I attended the second annual Transplant House auction at the beautiful Chihuly Boathouse and was intrigued to learn more about this organization. It also provided a rare opportunity to again visit glass artist Dale Chilhuly’s facility and Hot Shop.

Chihuly is a master artist and master marketer, and his works can be seen in over 200 museums worldwide. Guests enjoyed seeing a glass-blowing demonstration and seeing firsthand where all of his glass collections have been created over the years.

We also enjoyed viewing his vast collections of great treasures that he collects: handmade woven Native American baskets and wool blankets; children’s story books from the 1940s; swimsuits from the 1950s to wear in the Chihuly glass pool; and his signature chandeliers hanging everywhere.

Transplant House is an independent, not-for-profit organization created by Larry Winn, who received his own a liver transplant a few years ago. The goal of Transplant House is to provide transplant patients and their care givers affordable housing in a safe, supportive, high quality, homelike environment during their pre-and post-operative stay while in Seattle. They partner with the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Seattle Children’s.

Many of the patients receive a new liver, lung, heart or kidney; others may receive a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. After the transplant, the patient needs to be close to the hospital, in a very sterile environment, because they have no immune system following their surgery. The average stay can be up to three months and patients come from Washington, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming and Oregon.

Many transplant patients were in attendance at the event and one could see in their faces how pleased they are to have survived their health challenges. The fundraising goal was to raise $85,000 so that four new furnished apartments could be added to the current inventory of 18. This ensures that fewer patients will be turned away.

With the efforts of auctioneer Patti Payne, they came very close to obtaining their goal. Transplant House also relies on a dedicated team of over 20 volunteers who contribute more than 26,000 hours annually for this great cause. www.tranplanthouse.org

Rose Dennis writes about events in Bellevue and the Greater Seattle area. She lives in Bellevue.