Within minutes of speaking with Family House guest, Kizzy Short, you quickly surmise that she is first and foremost a mom, based on way she speaks about her two adult daughters.  Her older daughter is in the military, and her younger daughter, Stacey, is receiving in-patient treatment at UNC Hospitals for cardiomyopathy.

Hailing from Hamlet, North Carolina in Richmond County, Kizzy spends long days at Stacey’s bedside, occasionally returning to Family House for a hot meal before getting a good night’s rest.  While Stacey has a long road to recovery, the hope is that she will eventually enter a rehabilitation facility near their home. 

For now, Kizzy is grateful that she has a safe and comforting place to stay each night. “I love it here. I’ve met good people who encourage each other when they’re down.  If it weren’t for this place, I would have had to drive 2 hours one way to see my daughter each day.”

When you first meet Kizzy, one of the first things you notice is her bright red hair.  She shared with us that she dyed her hair this color because red is the color for heart disease – this from a woman who views being a mom as the most important job she’ll ever have.  We couldn’t agree with her more.  We hope that each passing day brings Stacey closer to a full and speedy recovery.