-
Journey from Puerto Rico brings Army Vet to Fisher House
In 2019, José Antommarchi García went to his private doctor near their small village in Puerto Rico. His tests revealed he had a rare form of cancer. He and his wife, Rosa María López Acosta, had no idea they were about to embark on a long journey far from their rural home to save his…
-
Warrior Games a Triumph for Injured Paratrooper
When Jack “Dugan” DeLeuw discovered that he made Team Army as an athlete for Warrior Games in Orlando, Florida, the thrill of competition excited him. Paralyzed from the sternum down, Jack made his sporting debut in shooting, archery, rowing, and hand-cycling. By the end of the event, he took home three bronze medals—two in rowing…
-
Hero of Fort Hood shooting reflects on Fisher House support
Story by David Nye “Breaking news: Mass shooting at Fort Hood. And in the foreground of the television screen was the 1st Medical Brigade building, which I knew was where Pat worked, in that small building,” John Miller said. It was his first warning that his son, Army Maj. Patrick (Pat) Miller, was in danger.…
-
A Decade Later Allen Family Gives Thanks
Story by Christy Wilcox A decade after her husband was severely injured during his deployment to Afghanistan, Jessica Allen reflects on the decisions she says made her family more resilient. “It’s crazy. Little progress adds up to a lot of progress,” Jessica said. On January 22, 2011, Jessica’s husband, Chaz Allen, was on a dismounted…
-
Family finds comfort in Fisher House through decades
Story by David Nye Army veteran Thomas Queen was pursuing Signal Corps training when he suddenly started having serious memory problems that made training nearly impossible. He had to switch jobs to complete his enlistment and then served in Vietnam before getting out and heading home to Virginia. That was where he reunited with Michelle.…
-
Fisher House Guest and Soldier Brings Home the Gold
Story by Michelle Baldanza “I’m a soldier, first, then an athlete,” said two-time Paralympian Ellie Marks. Ellie Marks has stayed at Fisher House on three separate occasions during her recovery. The first time was after her injury in Iraq. Her second stay was after a severe respiratory infection caused her to be put on life…
-
Video Game Streaming Allows Military Veterans to Fundraise for Fisher House
Streamers Activate Their Audiences to Support Military, Veterans, and Their Families Story by David Nye Veterans, military members, and their supporters now fundraise for Fisher House Foundation and other veteran service organizations through their performances on video game streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, raising anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands within hours.…
-
SIX NEW FISHER HOUSES OPEN IN 2020
Network of 90 Fisher Houses Provides Free, Temporary Lodging to Military & Veteran Families ROCKVILLE, MD [November 25, 2020] – Fisher House Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs are on track to open six new Fisher Houses across the U.S. in 2020, allowing more than 100 more families to stay in safe, comfortable lodging…
-
After finding Fisher House and adaptive sports, a former pilot becomes veteran advocate
Story by David Nye Photos by Craig Orsini David Ortiz was never afraid of a challenge. He was an avid outdoorsman before he joined the Army and became a Kiowa helicopter pilot in the 82nd Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade. In Eastern Afghanistan, Kiowa pilots took a lot of risk to protect the guys on…
-
Around-the-world cancer fight lands Air Force family in Fisher House
By Michelle Baldanza Late last summer, the Gaspar Family was in for big changes. The Air Force family of five had been reassigned to Kadena Air Base, Japan where Maj. Ian Gaspar would serve as a pharmacist. Throughout the Fall, Ian, his wife, Kimberly, their two teenagers, Cydney and Noah, and toddler, Gwyndolyn, settled into…
