On July 24th, 2025 we hosted our 53rd annual Anniversary Celebration with a delightful celebration in our garden to honor our heart award winners! This year we had a compelling speech from one of our guests, Amanda Johnson, who’s husband is seeking care at Roswell Park for his recently diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her speech touched everyone present at the ceremony, please read her speech below:
“Hardship is felt by many during their lives but at different levels. As it is common in a lifetime, some experience it more than others. However, no one experience of hardship is the same. Some may be able to relate to one’s hardship but everyone has their own unique experience and circumstances. My family at the present has been experiencing our own distinctive level of hardship. My husband at the age of 36 was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April of this year. One day he was healthy and working very hard at his construction job then everything changed for our family. He was transferred to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The cancer diagnosis sent shockwaves through our family and his journey to beat cancer began. His strength, grit and determination have gone unwavering. His hospitalization for his induction rounds of chemotherapy lasted 45 days. We have two young girls (3 and 5) so this extended time away from their father was very tough for them. We knew his treatment would not stop there. A stem cell transplant was in the works from the first week he was in Roswell. We were informed that we would have to stay in Buffalo for a minimum of 60 days following transplant as we live too far away per policy. This accumulation of information, treatment, travel, time away from our children and emotional toll began to weigh heavy on our hearts. As I spoke of before, hardship can be all encompassing. Financial, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual hardship. In our unique journey our financial hardship has become something of a burden. My husband was the majority earner in our home as I have stayed in the home to raise our children. With his recent diagnosis, it has put our family in a very tight spot. Despite the hardship, we have been committed to moving forward, creating memories with our children and continuing to live our lives with positivity and hope. Chris’s tenacity toward achieving remission and returning home to his family has never faltered. I speak of all of this hardship to bring focus on areas of this journey where we have also been given support and hospitality. I would say that my families’ journey and circumstances are a prime example of the reason why the Kevin Guest House continues to peruse its mission. We have been very fortunate to be able to experience the hospitality provided by the Kevin guest house. The weight that’s been lifted from our situation is unmeasurable. We have been provided with a beautiful safe place to stay while my husband receives his lifesaving treatment. We will not be turned away despite our financial hardship and our children will have a safe place to stay and visit with him while he heals. Lifting some of the financial burden from our situation has been a godsend. I’m not sure where we would be if the Kevin Guest House wasn’t around. We can’t thank the Kevin Guest House enough for their continued work to provide for families going through something like ours. Their compassion, kindheartedness, quality, support and comfort is unmatched. I want to talk about something that you can’t find in a pamphlet or from a conversation with staff or guests. The peace I feel in my soul after spending all day at the hospital is found sitting in the garden with my toes touching the grass while reading a book. It’s found sitting in the garden feeling the breeze on my face where I’m able to take a deep breath. The worries that race through my mind stop for just a moment. We are thankful for all the aspects of hospitality the Kevin Guest House provides. But I’m especially grateful for the characteristics of the guest house that you can only talk about once you experience them yourself. Everyone here has shown nothing but support, compassion and flexibility. I will be forever grateful for the home away from home that the Garvey Family, Kevin Guest House and its generous donors have worked so hard to create these past 53 years. As for our family we will continue to focus on healing and moving forward with our lives with intention, heart and perseverance.”
