Providing a supportive
home away from home
for UVA Children's
Hospital families.
We match out-of-town families with volunteer host homes and donated apartments during their medical treatment.
LilyPads Housing provides free, short-term housing in volunteer host homes for families and caregivers of patients undergoing treatment at UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. We also provide families with additional holistic supports such as sibling activities, meals, groceries, transportation, toiletries, and self-care items. LilyPads Housing serves families regardless of age, diagnosis, race, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, income level, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability.
Please use the links above if you need housing, would like to find out more about becoming a host, or to donate to our organization!
.jpeg)
OUR STORIES
Meet the Stiff Family
Our daughter, Emma Grace, was born with a congenital heart defect that required surgical intervention when she was seven months old. Our family traveled to UVA for her open-heart surgery in December. Finding a place to stay that would not be a financial burden on our family was one of the many things on our minds.
Thankfully, LilyPads Housing was recommended to us. We were quickly put in touch with a host family that graciously housed us for ten days during our daughter’s stay at UVA. Our host family went above and beyond to check in on us, provide us meals, and make sure that our needs were met.
LilyPads Housing made it possible for Emma Grace’s grandparents to stay with us as well. Our accommodations exceeded our expectations and provided a very comfortable “home away from home” during our stay.
![We couldn't be more excited to introduce you to our newest board member: Carolyn Ruocco! Please join us in an enthusiastic welcome to the team! 🥰
When asked why it was important to her to join LilyPads Housing, Carolyn shared:
"I learned about LilyPads through Maggie [LPH Operations Assistant], who photographed the birth of my heart warrior. It only took a few hours of hospital life for me to know that I wanted to help other families in situations like mine. Despite my good fortune of living close to UVA Health Children’s, I have experienced the devastation a long hospital stay can bring upon an otherwise thriving family. The generous spirit that fuels the LilyPads team is well-suited to ease the burden for families with a child in the hospital. To be able to join their ranks and bring much-needed comfort, resources, and connection to families is a deep honor. I can’t wait to get started."
Carolyn Ruocco is a writer and editor with experience in editorial and product operations. After earning her Bachelors in English from Tulane University, she worked in marketing and corporate communications before pivoting to the learning space. In her seven years at Nomadic Learning, she led the editorial and production processes for the Josh Bersin Academy’s 30,000+ global HR professionals and enjoyed exploring cutting-edge topics like remote work, equitable benefits, and caregiving in the workplace.
After the birth of her second son, who has complex congenital heart disease, Carolyn shifted her focus toward caregiving and advocating for improved hospital experiences for pediatric patients. She serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at UVA Health Children’s and lives in Charlottesville with her husband and their two boys.](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/464212685_958559146317400_8708355113291256475_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=nQtvjjeu9tgQ7kNvgFLprYq&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=AylR8VEcWZKwCWbmzKaZg7v&oh=00_AYBetTibsodw6_hk5Jdy3xGmxW0zeKBVv_OQ-MFjvjHEQw&oe=6756AD61)
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Join our email list and stay up to date on how you can help us support UVA Children's Hospital families.