03/09/2026
Jason Seifried of Warrenton, Virginia had very specific reasons to seek treatment 90 miles from home at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for his HPV related cancer. The treatment for his type of cancer could result in difficulty eating, swallowing, speaking, and loss of taste. He learned that Johns Hopkins specialized in preserving quality of life for cases like his that involved his tonsils, throat, and nearby lymph nodes.
Following two surgeries, he required lengthy outpatient radiation oncology and chemotherapy. “Ultimately, I thought that I was going to have to self-fund lodging.” he said. “However, the Johns Hopkins staff told me about Hope Lodge Baltimore. Initially, one is skeptical when you find out that something is being offered for free. To my amazement, Hope Lodge was wonderful. The experience was fantastic from the moment I walked through the door. The staff are super kind, understanding, and respectful. I couldn’t eat, taste, nor swallow easily. Several other guests had the same type of cancer I did, so we could relate to each other plus I saw them at radiation treatment. We formed our own type of support.”
He appreciated the volunteers who served group meals although his diet was limited. “The community meals bring everyone out of their rooms in the evenings to socialize. It’s one of the nice blessings,” said Jason, who worked remotely from his Hope Lodge guest room. “The centralized resources like the kitchen and library are great. I read several books.”
As the father of three children, Jason appreciated staying at Hope Lodge to take the worry off his wife and children who cared for him during his rough recoveries at home following his surgeries. “My wife could focus on our children and take care of our home,” he said. “Hope Lodge was nothing but accommodating during my treatment. My stay was 51 days.”
