08/24/2026
George Oehler, an Air Force veteran, and his wife Tracy, a teacher, who live in Dover, Delaware were worried about where they would stay and the cost when they learned that George needed seven weeks of outpatient treatment following surgery at Johns Hopkins for a rare tonsil cancer. He had already undergone two surgeries for benign brain tumors that strained their family budget. However, their social worker told them not to worry, and subsequently they found out that they qualified for free lodging at the newly expanded, reimagined Hope Lodge Baltimore.
“We’ve told our pastors at church and our friends and neighbors what a blessing Hope Lodge is,” said Tracy. “The lodge is very beautiful, and the staff are amazing.” Tracy and George immediately experienced the fellowship of other guests there. “When we arrived, we were greeted by a group of men in the lobby who were also guests and who helped us out during our stay,” said Tracy. “They welcomed George, patted him on his back, and said, ‘We’re here for you.’
“I don’t know how we got so lucky,” she added. “We discovered that everything we needed was there – blankets, laundry, a community pantry with ingredients or snacks that we might have been missing, a powerful blender for the shakes I made for George since he couldn’t eat, books, games, and a large, beautiful kitchen where people gather and get to know each other. Companies and organizations hosted dinners for us. There were activities like chair yoga and craft night. When we returned to the lodge each day following treatment, it didn’t matter how hard the day had been. It’s peaceful at Hope Lodge. The front desk staff say, ‘Welcome back.’ It feels like you’re not living in a stranger’s house.
“We want to find a way to give back,” said Tracy. “In the evenings we gathered with other guests, and we all talked about how the American Cancer Society is in our hearts. You see commercials on TV about the American Cancer Society’s mission, but you never think you’re the one who’s going to need it.”
