Rode Norman and Family

"Honestly, when I was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on October 13, 2023 I couldn't fathom into words what train just hit me. I honestly couldn't believe it after having my last C-Section baby and I was feeling fine, my life turned not even upside down, but I fell into a pit of darkness that I couldn't get out of. Samerah was born September 26th 2023, and I was diagnosed after having some blood results after the procedure 2 weeks after. I was called on the phone from my office and told to go to a hematologist and oncologist the next day urgently because of some blood results that came in even though I had no symptoms at all. The whirlwind of getting a hickman port placed on my chest on Monday, to getting prepared to be away from my family, I was stripped away from them for months to prepare for a bone marrow transplant and I felt so alone and lost. After my transplant in Feb of 2024 and a relapse in oct 2024, my oncologist knew that we had to get help elsewhere. That really scared and worried us because going to MD Anderson in Texas was foreign to us. We had no family there and we didn’t know how a second transplant was going to work without housing. We heard about The Ballard House through the MD Anderson’s website and we quickly applied because they accepted children and we have 3 young children 5, 3 and 1. When we got the call that we were accepted it felt like a blessing from God because it was everything we needed. The Ballard House continues to bless us with having meals, other children and families that understand our situation, sweet and helpful workers and volunteers that are willing to help our family and much more. We know we have a community that loves me and Timoteo, Jiselle, Samerah, and Justin."

Luke Schaefer

"I first learned about the Ballard House a decade ago in 2015! My mother and sister, Eve and Hailey Schaefer, volunteered at the Ballard House for years with the Ladybird Chapter of NCL. My father, Rob Schaefer, began assisting with the Annual Clay Shoot fundraiser in 2020, and later joined the Board in 2023. Around the same time in 2023, I began to join my father in helping with the Clay shoot fundraisers. I knew that I loved helping others, but the Ballard House has really shown me a joyful and heart-fulfilling volunteer opportunity. 

In 2024, I was asked if I would be interested in volunteering on a regular basis here at the Ballard House. I jumped at the opportunity and said I would love to! There are so many aspects of the Ballard House that it is quite difficult to name just a few. One aspect I love about the Ballard House is that we as volunteers work to make all the guests feel welcome, valued, and as if the Ballard House is their “home away from home”. On occasion, it has been a delight to serve dinner to the guests alongside my friends and neighbors. I also love that no matter how my day went, I leave the Ballard House with a smile on my face. I love working with the amazing, heart-warming people at the Ballard House. I could not have asked for a more remarkable, amazing place to be a part of!"