One of my favorite things about the first few months of a new year is the renewed sense of hope that abounds. Whether focused on a healthier lifestyle, a more fulfilling job, or more quality time with family, commitments are made and renewed, all driven by hope and optimism.

Those people who stay committed to their goals will continue to feel hopeful as they see the results of their efforts. Others will lose hope and resolve to try again in 2011. Some people don’t need a holiday to have hope though, it’s simply a part of who they are and they share their hope every day with others who need it.

Some friends and I had the pleasure of meeting just such a woman several weeks back. Her name is Karen Seaberry and, most appropriately, she is the manager of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Maryland.

For nearly 10 years, Karen has been sharing hope with cancer patients and their caregivers who stay with her at her 26-room “home away from home” during their treatments. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® is a safe place – with a 52-person family, as Karen calls it – for people traveling to facilities like University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, and St. Agnes as they battle the disease by undergoing the best treatment options away from home.

As you would imagine, Karen is quite humble and not too interested in talking about herself. She’s more than happy though to brag about her recently renovated facility, the community she’s building inside the Hope Lodge, and the community outside it that supports her efforts and helps her give hope a home 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Baltimore Hope Lodge – one of 28 Hope Lodge locations the American Cancer Society operates nationwide – is one of the oldest in the country. The facility is as beautiful as any hotel a family could find. What’s more, Hope Lodge provides far more services and amenities than most any hotel, and they are all free – it’s the only lodging of its kind that doesn’t charge a penny—easing the financial obstacles many cancer patients find themselves facing on their journey to getting well. Residents at Karen’s Hope Lodge not only have a large, comfortable room, they also have spacious community living facilities, including a formal dining room, an activity room, a computer lab, cancer information library, and laundry facilities. There’s also a shared kitchen area where residents can cook meals for each other or just enough for themselves. Each patient is assigned a private refrigerator space so that they can shop for what they need and enjoy – replicating as many of the comforts of home as possible.

When we visited we toured the beautifully decorated spaces, chatted with some residents, and really got an appreciation for what the Baltimore Hope Lodge (and all American Cancer Society Hope Lodge locations across the country) mean to their residents. As we walked through the facility we asked lots of questions about how it operated and how they handled demand. Memorably, Karen told us that, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.”

In fact, unlike other facilities, Hope Lodge doesn’t ask their residents’ financial status. They accept residents on a first-come, first-serve basis, but they do try to reserve some space for patients who may have urgent treatment needs that could not be anticipated in advance. Many Hope Lodge locations even have rooms that are set up for immuno-compromised patients who must take special care not to get sick. While we were there, the Hope Lodge had a full house, including several bone cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer patients. Those we talked with told us how much the Hope Lodge meant to them and how they enjoyed the emotional support when they experienced when they became a part of the 52-person family; for those who stayed during the holidays, many said they had never enjoyed the holidays at home as much as they did at the Hope Lodge—amazing words from people fighting for their lives.

One guest, Miss Lorraine, shared her Hope Lodge experience with us.

The holidays may be over, but there are a few things Karen and her residents “hope” for all year long. If you’re interested in sharing some hope of your own, consider providing one or more of these commonly requested items to a Hope Lodge near you, or making a donation to the American Cancer Society:

• Postage stamps
• Calling cards
• Gas cards
• Gift cards for sundries
• Disposable cups
• Paper plates
• Kleenex
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• Lights bulbs

And if you happen to have a Ravens connection, the Baltimore Hope Lodge is hoping to replace a Ray Lewis-autographed football that they recently auctioned. Feel free to ask Ray for one!

We’re very thankful for Karen’s hospitality and offer a reminder that hope, compassion and family support can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays any time of year.

Have you joined the movement for more birthdays? If not, please visit morebirthdays.com and join us today!