On Friday, November 16, 2021 while Kristen was in the high school gymnasium coaching basketball practice, she collapsed to the floor. A 42 year old wife, mother, coach, friend, daughter, and sister, she was going through the motions of everyday life when a clot formed in her right cranial artery causing her to have a stroke. With quick thinking and God's grace, she arrived at the emergency room in Newberry, MI quickly and was administered a shot to slow the effects of nerve damage caused by the stroke. A flight to Flint, Michigan later, she was admitted to McLaren Flint where a top-notch surgeon removed the blood clot and monitored her closely.

Meanwhile, Kristen's sister Heather was driving over to Flint frantically looking for a place for her and Carl to spend the night. Thankfully Carl, Kristen's husband, was able to fly with Kristen to Flint from the UP, but he would need a place to stay. That's when, by God's timely provision, Heather found the Hospitality House at McLaren.

To say the Hospitality House was a godsend doesn't even do it justice. Their welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff gave Carl, Calder and Claire (their two children) and other family members a relaxing place to stay while Kristen was in the hospital. The Hospitality House at McLaren made the experience for Kristen's family less stressful and blessed them with comfort and care as well as a stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, comfortable rooms to relax in, and caring individuals to talk with and get support from.

Kristen is making great progress and will continue therapy to recover from her stroke. She longs to get back to everything that she did previously -- coaching, volunteering in the community, serving the community through her work at the health department -- and will continue fighting to recover.

Kristen will genuinely appreciate any support that you can offer to the Hospitality House at McLaren, as during her time of need, the Hospitality House took care of the people closest to her heart -- her family. Many of the people who stay at the Hospitality House are experiencing unexpected tragedy and travel hundreds of miles to be close to their loved ones. Many of the families are unable to afford the minimum suggested donation of $35 per night for their stay and genuinely appreciate the support of loving individuals like you who give to support others.

The Hospitality House provides a hope-filled, peaceful, healing environment. They work hard at taking away people's everyday burden of needing to find a place to lay their head. They constantly have four to five families staying with them each night; over twenty rooms were filled while Carl and the kids were staying there to be near to Kristen!

Please hit the GIVE NOW button where your donation will go directly toward helping other families.

$35 will pay for a 1-night stay

$250 will pay for a week's stay

$1,000 will cover the cost for an entire month

I know one thing for certain, the Hospitality House at McLaren was a true blessing to Kristen's family. Please consider making this possible for other families today.

-- with love from Kristen's family