photo by sherri diteman kaven
December • 2023
Our lives are made of miracles and heartbreak and Teisha’s Place holds people during both. The house gives them room and space and hope for miracles; and it gives them warmth and comfort when there is nothing else to do.
Having a home away from home during a frightening and stressful time of dealing with cancer treatment gives our guests the gift of peace. They can rest within the walls of Teisha’s Place, without worrying about how they will pay for the accommodations. The house allows them to lay down the burden of financial obligation and makes their load a little lighter – when it truly matters most.
This year we hosted six families.
Nacho stayed through March 17th, and then he and Caitlyn headed back to their kids and their jobs and to pick up their life in The Dalles.
Amanda arrived on March 24th, and after just a few weeks she was cleared to go home to Lebanon.
Dyan from Salem moved in on June 5th to recover from lung cancer treatment. She left for permanent housing on July 12th.
The very next day, July 13th, Andreaska (age 31) arrived from Ashland where she had just started a new teaching job. Her sister Victoria and mom Bonnie traveled from Maine to care for her, and Andreaska was surrounded by love when she died on August 11th of Burkitt’s Lymphoma.
The same virulent form of lymphoma brought us Jim (age 75) and his life partner and caregiver Vicky, who came from Enterprise, OR on October 20th. Teisha’s Place was a huge financial relief for them. They were so grateful to be spared the expense of a hotel – and delighted to be able to have their beloved cat stay with them. Vicky said, “Jim really wanted to stay somewhere he could feel at home. Teisha’s Place is like a miracle for us.” Jim underwent treatment for Burkitt’s Lymphoma, but just before Thanksgiving, feeling very tired of treatment, he chose a new direction. He and Vicky went back to Enterprise to spend his days at home and not in a hospital.
Maria (age 54) is undergoing a stem cell transplant, and daughter Bianca is her primary caregiver. They moved in on December 6th and plan to stay through March 2024, as Maria prepares for and recovers from the procedure.
Miracles and heartbreak are the stuff of life, and we can all connect with how they feel. Moments at Teisha’s Place – both the miracles and the heartbreak – mark people forever.
Andreaska’s mother Bonnie and sister Victoria sent us a beautiful inlaid wooden map of the United States. This wonderful gift came in appreciation for their time at the house. It is a tangible way for us to see the connections the house makes between us, our guests, and the people who love them.
MJ stayed at Teisha’s Place with her husband Richard, and her memories of their time there are still with her. She sent this note from Hawaii:
Deb and all your wonderful board and staff,
I love getting your newsletters and appreciate the time it takes to prepare them. My stay with my darling Richard in the summer of 2016 was the best that it could ever be. Throughout his whole MDS experience, staying at Teisha’s Place was the highlight of our last times together. We were happy, we were safe, and we were being cared for. Thanks again for the miracle of Teisha’s Place, a miracle we will never ever forget.
MJ, Kaneohe, Hawaii
These letters show what we do in a way that a million words could never tell. And we do it – all of us, but especially you. Thank you for sharing your resources of time, energy, and money. You make this possible.
You help us prepare the house for new families, and the gathering of friends turns work into a joy. Our thanks go out to Kathleen Donnelly, Sandra Fry, Hana Fry Patterson, Maureen Colburn, Taz Higgs, Jim Poplack, Roger Martin, Brian Harney, Steve Wicker, Becky Smith, Shelly Caldwell, Michael Card, Paul Pierson (we love our yardman!), Sherri Diteman Kaven for a donation of Saint Olio, the quilters at Peace Lutheran Church, the family of Francis Shaffer for donation of towels, puzzles, and games, and to Julie Smith for the donation of our new lending library.
And in 2023, you made a lot of house maintenance possible! This sweet little bungalow has been as durable as Teisha, as we have laid a lot of living on it these last 12 years with the feet of 41 families walking the floors and their daily lives putting our appliances to good use. Both the floors and the appliances more than exceeded their life expectancy, and the outlay on home maintenance made a serious dent in our cash reserves.
The floors of the house had become very worn, and the danger of splinters was all too real. The main floors were refinished by Interstate Flooring in September, and now look – and feel – marvelous.
In October, the elderly refrigerator/freezer was upgraded with a new undercounter model fridge and the water heater that sprang a leak was replaced.
Many donations are received with special recognition of donations made to honor loved ones. We share them here:
Richard Culveyhouse is remembered by MJ, and Paul and Annalee Leinewebber.
Ned Stafford is remembered by his loving wife Faith.
Penny Kennedy is remembered by her daughter Charis and friend Deb.
Andreaska Jeffcoats is remembered by Steve Morin, her mom Bonnie, and her sister Victoria.
Dell Smith is remembered by friends and family: Nellie Smith, Grant and Cindy Norlin, Sandy and John Baggenstos, Wayne and Toni Curry, Tammie Madson Merina, Alyce and Steven Irving, John Mullen and Ellen Whyte, Pamela and Mike Tokstad, Becky and Bruce Smith, and MJ.
Jacob Smith is remembered by Deb.
Teisha is remembered by all of us.
Watch for some chances in 2024 to gather, eat, listen to music, maybe go bowling. We are planning events and look forward to connecting with you in person.
We wish you a sweet holiday season and a very happy New Year.
Deb, Teisha’s Mom
The Board: Mo Colburn, Gia Bocci, Karee Helgerson, and Allison Picard
October • 2023
When OSHU social workers with the Oncology Department reach out to us it is because there is a special need for housing. Someone young or old has cancer or a tumor or a life-threatening disease. Patients may have completed treatment or are beginning a long journey of recovery from a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
Whatever their situation, they are in need of safe housing that is close to the hospital. And that's what we provide. Safe, free housing for however long they need to recover and move back home. That is always our hope.
Our guests often remark that it meant the world to them to be able to stay at Teisha's Place, to experience the peace and calm of her house and to feel the lifting of a tremendous financial burden to pay for housing. Can you imagine having to leave your home, and find a second home and a way to pay for it, all while undergoing treatment? Can you imagine leaving your job in order to be a caregiver? These situations are so difficult we almost can’t imagine them – so it is truly unimaginable what families are asked to deal with before, during, and after treatment.
This summer, Teisha’s Place made some great memories for Dyan from Salem, who came to stay on June 5th. Her granddaughter McKenzie was able to visit while Dyan recovered from treatment, and they enjoyed cooking together and sitting on the back deck. Dyan said the house has been “a safe haven in a terrible storm” and she thanked everyone involved for the "miracle of Teisha’s Place."
After moving to permanent housing on July 12th Dyan sent this note: “I want to thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for letting me stay in your daughter’s wonderful home. I fell in love with this little house, and I hope the next person will too. Thank you again so very much for allowing me this wonderful experience.”
In a lightning-fast turnaround, Andreaska, age 32, moved in on July 13th. Last spring Andreaska came from Maine to southern Oregon to start a new job as a teacher, and then a strange and virulent form of lymphoma struck. Her mom Bonnie took a leave from her job in Maine to be her daughter's caregiver, and Andreaska's sister Victoria came with the intent to be the stem cell donor. Bonnie said the house “really did feel as close to home as we could have hoped for.”
Unfortunately, the disease load became too much to proceed with the treatment, and Andreaska died on August 11th with Bonnie, her father, and family friend Karuna holding her hands. Bonnie wrote this letter to Deb and it is shared with her permission:
As the letter shows, this is what we do and why we do it. And we give thanks to YOU, the heart and soul of Teisha’s Place. It is your friendship, and your donations of money, time, and expertise, that keep the house running so that it can go on making days better and healing possible for people from all places and walks of life. None of this could happen without you, and we are so very grateful.
Deb, Teisha’s mom
The Board: Gia, Mo, Karee, and Allison
MAY • 2023
JANUARY • 2023
Welcome to 2023! A new year ahead of us. May it be a good one, and bring us joy and peace.
The year just past brought many changes – and some of the milestones came with tears.
In 2022, Teisha’s Place gave eight people the gift of not worrying where they would live while getting treatment at OHSU. A serious diagnosis is just the start of a long process fraught with challenges big and small, and having a safe, warm, comfortable place to stay while dealing with medical issues helps tremendously. And every one of YOU, the community of Teisha’s Place, made that possible.
James was with us as the year rolled over to January 2022, and with recovery under his belt was able to move to Reedsport.
Chad came in February and stayed while undergoing double transplant. At the end of May he went home to Wenatchee, WA for comfort care.
In June, Garrett arrived by Life Flight. He spent one night before going home to Bandon.
A week later the house was prepared to welcome Chance and Nikki, but the day Nikki was to move in Chance died. Without a doubt, 2022 had its ups and downs.
From the Summer Solstice to the end of August we hosted Kyle. Covid delayed his surgery but we were able to extend his stay through surgery and recovery. He is now cancer-free, and has found a new home in Portland.
After a quick turn-around, the house was ready for Brad and his wife Lois, who came to stay for a month. Brad had a transplant, then they returned to their home in Brookings.
Scheduling people is often fluid, as circumstances change and complications crop up. Nacho, from the Dalles, was originally scheduled to begin his transplant in early November but got right up to transplant day before being delayed, most likely because of donor issues. That delay allowed us to house Mehra and wife Skylar for a couple of weeks in November, while Mehra had chemo and radiation.
Mehra stayed until Nacho’s transplant was rescheduled, and then graciously found accommodations through OHSU’s social workers at the Rood Center. This allowed Nacho’s transplant to proceed, because you can’t have a transplant if you don’t have stable housing and a caregiver.
On November 26th, Nacho and wife Caitlin moved in. Things are going well for them, and they are enjoying their "home away from home.” During the ice storm before Christmas they were able to hunker down inside and stay warm. Fortunately, the power did not go out!
On a very cold afternoon, Nacho tried the bathtub – jets, disco lights, and all. He told Caitlin, “This is the best day of my life!” Caitlin wrote, “The house is such a blessing, and a wonderful place to stay.”
Special Remembrance to those that passed in 2022. All of these honorees are family or friends of Teisha, and we know there were cheers and hugs.
Lori Agresta remembered by her husband Paul Christopolos; friends Flo Newton, and Anna and Danny Costa – “Your charity meant so much to our beautiful Lori. Thank you for the wonderful work you do;” and anonymous donors from Your Cause.
Penny Kennedy remembered by her daughter Charis Kennedy.
Diane Reynolds remembered by her brother-in-law Claude Culver and his daughter-in-law Cathy Culver, who died of covid within a month of each other.
Ned Stafford lovingly remembered by his wife Faith Stafford; family Glenn and Linda Schuessler, and Ryan and Catherine Schuessler; and friends Cindy and John Lewis, Tricia Smith, Lynae Forbes, Linda Shoemaker, and Flo Newton.
Dell Smith is cherished by family and friends Jan and Tony Bonn, and Ray and Anne Worden: “In memory of Dell Smith. His presence was so awesome, and his contributions so many and varied during his outstanding life. He gave me so much guidance and friendship, as he did to so many.”
Our final tribute is to Dell Smith, father to Julie and Jake and wonderful dad to Teisha. He was involved in a terrible car accident, and his injuries were more than a body can take. Dell left this world on December 11, 2022. He is and will be so missed.
We are holding Deb and family in our hearts, as they find their way to a new normal. Part of that new normal for Deb is having some time away, for herself. She is stepping back from her role as the guiding force behind Teisha’s Place, and the Board is stepping up to cover operations. Deb knows that Teisha’s Place is bigger than any one person, and its mission will continue.
Deb gives her thanks to Board members Shelly, Gia, Mo, and to Allison Picard for writing the newsletter.