Believe In Tomorrow
House at Pinnacle Falls
Take a look at our newest facility, the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls, which will serve military families from all over the country who are confronting a child's medical crisis. The Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls, is the fifth jewel in our respite housing program and our second property to prioritize military families with critically ill children. Thanks to the many contributors, volunteers and community supporters who attended our ribbon cutting ceremony. Special thanks to the Amick Family for helping us open this beautiful home and to Lala and David Smith, Walker's beloved Grandmom and Pop-Pop, who shared a poignant letter written by their daughter and son-in-law, about their journey with Believe In Tomorrow.
Check out our latest photos of the house and the video of the ribbon cutting!
The 3,300 square foot home located just outside Asheville, North Carolina features stunning views inside and out. In addition to multiple outdoor decks and a wrap around porch, the house will feature an outdoor healing garden and a fire pit. The Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls, is located in a private gated community and features plenty of hiking trails, trout streams and an outdoor swimming pool.
The First Family Experiences the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally come…the doors to the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls are officially open and ready for families to visit! Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, this is the foundation’s fifth respite home and the second to prioritize military families through Believe In Tomorrow’s Military Initiative. The first of many Believe In Tomorrow families has already enjoyed a week’s stay and experienced all the great features that our newest facility has to offer.
Just a few short weeks ago, the seven members of the Pincus family put a pause on their busy everyday schedule and set out for a mountain retreat at the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls. As an Army family, the Pincuses have moved around the country several times over the past twenty years. Dad, Don, is an Army Engineer lieutenant colonel in the Office of the Chief of Engineers at the Pentagon, and he was deployed and served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Mom, Lori, keeps busy amidst the hustle and bustle of school, sports activities, piano lessons, girl scout meetings and other activities between the five Pincus children.
Don and Lori’s only son, fifteen-year-old Blake, received a kidney transplant from his mom when he was just two years old. In May 2009, he was diagnosed with Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD), a type of lymphoma cancer, which led the family to Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation.
Between 2009 and 2010, Blake and his family stayed at the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins and the Believe In Tomorrow House 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 very successful, renal failure caused by the treatments has forced Blake to remain on dialysis until he can get another kidney transplant.
After being accepted into the Believe In Tomorrow respite program, the Pincuses were once again destined for a stay at a Believe In Tomorrow facility, but this time, for fun! In mid-March 2011, they headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with a few goals in mind: relax, spend quality time together as a family, and minimize the hustle and bustle that had become so routine.
With nice weather predicted for the week, Don, Lori, and the kids made plans to take advantage of everything they could – both inside and out! Within the house, everyone found something to enjoy - playing board games, shooting pool, playing X-Box Connect, competing in Wii games, and relaxing by the Great Room’s stone-walled fireplace.
In the meadow – the large, open grassy area in front of the house – there were daily games of soccer, kickball, baseball, and football. The Pincuses sure got their workout in for the week, as they hiked the mountainside from top to bottom and even stopped in to try out the exercise room in the community clubhouse!
The family also enjoyed the quaint town of Hendersonville, just a few miles down the mountain from the Pinnacle Falls community. They toured the little town, investigated many of the shops, and enjoyed goodies from local eateries such as Hot Dog World and TCBY.
All seven members of the family were so relieved to find a place like the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls to relax and rejuvenate. Their recommendation to future families staying at the home? “Just slow down, stop, and enjoy each other. There is plenty to do right there.” The Pincuses have already started a list of what they want to do on their next trip to the mountains, which includes white water rafting, swimming in the community pool, and touring historical homes and museums in the area.
Interested in being one of the next families to stay at the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls? The doors are open and waiting for you! Visit the For Families section for respite housing eligibility and application information, or give us a call at 1-800-933-5470.
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