StemCell Therapy

The Pincus family, of Manassas, Va. at the respite house in Pinnacle Falls. From left: Lori, Lauren, Brooke, Lacey, Lexus, Blake, Don. The family spent a week at the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation respite house in Pinnacle Falls, Zirconia last year. The foundation provides respite homes for military families with critically-ill children and is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Pinnacle Falls property. Blake suffered from lymphoma cancer and now is waiting for a kidney transplant.

Buy Photo Photo provided Published: Monday, February 27, 2012 at 11:40 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, February 27, 2012 at 11:40 p.m.

ZIRCONIA - It's been a year since the Pincus family found much-needed relaxation in the Blue Ridge Mountains at a respite house nestled in the Pinnacle Falls development.

Don and Lori Pincus' son, 17-year-old Blake, was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma cancer in 2009, and that eventually led them to the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation.

In 2011, the Pincuses became the first family to vacation at the foundation's respite house at Pinnacle Falls in Zirconia. Now the foundation is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the home that serves military families with children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Blake received a kidney transplant from his mom when he was just 2 years old. In May 2009, he was diagnosed with Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder.

Between 2009 and 2010, Blake and his family stayed at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins and at St. Casimir while he underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, followed by a bone marrow and stem-cell transplant to prevent the disease from returning.

Although the transplant was successful, renal failure caused by the treatments has forced Blake to remain on dialysis until he can get another kidney transplant.

Blake is doing well as he waits, said his father, Don.

"He keeps a great attitude and takes everything in stride," he added.

Don Pincus is a retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lieutenant colonel who worked at the Office of the Chief of Engineers at the Pentagon. He said his seven-member family from Manassas, Va., needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. He and his wife, Lori, and Blake and his four sisters — Lauren, Lacey, Brooke and Lexus — found that break at Pinnacle Falls.

"It was quite relaxing," Don Pincus said. "It was a relief to get out there and enjoy the mountainside."

The Pincuses spent a lot of time outdoors — hiking, exploring waterfalls and playing sports. While indoors, they shot pool and competed in Xbox Connect and Wii video games.

"The kids had a ball," Don Pincus said.

The family also visited Hendersonville eateries, including Hot Dog World and TCBY Yogurt. The owners of TCBY, Roger and Linda Freed, have worked for several years with families that have children battling cancer.

"I will do anything I can do for the children and to put a smile on their faces," Linda Freed said.

The Pinnacle Falls house is Believe in Tomorrow's fifth respite property and the second to support military families with ill children. To date, the Henderson County home has hosted 26 families.

Several contributors, volunteers and community supporters constructed the 3,300-square-foot home and continue its upkeep. Debbie Walsh of Hendersonville has volunteered with Believe in Tomorrow since 2007 and prepares the home for incoming families.

"What they (the foundation) do is such a great story," she said.

Inside, Walsh ensures everything is in place and ready for the families.

"Every time I come here, I think about the families that come here to relax and enjoy themselves," she said.

And the organization plans to have plenty more families visit the mountain getaway. Believe in Tomorrow will stay committed to serving the needs of military families, said Brian Morrison, founder and CEO.

"We are thrilled to be able to expand our military respite housing initiative to this area of the country and are eager to host many more families as they cross the threshold of the Believe in Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls," Morrison said.

Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.

See original here:
Respite home lets families with ailing children get away

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