was "relieving a heavy burden from their shoulders." Matthew was able to go home in mid October of 2007. Our prayers for a full recovery go with him and his family. To learn more about Matthew and his plight, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewrager.

(No picture available.) 42-year-old Kirk Fulton of Texas resided in the JBH briefly during the spring of '08. His lymphoma had recurred several times over the past few years. Therefore, his care was transferred to MD Anderson where he would have extensive chemo before receiving his stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, Kirk lost his battle on May 19th, 2008. We ask for God's blessings on Kirk and his 20-year-old son, Todd.

37-year-old Rodney Patterson from Moore, Oklahoma had Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, CML - Stage 3. He received a bone marrow transplant in December of 2007. Rodney, his wife, and three boys (11,8,7) rent a home back in Oklahoma and reportedly found the additional costs for housing in Texas difficult to absorb. While Rodney's parents cared for his kids in Oklahoma, he and his wife focused on recovery efforts at the JBH in Houston. Rodney is back home and we wish him and his family all of the very best.

47-year-old Kimberly Henry of Lenoir City, Tennessee was diagnosed with AML in 2003, for which she received chemotherapy. She relapsed in 2005 and was able to take part in a clinical trial. A stem cell match was found in 2007 and she arrived at MD Anderson in the winter of 2007 for treatment. Kimberly returned home in February of '08 to her husband and two college-aged daughters. We wish her good health and happiness.

45-year-old James Kolowich of Marietta, Georgia was at MD Anderson for tongue cancer that spread to the lymph nodes. This patient learned of the JBH opportunity from one of our board members. Because he is self employed, insurance was quite costly for him. In the spirit of Jimmy Burns, we were more than happy to help James, his wife and three children during a most taxing time in their lives. We send continued good health wishes back to Georgia.

34-year-old Ryan Meadows from Livingston, Tennessee was diagnosed with CML in 2004 and went to MD Anderson for treatment. He relapsed following two different chemotherapy medications and was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant in the early part of 2008. Ryan is reportedly doing very well post-transplant and was able to go home in mid-September. May this new chapter in his life be the very best one yet!

63-year-old Charles Campbell came to the JBH from Missouri. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer that had spread rapidly throughout his body. His daughter, Carla, joined him to care for him in the summer of 2008 and into the early fall. It is with great sadness that we report that Charles passed away in the early part of October, 2008. Our prayers go out to him, his daughter Carla, and his entire family. God's peace be with you Charles.

When all doors seemed to close on these patients, thankfully the doors of the Jimmy Burns House opened to them. Please hold them all in your thoughts and prayers.