M. D. Anderson's Rotary House A Home Away from Home

When Gladys Niella de Fadul was diagnosed with breast cancer, she knew her best hope for treatment was at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

In order to get to M. D. Anderson in Houston, Niella de Fadul had to leave a husband, eight children and 18 grandchildren thousands of miles behind in Asuncion, Paraguay. Despite the distance and the absence of her family, Niella de Fadul says she has found a new home at the Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International, M. D. Anderson's answer to hospitality for patients requiring extended-stay lodging.

"Rotary House is my home away from home," Niella de Fadul says. "I'm so comfortable here that I have filled my walls with pictures and artwork from my grandchildren. At first, I chose Rotary House because it was convenient to M. D. Anderson. Now, I am constantly impressed with how comfortable I am here and how wonderful the facilities and people are."

In response to the satisfaction of thousands of patients like Niella de Fadul and the tremendous growth in demand for patient services at M. D. Anderson, the Rotary House recently underwent a $13.6 million expansion. The project added 124 rooms, seven executive suites, a new parking garage and an expanded dining room.

Rotary House now offers 322 rooms, all of which accommodate wheelchairs and medical equipment. Most rooms offer kitchenettes, and all are equipped with televisions, videocassette recorders, telephones and private bathrooms. The new executive suites offer more space and 10-foot high ceilings, a private floor and lounge, upgraded furniture, complimentary breakfast and valet parking.

"The expansion has been extremely well received by our guests," says Yves Badaroux, general manager of the Rotary House. "Already we are selling out of rooms during the week, and our guests seem to appreciate the increased services that came with the expansion. They particularly like the lengthened hours in our restaurants, room service, and extra shuttle runs traveling to nearby museums, grocery stores and shopping areas."

Rotary House specifically caters to the unique needs of cancer patients who travel great distances for treatment and who may have to stay in Houston for long periods of time. Keeping the patient in mind, the hotel offers a variety of services for guests, including a Patient/Family Learning Center, where guests can research their disease; a Business Center, offering personal use of fax machines, computers and the Internet; a leisure library with books and videotapes; a delicatessen and mini-grocery store; a gym and indoor pool; travel services; a laundry; a beauty/barber shop; and a satellite registration office, where patients can register in advance for appointments at M. D. Anderson. Located directly across the street from M. D. Anderson, the hotel connects to the hospital and clinic complex by an enclosed walkway crossing over Holcombe Boulevard.

"The best thing about staying here is the people," Niella de Fadul says. "There are always people who are willing to help us, should we have an emergency."

Her son Pablo Fadul adds, "This is the best place for my mother, because the staff here is trained in how to treat patients with cancer. It is a relief to know that although she is far away from our family, she is in good hands."

Additionally, cancer support groups meet regularly at Rotary House, both formally and informally, with patients meeting each other in the hotel lobby and becoming friends and sources of encouragement.

"We have met so many people at the Rotary House," Niella de Fadul says. "We console each other, we talk, we share experiences. Meeting other people here has given me a tremendous amount of support, and helping them gives me the strength I need to face my own cancer."

CENTEX/Morris Architects designed and built the 265,000-square foot addition. The Texas Medical Center also built a new 1,800-space parking garage adjacent to the hotel to accommodate parking for hotel guests and M. D. Anderson faculty.

Owned by M. D. Anderson and operated by Marriott International, the Rotary House was created in 1993 as "a house with a heart" for cancer patients and their families. Since opening eight years ago, the Rotary House has booked approximately 60,000 room nights per year.

The Rotary Club of Houston Foundation raised $8 million for the original facility, including a $6 million gift from the Houston Endowment Inc. Another $9 million in original building costs was financed with revenue bonds. The latest additions to the Rotary House were also funded by revenue bonds.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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