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by Christine Kumar
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Sometimes, saying 'yes' to hospitality can save lives.

That's what happened to Chuck and Heidi Hanson, members at Bethesda UMC, who extended hospitality to strangers, not realizing that it would be the beginning of a friendship that would leave an indelible imprint on their lives.

The Hansons shared their home with Joanne Murphy, whose husband Terry, 56, has a rare, serious heart ailment that is being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.

Terry Murphy, a member of Taylorsville UMC in Georgia, needs constant care in his home. His wife, Joanne, quit her nursing job to stay home to care for him. His condition began with his first heart attack in June, 2003.

Heart surgery followed in October. Two weeks after the surgery his heart rate dropped.

'Terry was born with four kidneys instead of two and this is a unique case,' said Joanne. The disease, pheochromocytoma, affects two in one million cases.

Joanne Murphy, a Lutheran, attends Taylorsville UMC with her husband.

She checks her husband's vital signs frequently throughout the day. When asked how she maintains her sanity, she replied, 'My hope and strength comes from trusting God. I have been faithful to him and he has been faithful to me.'

Because of astronomical medical costs, the Murphys could not afford the travel expenses from Brunswick, Ga., to Bethesda, where Murphy had to undergo tests for his illness.

That's where the Hansons and a group called Angel Flight stepped in.

Angel Flight, according to Marita Eddy, its transportation coordinator, is a resource available for patients who cannot afford commercial air transportation. The organization arranges for donated or reduced-fare airline tickets it they are available, and has a network of volunteer private pilots and their planes on call.

Eddy, whose office is at NIH, said that 'because our pilots are offering the service at no charge, we save money for the families. The institute can put their resources to better use in research and medical care.'

A group of pilots formed the organization approximately 20 years ago with the desire to give something back to the community.

'They are so dedicated,' said Eddy. Today, more than 5,000 volunteer private pilots provide flights of hope and healing to patients and their families.

Once the Murphys arrived in Maryland, housing costs were another concern. Enter the Hansons and other United Methodists, with open doors.

The Hansons, who live close to the NIH campus in Bethesda, hosted the Murphys last month and will host them again in their home in April.

'It shouldn't be a big deal to help others,' Chuck Hanson said. 'This is exactly what the church should do. That's the connection.'

Ann and Larry Williams, members of Concord-St. Andrews UMC in Bethesda, also extended their hospitality to the Murphys for a weekend.

'We have the space,' said Ann Williams. 'They were great. It was hard to tell the hard circumstances they were facing.'

In April, Terry and Joanne Murphy will again board Angel Flight to take them back to Maryland. Joanne Murphy looks forward to staying with the Hansons while her husband undergoes tests at NIH.

'The whole family is fabulous; it's astounding in this day and age,' she said.

'Joanne helped my daughter with her homework and even cooked dinner for us one night,' said Chuck Hanson, father of two.

He felt that he helped the Murphys in a little way and there was no question about doing it again.

'This is a perfect kind of mission for the church. We were blessed to know her and our prayers continue for them,' he said.