FedEx House Opens for LeBonheur Families

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FOX stations around the country are partnering with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to bring you stories from inside our nation's pediatric hospitals. This month we highlight the new FedEx Family House, a home away from home for out-of-town families who have children being treated at LeBonheur.

At her 7 month check-up, doctors told 18-year old Corie Nanney her daughter would be born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. "The left side of her heart isn't all the way developed."

Miley Jade was born at The Med, and quickly transferred to LeBonheur Children's Hospital under careful watch by doctors. When she was only 3 days old, she underwent her first of many surgeries.

While Nanney and her 20-year old fiancé Coty Kesler wait for their daughter's condition to improve, there is a silver lining in their darkness.

"It's amazing. The last thing you want to worry about is where you're going to stay and you definitely don't want to be away from your child who needs you real close."

The couple is one of the first to stay at the new FedEx Family House, just across the street from the hospital.

"It's so close. We can walk over there. It doesn't take very long."

The facility offers 24 private suites, similar to hotel rooms. The top of the line kitchens seems to be most impressive to guests.

"It's amazing. Everything about it is nice. You have your kitchen, you feel more at home."

Planning perfectly to create a home away from home didn't happen by mistake. Susan Graf, a LeBonheur Foundation board member and LeBonheur Club member, remembers seeing the need for this space.

"All the times that I was on tour at the hospital, it was such a need that was so glaring when you'd see parents sleeping in chairs and so forth."

Graf, who is married to a FedEx executive, decided to take her pitch to Fred Smith and his wife, Diane. She credits the couple for having vision.

"When Fred stepped up and said 'Yeah, we'd really like to do this and the company is behind it,' it was a dream come true for many people."

Hospital administrators couldn't be happier about the partnership.

"We know that children get better quicker, they heal faster when families are part of the care team, so it's crucially important for us to take care of the family as well as the patient."

A dream this young couple couldn't live without.

"It's just a blessing there's a place like this and you feel so much at home."

Volunteers are needed to keep FedEx Family House up and running for special events and other programs that are planned. To find out how to help, visit lebonheur.org/fedexfamilyhouse