Providing a home away from home

Karl and Teresa Becker

"When I first began my cancer treatment at MD Anderson, every visit meant staying in hotels, which was both exhausting and impersonal. 

Thankfully the social worker at MD Anderson referred us to The Ballard House. From the moment we arrived, it truly felt like a home away from home. 

The kindness and care shown by the entire Ballard House team has been extraordinary. They consistently go above and beyond to ensure that guests are comfortable and have everything they need during their stay.

We are deeply grateful to everyone at The Ballard House and to Cinco Charities for providing such a welcoming and supportive environment. 

The support and encouragement we received from both the team and other guests have made a measurable difference in our journey. Words can't express how thankful we are.

As a way of giving back, Karl, a retired union journeyman painter, was eager to use his skills to contribute to The Ballard House. He was happy to offer his time and expertise in painting as a small token of our appreciation for all of the care and support we have received during this difficult time. 

Thank you again for being there when we needed it most. Your compassion and generosity will never be forgotten."

-Teresa

Debbie Cooper

"Hello, I’m Debbie Cooper. I have been volunteering at The Ballard House since before it was built. I was on the original team that promoted TBH to various hospital staff as well as local community groups. It was an exciting time for everyone to know of such a place coming to Katy, TX.

In the first days at TBH there were few a volunteers and everyone did everything! Even though I was working full time, I was able to contribute in the evenings. It was amazing to see the transformation each week until finally, we were ready for guests--The day that so many people were looking forward to: Like giving birth to a huge, beautiful baby!

I remember the year before the build started, Erin Ballard and I started a bunch of Plumarias in my garage. I babysat them until the house was finished and the landscaping was completed. We planted them each Spring, fed them all Summer, dug them up each Fall for protection over the Winter. The storage building eventually was not big enough for both the Christmas Village and the plants so we took some home. We also planted numerous Citrus trees donated from Enchanted Gardens, those froze and eventually the new building was built there.

We didn’t have a community meal every night so the volunteers would rummage through the panty and pull together a meal. Guests or volunteers would run to the grocery to pick up items to complete the meal. We really were creative… hahaha! Today TBH overflows with food and love from so many community groups.

I retired in 2020 and have been loving life more. I am a certified Master Gardener, Nana to 2 beautiful granddaughters (1yr and 3yr), and wife to Dan-our Cancer survivor. I love playing Pickleball, practicing Yoga, and especially love leading Bible study at Carriage Inn Assisted Living. We are especially thankful for our little church in Simonton, TX.

Throughout the 10+ years of volunteering at TBH, I have been blessed to make longtime friends with both volunteers and guests. Covering the front desk as a Tuesday Night Owl, I checkin/checkout guests, help the groups that bring dinner and generally keep everyone happy. I have learned how to “mess around” with TV’s until they work properly, fold fitted sheets, and just love people through their hard day.

Thank you, The Ballard House, for all you do for me."

-Debbie