The McCoy’s Story, from Betty’s Perspective

Navigating a serious health diagnosis can feel like your entire world has been turned upside down. For our family, this journey began when my husband, Shealy, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in 2011. Our lives quickly shifted from planning for the future to battling for survival. The SECU Family House has been a constant through all of this, offering not just a place to stay but also a place to heal physically and emotionally.

In the early days, we stayed at a hotel near the hospital, trying to keep some semblance of normalcy. But as Shealy’s condition worsened, I found myself spending nearly every moment by his side in the ICU, leaving the hotel behind. I had become his full-time caregiver, a role that demanded every ounce of my energy. Once we found the Family House in 2013, it became our sanctuary. We’ve stayed there off and on the past eleven years, often for weeks at a time. (Interestingly, we happened to be there for five Halloweens in a row!)

When we entered the Family House for the first time, the environment immediately put us at ease. Ms. Pam welcomed us warmly at the doorway, setting the tone for everything to follow.

The Family House provides more than just a place to stay; it offers a sense of community and the support services we desperately need. For caregivers like me, the Family House is a lifeline. Being able to stay close to Shealy while having a place to rest and recharge has made an enormous difference in how I cope with his illness. The burden of caregiving is immense—it’s physically exhausting, emotionally draining, and often isolating. But at the Family House, I am surrounded by others who understand our struggles. That sense of shared experience is incredibly comforting.

Many of my days have been filled with hospital visits, quick decisions, and emotional rollercoasters. Through it all, the Family House has offered a sense of steadiness. I can always count on a comfortable room, kind people, and meals provided by volunteers that nourish my tired body and soul. There are caring volunteers whose sole purpose is to listen—to check in on how I, as the caregiver, am holding up. Thanks to that kind of support, I can take better care of myself and ultimately take better care of Shealy.

When you are away from your actual home and dealing with the weight of health issues, the Family House is there to help.

It’s not just a house; it’s a community, a family, and a lifeline rolled into one.

Without the Family House, the journey for so many patients and their families would be unimaginably harder. We don’t know what will happen in the future. Our health journey has been long, with many ups and downs. But we do know that the Family House will always be there for us, offering stability and a place to call home no matter what comes next.

-Betty McCoy, a guest from Colombia, SC