"My name is Anna and I lived in one of the units through the transplant living centers. My husband, Joe, received the gift of a new liver on 11/12/2017. The plan was that once he was released from the UCH that he would need to remain in Colorado for a period of 4 to 6 weeks for observation and follow up with the hospital. I rented the apartment for myself, my family (when they could be here) and for Joe so that he would have a comfortable place to live until we could come home to Albuquerque. I lived in the unit #102 from 11/13 through 12/31. I felt very comfortable and at home. I struggled to pay the $100 a day but Kenney worked with me and let me pay as I could.  You will never know how much that helped me to know that I had a safe place to stay and didn’t have to worry about being locked out. I still had my mortgage payment, utilities and other debt that I had to pay in Albuquerque so it was a difficult situation.  Joe ended up going from the hospital to a rehab center so he was never able to live in the unit with me but he appreciates the kindness and caring that Kinney gave me as much as I do.  She is a wonderful heartfelt and understanding person and I am so grateful."

"Thank you for working with the UCH and helping families that are in these situations. It was a great relief for me and I am sure it is the same for all families that have extended stays to know that the transplant living center offers these wonderful units."

"Again, I appreciate it so much."

"My dad was suffering from heart failure and had been put on the transplant list in January 2017. In June, he took a turn for the worse and was placed in the hospital. Thank God for UC Health’s state-of-the-art facility, amazing doctors and nurses as he was rushed to emergency surgery for implantation of a LVAD device. After a a  long month in the hospital, dad was approaching his discharge date. That’s when reality hit us, as a family. Where the heck are we going to stay/live while he recuperates? Motel rates were crazy-expensive and dining at restaurants and/or the hospital cafeteria for months-on-end, just wasn’t feasible. Thanks to our liaison at UC Health, we were made aware of the Transplant Living Center facility. Wow! One word: Godsend. For starters, the Executive Director, Kenney was a gem! She was so pleasant and unbelievably helpful. I cannot say enough for how important that was at a time like that. I was living in California at the time and was the one who made the initial phone call. After just a few minutes on the phone w/Kenney, I was certain this was the place I needed to arrange for mom and dad to stay while dad recuperated. I put mom in touch with Kenney and they hit it off immediately. It just so happened that a unit was opening up the very day of dad’s hospital discharge. "

"I should mention that mom and dad are used to living in the country. Being from Wyoming, the thought of city-living, traffic, etc. was quite overwhelming for them. The fact that TLC is not smack-dab in the middle of the city made it even more attractive. It’s conveniently located eight miles straight East of the hospital, so it's practically impossible to get lost (even for non-city folk). :) Traffic wasn’t bad either, considering it’s Denver!" 

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"Mom and dad stayed in the Transplant Living Center for two months and I joined them at the end of August. I cannot say enough good things about this facility. Everything they needed was in the unit when mom and dad arrived, including a full kitchen. All she had to do was purchase groceries and they were set. What seems like a little thing is actually a big thing. I say that because, until you’ve been in a life or death situation such as this, you’ll never understand how important it is to have your living arrangements made easy while your loved one recuperates."

"In September, dad received the call we were all waiting for. They found a match and he was getting a new heart! Thank God! We were able to stay at the TLC while dad was in the hospital and he was discharged the following week."

"Things are difficult enough dealing with your family member fighting for his/her life. The last thing you need is the stress and anxiety of trying to deal with trivial things such as your living arrangements. The TLC made everything so easy! Though it may not have been home, it was as close to it as my parents could’ve gotten. Dad is back to his home in Wyoming now and doing great! I cannot say enough how grateful we are to have discovered this facility. Myself and my family are forever grateful."

"During the two years that I waited for my lung transplant, one of my primary concerns was where my caregiver and I were going to stay while I was recovering from surgery. I made numerous trips to Denver, trying to find lodging. The only accommodations available were in hotels and motels, which were inadequate, cramped, and expensive. I couldn’t imagine spending three months in these places or how I would pay for it. Luckily, a friend of mine told me about TLC shortly before my surgery. When an apartment opened up at TLC and we moved in, I was so relieved and happy to finally have a safe and comfortable “home” that I actually cried. I can’t tell you what a difference it made to have a kitchen and dining room, separate bedrooms and baths, and a clean space for my IV drip and dressing changes. As if all that weren’t enough, TLC allowed me to pay what I could afford, which was half your usual rate. I wish I could also thank the generous people who support TLC financially. Without their help, I could never pay for the wonderful home and care that I get at TLC. There really aren’t words to say what you and TLC have meant to me. I only wish you could see inside my heart."

"My father, Candido A., is a 57 year old liver transplant patient at the University of Colorado. His story begins in 1978 when he contracted Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion at age 26. Our family is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has had to temporarily relocate to Aurora, Colorado in order for my dad to have a second chance at life. Our experience with TLC has been incredible. The condos come complete with all the basic necessities for an extended stay. The transplant process places a great deal of physical and emotional strain on the patient and the family. The last thing that any family wants to do while their loved one is in is critical condition is to worry about having to purchase various items for their lodging conditions. Having this done for you prior to your arrival is essential to the overall well-being of transplant patient and their families. It has been such a blessing to our family that TLC provided us with a place to stay. Not only is it comfortable and well furnished but it also provides us with enough space for family members to stay while they are visiting. After being on a 14-24 hour shift at the hospital, it is very comforting to know that you are able to rest in the comfort of ‘home’ instead of a hotel room. While my dad has been in Colorado, he has had numerous complications. Since July 14, 2009, my father has had two liver transplants and three additional surgeries. During a short time, between transplants, my dad was able to leave the hospital and stay in the home-like atmosphere of the condo provided by TLC. My dad fell in love with the place. After being confined to his hospital room day after day, he was ecstatic to proceed with his recovery in the comfort of home. Even though he could not walk very far, he appreciated the fact that he could sit outside on the patio and enjoy the smell of rain and the cool breeze from the fresh air at dusk."

"I truly have been blessed with another chance at life with my double lung transplant. I was down to 20% breathing capacity on my tests and declining. Despite saving as much money as possible for the needed transplant and lodging, I was well short of the needed amount and was not sure what to do. There were times when I just wanted to throw in the towel due to these and other problems. My salvation came when another former resident told me about your wonderful program and after receiving the call for a double lung transplant, it became a reality. There is no way that I could have done this without the help of TLC, especially after going six months without income after being forced to quit my job due to the cystic fibrosis destroying my body. My mother and I are so thankful for TLC and your financial donors’ caring attitudes and willingness to help people like myself in these situations. I plan on returning these great deeds by doing charity work once my body has fully healed. It is a rough road ahead certainly, but it now appears manageable now that I received this needed lodging assistance. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart and will spread the word of your agencies kindness and devotion to helping others."

"There are angels among us. I know because I had a lot of them before, during and after my transplant. They knew what I needed every step of the way. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and then was able to go directly from the hospital to my TLC apartment. TLC was founded by a wonderful woman (one of my angels) by the name of Susan Hamelin. Susan was also a transplant patient, so she knew how important it was to have a place to live during a recovery period. My husband Sam and I spent nearly five months in one of TLC's beautiful apartments. Our unit had two bedrooms, two baths (1 for the patient, 1 for the caretaker) a kitchen, dining and living room. Everything was furnished including the bedding, washer & dryer, etc. We had this beautiful place while other out of towners were sharing bathrooms and kitchens with many other patients and caretakers. I had my lung transplant on July 1, 2005 and I am doing just fine. I plan on being around now for my young grandchildren's weddings."