Appeal for Home Exchange (or Other Accommodation) Near Cedars Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills

This is a special appeal to anyone, Home Base Holidays members, members or agents from other home exchange clubs, or anyone who lives near Cedars Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills, who might be able to either do a non-simultaneous exchange or offer accommodation close to the hospital, to please get in touch. Here's the story behind this appeal and I hope that through spreading the word as widely as possible, we can draw on the resources of the whole home exchange community and find someone able to offer help:

Dear Lois,

I am writing because I was just diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia a week ago and I'm 25 weeks pregnant with a girl. (We already have a 3 year old boy, Daxton, so we're very excited). The best treatment I can get in the area is at Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, but that is about an hour's drive away without traffic and can be 2 or more hours....plus I have to go there every couple of days for treatment.

I thought I might find someone who lives close to Cedars who would be willing to let us use their home for a couple of months during my treatment, but haven't had any luck so far. I just wanted to see if you know of any members in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, West LA, Brentwood, or any of the surrounding areas close to Cedars Sinai Hospital? Or if you know anyone personally or have any ideas for me. I realize you may not know how to help me, but I thought it was worth the inquiry.

Thanks so much and I hope you are well. By the way - my Leukemia is treatable and curable, I just need to get the baby out first and then I can start treatment! I also may have a surgery next week to remove my spleen.

Best,

Leslie

Leslie was delightful to correspond with during a period when she was promoting her start-up business (no longer operating) and had just discovered home exchange and Home Base Holidays. Leslie wrote an article, Long Haul Home Exchange with a Toddler, for Home Swappers Newsletter last year, relating the story of her first home exchanges in Holland and Germany with husband, David, and son, Daxton, in 2006 (photo is of their home in LA). Leslie's enthusiasm for everything she does shines through in her writing (I first discovered Leslie through the blog she had started to promote her business and was so impressed by her upbeat attitude to everything she was involved with that I felt compelled to write and encourage her in her new venture). I do hope we in the home exchange community can help find suitable accommodation near Cedars Sinai to at least eliminate the additional stress of travel from her home during Leslie's on-going treatment immediately after the birth of her baby at the same hospital (late July/early August).

Understandably, Leslie and David won't be able to consider a simultaneous exchange at this difficult time but, if you might be able to help, either by considering a non-simultaneous exchange (your part of the exchange to be taken later) or can possibly provide other short term accommodation near the hospital during the period of Leslie's treatment, please use the contact form to send your message (type 'For Leslie' in the subject line) or leave a comment at the end of this post and I will forward it to Leslie and David who will reply directly.

If you publish a blog or newsletter that could reach readers who live near Cedars Sinai who might be able to help, please feel free to reproduce this post or part of it. Forward any offers you receive for Leslie and I will pass these on. If you are a member of another home exchange agency, it would be helpful to include the agency site URL and your reference ID, or a direct link to your listing, within your message (see link to contact form above). If you live near the hospital and can suggest possible rental accommodation or useful contacts, please also get in touch. Every lead will be helpful and appreciated.

I will be waiting anxiously to hear of the safe delivery of Leslie's baby daughter and then her speedy recovery from Leukemia so that she can re-gain her strength and enjoy her young family to the full as soon as possible.

Check out the family's comfortable home with mountain views in Los Angeles. The house is fully equipped for young children, with lots of hiking trails within walking distance. See the full exchange offer, HE18192.

Comments

[Really Traveling]

http://www.munny4hunny.com/2008/05/appeal-for-help-in-beverly-hills.html

[Lois]

A big thank you to everyone who responded to my plea for help finding accommodation near the hospital for Leslie and her family - Really Traveling for blogging about it, Leslie & Joe for publicising to CHECtravel members and in Know Your Trade newsletter, and especially to home exchange agents, Nadege from SabbaticalHomes.com and Ursula from JewettStreet.com, for contacting your members who live near the hospital. I know Leslie will be touched by all your support.

Lois