‘I’d probably be dead by now’: Veteran says he owes his life to Alaska Fisher House

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (KTUU) - Joe Symonoski served in the United States Coast Guard for 21 years, 14 of which had him stationed in Kodiak. He and his wife, Mary, have since made the island their permanent residence.

While Kodiak has medical facilities and doctors, the Symonoskis frequently travel to Anchorage to receive specialized medical care through the Anchorage VA Medical Center — military benefits they’re entitled to for Joe’s service in the Coast Guard.

And the Symonoskis have needed that care.

“I had a four-way bypass, I’ve had my knee replaced,” Joe said. “[Mary’s] had quite a few medical procedures too.”

Over the last decade, the Symonoskis have, on average, traveled to Anchorage twice a year to get the treatment they needed for various conditions. They’ve stayed at the Alaska Fisher House on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson each time they do.

Fisher House Foundation is a national organization that offers service members — both active-duty and veterans, along with their families — free accommodations when they have to travel to receive medical care. It’s similar to a hotel, where residents stay in private rooms with baths, but share common areas such as the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, creating a sense of community.

The manager of the two houses in Anchorage, Theresa Nedrow, said it’s designed to ease the financial burden on military families facing a time of need.

“When it comes to emergent specialty care, everything is in Anchorage,” Nedrow said. “Paying unexpected expenses for a hotel — that can easily be $300, $400 a day.”

It’s costs the Symonoskis simply can’t afford for how often they find themselves in Anchorage.

“We just wouldn’t come,” Joe admitted. “And if that would happen, well I’d probably be dead by now. I guarantee that.”

For Mary, the house is so much more than a free place for her and her husband to lay their heads at night. It’s a chance to assist other military families also facing medical-related situations.

“You’re all in the kitchen cooking, or you’re all in the dining room eating, or you’re just sitting and talking - and there’s more of a support structure here,” Mary said. “It’s more like a support family, and it makes a big difference, especially when you have to be here longterm.”

Between the two houses on JBER, Nedrow said Alaska has a total of 28 rooms to accommodate families from across the state. On average, the Alaska Fisher House operates at around 90% capacity, so she and the staff work diligently to maintain the schedule based on medical priority.

“A lot of our veterans are not on the road system, so it takes a lot of coordination to get here,” Nedrow said. “So with 28 rooms, my team and I work extremely hard to rack and stack to reassure that we’re utilizing the rooms at its best capacity.”

The Alaska Fisher House is located within walking distance of the Anchorage VA Medical Center and the installation hospital operated by the 673rd Medical Group.

Fisher House Foundation has been in operation for over 30 years, with 97 houses throughout the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom — a number that continues to grow with ongoing building. Once a house is complete, it is gifted to the Department of Defense and VA to operate.

The organization, the Symonoskis say, is saving lives.

“They’re a blessing and we’re grateful that they’re here,” Mary said. “I don’t know what military families would do if we didn’t have Fisher House here as a support structure.”

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.