Gabriel House of Care

I had just recovered from a dual transplant surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Gabriel House made staying in a foreign city a real hospitable home away from home. This is NOT a place to stay for a vacation. You cannot simply "check in at the entrance", approval can take some time. You see we live in Naples, Florida. That's at least a 5.5-hour drive each way! There's no way I could go back and forth for days during a full week of October medical checkups, staying at the Holiday Inn was an option; however, at $135.00 a night, it was expensive. Thankfully Gabriel House came to our aide. I have been in and out of the hospital at least 12 times over the past two years. I believe Gabriel House cost us $35 a night in a brand new setting that I'd never quite seen before. Being so close to the Mayo Clinic made transportation to and from the Clinic a breeze! Having four to five appointments each day made each day quite stressful, but the quiet relaxation that Gabriel House provided, helped my recovery from the daily medical appointments. It was so nice to relax in our own space, not to mention the awesome kitchen, in our common area alone there were 6 ovens, 6 microwaves, plenty of rooms filled with accessible refrigerators, all the dishes you'd ever want, utensils, water glasses and more, everything we had at home we easily and conveniently found quickly. There were enough tables for everyone in the dining area (open 24/7), of course, everyone had different schedules, so we often found ourselves alone in the entire dining area. Sure there were plenty of people around if we wanted to talk with someone. But the place is so expansive you rarely come across anyone at the same point daily! There ARE a few inconveniences with the Gabriel House "Rules", such as No food is allowed in the personal rooms, No soda, No private TVs are available, unless you go to one of the many "common areas" where they have huge comfortable sofas and 75" TVs. Being a chronic back pain sufferer for the past 11 years, it was comforting to lay back on their new sofas! Pure Heaven! But as the house rules state "No one is allowed to sleep on the sofas while watching TV"! We had to migrate a mere 125' to get to our own room from the TV area, so that was never a problem. There are no TVs, or radios allowed into the rooms, this ensures a nice quiet, peaceful sleep. The overall atmosphere was awesome! Our room was completely spotless, no coke stains on the carpet, no fur plies in the corners (no dogs or cats are allowed) mainly due to allergies sufferers. Gabriel House made my care taker (wife) even stronger, being able to recover from the daily stresses of my own healthcare (that's another story in itself). The private and individual bathroom at Gabriel House was so impeccably clean.... as was the rest of our suite. We were happy to be in a smoke-free zone, no smoking, not even outside. If you're recovering, you probably shouldn't be smoking anyway. But family members may feel inconvenienced, by getting into their cars and drive to smoke. We had no smoke fumes anywhere and the removal of the smell of cigarette smoke was a true comfort of fresh air. I severely dislike walking into a building, having to cross 8 to 12 heavy smokers just outside the entrance! My wife and I are reformed smokers our selves (since 1992), and WE can be some of the harshest critics, admittedly, we understand how difficult it can be to quit smoking. For your own health and for the health of others, especially IF you are sick, I completely recommend quitting today and start living the cleaner life right away. I would definitely recommend to my friends, colleagues, family, and anyone else going through a medical nightmare (like a transplant) to get in touch with Gabriel House right away! Thank you for reading my amazing experiences at the Gabriel House and May God Bless You and Your Family throughout the terrible time!

Gabriel House of Care was there for me at one of the hardest points in my life. I have End Stage Liver Disease and needed a place to stay during my Liver Transplant Evaluation at the Mayo Clinic. From the moment my Wife and I arrived, we were greeted graciously and educated about the incredible legacy of the Gabriel House of Care. Throughout the week we have been inspired and blessed by the other Patients and Caregivers that are currently here as well. One of the volunteers Sal made an impact on my life while staying here. He consistently checked in with me to see how each day went and how I was feeling. He provided words of encouragement and also shared his story with me. Once you experience the compassion and high level of attentiveness that this place offers, it will leave a profound impact on you for the test of your life. If given the opportunity to receive a liver, this will be the first call I make. Companies like KB Homes and The Bioengineering Lab as well as the Gabriel House Board went above and beyond for the guests this week. They understand the difference they are making in the lives of all of the guests here. I will forever support The Gabriel House of Care so I can give back just a fraction of what I received this week. Richard & Kalle Metcalf

As a double lung transplant patient this is the perfect sanctuary for the immunal suppressed patient. You become part of a caring family here