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The Home with Heart
Unverferth House on King Avenue near The Ohio State University Medical Center offers a safe haven for as many as 200 families each year. Some travel great distances to support loved ones being treated at the nearby Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. With lengthy hotel stays cost prohibitive for many, Unverferth House offers eight fully furnished apartments, provided free of charge. Barbara Unverferth (MS, 1981, pathology) spearheaded the project in honor of her late husband, Donald (BS, 1966, anatomy; MD, 1970), an Ohio State cardiologist renowned for his work in cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The former quarterback for Coach Woody Hayes also supervised the first heart transplants at the University Medical Center. He was only 43 when a brain tumor took his life in 1988. One year later, Unverferth House was dedicated in his memory. Thanks to the Unverferth House Endowment, the house continues to shelter and comfort patient families today. The endowment provides operating and maintenance costs and helps purchase equipment. The house, which has a volunteer board of trustees, runs solely on private support. The need to accommodate patient families continues to grow. “We turn away more than 150 families each year since we have limited space,” said Unverferth House Director Ann Carmichael, a two-time Ohio State graduate. “Families stay an average of 17 nights, although the longest stay was 14 months.” Carmichael seeks additional funding to build more apartments and help more families to be near their loved ones. Her goal: to house as many as 60 families at a time. |
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