Over the last three months, I have had the privilege of interning at the Gift of Life Transplant House here in Rochester, MN. Gift of Life is the only transplant house in Rochester and the largest in the country, offering 84 rooms to organ, bone marrow, and stem cell transplant patients and their caregivers. Gift of Life was established by Ed Pompeian who was a two-time kidney transplant patient himself and was given the “gift of life” by his mother who served as his donor. Affordable housing is an unseen need for transplant patients and can cause more stress in an already stressful circumstance. With Mayo Clinic conducting more than 2,000 organ and bone marrow transplants each year, affordable housing is needed for patients and their caregivers. If it were not for a transplant house, patients would have to spend thousands of dollars on hotels or Mayo Clinic apartments, which are both unaffordable and often unavailable because of the high demand. Through his many visits and multiple procedures at Mayo, Ed understood the need for affordable housing for transplant patients and their caregivers and made it possible for patients to experience a hospitable, home-like environment at an affordable cost.

Gift of Life is a family-oriented and welcoming work environment. All of the staff are friendly, care for one another, and care for each guest that comes through the door. I have had the privilege of working in several different departments and learning the function and responsibilities of each employee. Whether it is housekeeping, maintenance, reception, marketing, donation development, or guiding tours, each person plays an important role in keeping the house running smoothly and providing a hospitable, caring environment. Through each employee’s hard work and dedication to the mission of Gift of Life, it is apparent that each guest is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to heal and recover in a stress-free and emotionally supportive, home-like environment.  

One of the biggest takeaways I have gained from this internship experience is the power of gratitude. It is clinically proven that people who express more gratitude have a higher healing rate and experience better sleep, less fatigue, and have better overall physical and mental health. This is especially apparent here in my internship. Organ, bone marrow, and stem-cell transplantation are some of the most complex, serious procedures in medicine. These procedures are not only hard on the patients themselves but also their caregivers. As a caregiver, it can be extremely difficult to see your family member or friend go through such a traumatic experience and also take on all the responsibilities that come with taking care of their loved one. In a place I would expect sadness and pain, I have experienced more gratefulness than I would have ever expected. The expression of gratitude is something I encounter daily; gratefulness in everyday victories, such as walking, getting dressed, cooking a meal, or simply being able to put on makeup. I have truly gained a new perspective on life and have learned to be grateful for the little things and small victories in life that I often take for granted. The example of gratitude I have been honored to experience is a lesson I will treasure and take with me for the rest of my life.