When your child needs therapy hours from home, planning the trip involves more than scheduling appointments. You need a place to stay that works for your child, room in the budget for weeks of lodging, and a way to manage daily life far from your usual support.
In Gainesville, GA, a local nonprofit and its community partners are helping make that trip easier. Molly’s House, a home run by Love Your Story, gives traveling families a free, accessible place to stay during their child’s care, along with connections to people who understand what they’re going through.
Why Some Families Travel for Pediatric Therapy
Some children need a specialized program that isn’t available close to home. Intensive pediatric therapy, for example, typically involves two to three hours of therapy a day, five days a week, for two to three weeks.
For families who live far away, that schedule can mean an extended stay away from home, and sometimes unpaid time off work. According to Love Your Story, families caring for a child with disabilities often spend 18% to 22% of their annual income on related expenses.
What Is Molly’s House?
Molly’s House began with one family’s experience. Abigail “Abby” Burle, founder and executive director of Love Your Story, spent years traveling across the country with her own children for surgeries and therapies. She knew firsthand how much it means to have a place to rest and feel at home.
With support from community donors, Love Your Story opened Molly’s House in 2022. Since then, the home has provided more than 1,300 free nights of lodging to families from 16 states. Each of those nights is one less expense for a family already managing the cost of care. Molly’s House welcomes families traveling to Gainesville for their child’s care at a range of providers, including Tender Ones Therapy Services (TOTS).
Having a Place to Rest
Families can apply to stay at Molly’s House for up to three weeks, and they may return more than once a year. The three-bedroom home is fully accessible and has a kitchen, so you can cook your child’s favorite meals and keep some of your routines from home.
After appointments, your child has somewhere to rest, and your family can spend a quiet evening together. A comfortable home base can make several weeks away feel more manageable for everyone.
Finding Community and Room to Heal
Being away from your usual support network can be hard. You may miss having someone nearby who understands your child’s needs or knows what a full day of appointments takes.
At Molly’s House, Abby and the Love Your Story team help visiting families feel welcome. That might mean sharing a cup of coffee with another parent during a therapy session, setting up a playdate for the kids, or having someone local to turn to with questions about the area.
Rest and connection can help families recharge during a demanding time, and they’re why Molly’s House is more than a place to stay.
TOTS’ Role as a Community Partner
TOTS is proud to be a community partner of Love Your Story. Our Gainesville team provides intensive pediatric therapy, while Molly’s House offers traveling families a place to return to after each day’s sessions, where they can rest, spend time together, and connect with a welcoming community.
Families travel to our clinic from across Georgia and beyond. For many of them, having a free place to stay nearby helps make an intensive possible in the first place.
Rest between sessions can help your child return to therapy ready to participate. With Molly’s House about 10 minutes from our Gainesville clinic, your child can spend less time in the car after therapy and more time recharging for the next day’s session.
Planning Your Stay at Molly’s House
If you’re considering a stay, check with both your child’s therapy provider and Love Your Story before finalizing travel plans:
- Discuss possible therapy dates. Ask your child’s provider about their recommended program and available dates. For care at TOTS, contact our Gainesville clinic at 678-971-5048.
- Ask Love Your Story about a stay. Visit the Molly’s House website and select “Apply to Stay” to reach its contact form. Share your possible dates and ask about availability, the application process, and any accessibility features your child needs.
- Confirm both arrangements before booking travel. Make sure your child’s therapy dates and your family’s stay are confirmed with the respective teams.
Traveling for your child’s care can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to. With a free place to stay and a community that understands, your family has room to rest, reconnect, and heal together.
