Cancer patients living in Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Home Away from Home community now have a new space to gather and heal. The wellness center was recently built with the goal of giving patients, caregivers and their families a shared place to rest, connect and support one another. The new space adds to the community of eight private homes generously built, furnished and donated to the Banner Health Foundation by Scottsdale-based homebuilder Taylor Morrison in June 2024.
The 2,000-square-foot wellness center is complete with a kitchen; a family corner equipped with arts and crafts, books and games; a Lego botanical mural; a ribbon wall; and a Zen room to sit, journal, relax and meditate. The goal of the wellness center is to serve as a safe haven for patients and caregivers.
“A cancer diagnosis affects every aspect of a patient’s life – and we know true healing from that diagnosis extends beyond medical treatment,” said Matthew Callister, MD, senior physician executive at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “I believe the wellness center will help foster a sense of community and strength during the healing journey, reminding patients that they are never alone, and we are grateful to Taylor Morrison for making this possible.”
With help from hundreds of local volunteers, the construction, design, and furnishing of the wellness center was featured during the two-part season finale of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where Taylor Morrison was the official construction partner of the show. Like the accompanying eight homes, Taylor Morrison built the wellness center within walking distance of Banner MD Anderson. This community of homes and new gathering space eliminates the financial burden of travel and hotel stays for approximately 80 patients and their care partners each year, so they can focus on recovery in a comfortable environment.
“The wellness center represents what’s so core to the healing process, which is the strength that a true community can give to patients,” said Sheryl Palmer, Taylor Morrison chairman and chief executive officer. “Our hope is that the wellness center serves as a relaxing space where patients and caregivers can connect with others going through similar experiences, while also having their medical team and treatment just steps away.”
While many patients can afford a short hotel stay, few are prepared to pay for long-term lodging, especially those whose treatment protocol requires weeks to months of daily therapy or close post-surgical monitoring. For many, affording a place to stay during treatment can mean the difference between receiving care or not. That spurred the creation of Banner MD Anderson’s Home Away from Home program, which covers the cost of local stays at partner hotels for qualifying patients. Patients who have the longest length of stay are prioritized to stay in the homes, while others will receive lodging support through the ongoing hotel program.
Led by a group of committed community leaders, the Home Away from Home fundraising campaign began in 2019 with the goal of supporting cancer patients whose treatment protocol spans 30 or more days and who lack local housing. This patient population includes those undergoing a stem-cell transplant who need to be within 30 minutes of the facility to qualify for their transplant and for post-operative monitoring, and blood cancer patients who receive daily treatment for weeks or months.
“A home is more than four walls—it’s a place of healing, comfort, and support,” said Andy Petersen, president and CEO of the Banner Health Foundation. “The Home Away from Home community, now with the addition of the wellness center, ensures that patients undergoing extensive treatment can focus on what truly matters: their health and well-being. Taylor Morrison’s generosity and commitment to our mission have created a space where patients and caregivers can find peace, and we are so grateful for that.”
The Home Away from Home program, including the hotel program, community of eight homes, and the wellness center, is sustained entirely by charitable gifts.
