CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A diagnosis of cancer makes many people pause. They are somewhere between being numb and running out the closest door to belt out a scream.
Sometimes, seeking treatment means traveling far from home.
To help with that challenge, Hope Lodge in the University Circle community has created a place for those traveling to Cleveland for treatment to rest before the trek back home.
According to Cara Stock, general manager of the Cleveland Hope Lodge, there are more than 30 Hope Lodges in the United States.
The Cleveland location opened in 1995, thanks to Joseph S. and Jeannette M. Silber. Joseph was on the board of the American Cancer Society and was a faithful donor.
When he passed, his wife decided that Cleveland, with its world-class medical community, needed a Hope Lodge, Stock said.
Hope Lodge is a collaboration with the American Cancer Society,
The organization works mainly with the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland, but also supports the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Patients and their caregivers stay for free.
"We work with the oncology social workers to recognize people who travel to receive cancer treatment," Stock said.
"To stay here, the guest must live 40 miles or more away from their treatment facility and travel back and forth for active cancer treatments.
"We try hard to support those enduring immunotherapy, transplant, radiation, chemotherapy and surgery," she said.
"We are not medically trained.
"We allow each patient to travel with one caregiver. That person can lodge here with them while they're visiting.
"Patients have access to rides back and forth to treatments."
Hope Lodge also offers many activities that allow guests to form friendships.
There's a kitchen for those who want to prepare their own meals, but prepared meals are served in the dining room for free.
On average, most guests stay at Hope Lodge for around 20 days. But no one is kicked out if there are scheduled treatments.
Some with a chemotherapy/radiation combination treatment can stay at the lodge for five or six weeks.
According to Stock, the lodge has supported 87 of Ohio's 88 counties since opening.
A 2024 snapshot of Hope Lodge's impact on the community includes 507 patients served, 10,304 nights provided for patients and 101 free meals served to patients and their caregivers.
Sharay Thomas was diagnosed with colorectal cancer last August. She, along with her sister, has been traveling from Memphis, Tenn., for treatment at the Cleveland Clinic since last September.
Initially, they spent five weeks at Hope Lodge. Now, they fly up every other week for treatment.
"It's been a blessing to have somewhere to stay for free," Thomas said over the phone from Memphis.
"Having great accommodations at no cost helps alleviate stress.
"Everyone here is very professional and compassionate to my needs and those of my caregiver," she said.
"Some activities allow residents to speak with each other about the cancer journey, which makes them feel less alone.
"The surrounding community offers easy shuttle access to museums, grocery shopping, restaurants and treatment appointments."
Corporate and private donations fully fund Hope Lodge. The American Cancer Society staffs the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
And an expansion is on the horizon.
"Hopefully, by the end of the summer, all our renovations will be complete," Stock said.
"We went from 31 rooms to 43 rooms. The expansion also included gutting and expanding our kitchen and dining room.
"We went from five to eight kitchens, so (now) there are eight kitchens and a large dining space."
In parting, Thomas wanted to share how she took HOPE and used each word for inspiration.
"H is for healing and the hope for regaining my health and strength," she said.
"O is for staying optimistic regarding the future.
"P is for purpose, another day to make an accomplishment.
"And E is for encouragement that gives me more faith to keep fighting."