Joanne & Jim Joanne and Jim came to stay with us in December when Jim was in town initially to receive cancer treatment at ECMC on December 8th and subsequently suffered from a stroke. Jim’s Doctor happened to know our House Manager, Betsy Stone, and suggested Kevin Guest House to Joanne. The Carkners moved in...Continue Reading
The Burgesses Mark and Ruth Burgess are Dunkirk, NY natives who love the outdoors. When they aren’t at home, they enjoy spending their time in the great outdoors at their campsite in Jamestown, NY. As we sit together chatting, Mark couldn’t help but talk about getting back to his campsite within the upcoming weeks. The...Continue Reading
“He is the strongest, toughest and most positive person I know, and none of that has changed through his treatment,” Alexis said of her husband. “I am so incredibly grateful to be able to be here for him by his side, as his wife and his friend, through this battle.” – Alexis Purdon Brandon &...Continue Reading
Families are complicated. Theirs is no different. For years, Jamie Patterson was estranged from her family. She eventually reconciled, after her sister, Jennifer Carey, had been battling chronic myeloid leukemia. The sisters, from the Adirondack region of New York State, were back together. Which was good on so many levels. But neither could predict just...Continue Reading
For a while, Amy Sumbrum did her best to connect patients with each other informally, creating a sort of ad hoc support group. She understood they were dealing with side effects that other cancer patients didn’t endure. As a speech-language pathologist in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center,...Continue Reading
Jonathan Gutchess is a cancer survivor. But the triumph of beating cancer isn’t the end of his story. In many ways, it’s just beginning. Diagnosed in July of 2016 at age 49 with primary-oropharynx right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma staged II, Jonathan was treated near his home in Dryden, N.Y., at the Cayuga Medical Center....Continue Reading
Jack Kerner knows the value of having a good support staff. For 25 years he played a pivotal role for St. Bonaventure basketball, keeping the score book for both the men’s and women’s teams. His job was to keep track not only of points but fouls, substitutions, time outs – all the little things that...Continue Reading
She walked into the house with big “hellos” for everyone. Not that Joyce Lawson particularly wanted to be back at Kevin Guest House. A return to the grand Victorian on Ellicott Street meant that her husband, Craig, was back at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center facing more complications from his treatment for bladder cancer. But...Continue Reading
It was 1968 when Christine Shaffer first came to Buffalo. The native of Erie, Pa. arrived to attend secretarial school for one year at Bryant & Stratton College. She stayed in Buffalo, working at Roswell Park as a medical secretary until 1975 when her career took a turn in the American Foreign Service. But in...Continue Reading
Kathy was ready for the hockey game, complete with her scarf featuring the red and white maple leaf of the Canadian Flag. She made no apologies cheering for the Montreal Canadiens, despite the fact the Buffalo Sabres were hosting her and several others from Kevin Guest House for the late October game in KeyBank Center....Continue Reading
