My name is Ellen Herbert. I’m a friend of Kate and Jim Thommes and created this fundraiser to offset expenses while Kate undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
It took some convincing to get them to allow me to set this up on their behalf. It’s difficult to be in a position of accepting help from others, but their friends and family keep asking what they can do to help. This is one tangible thing that you can do.
In late May 2024, Kate found a lump in her left breast. Just days before her diagnostic mammogram, her employer announced they were eliminating her position, which was the family’s source of their health insurance. During her last week of work, she had to go back for a biopsy. The results came back as Stage 2 breast cancer.
On July 18, she underwent a lumpectomy, but it turned out they didn't get it all, so she went back for another surgery on August 8. They are certain they got it all this time. They also took two lymph nodes and are sure it hasn't metastasized.
She went back to her surgeon on September 4 for a follow up. Radiation had always been on the table, but they decided to add chemo. She had surgery to put in a port on September 12. Her first chemo treatment is September 18. It’s expected that she’ll need 4 rounds of chemo on a 3-week cycle (9/18, 10/9, 10/30, and 11/20). Then her oncologist will reassess and determine the next course of action. Her doctors are optimistic that chemo/radiation/meds is the only way to prevent the cancer from coming back—and that the odds are good if she does all this.
In the meantime, on August 12, just four days after her second surgery, Kate started a new job at the Elk Grove Village Public Library. It is a good job with supportive coworkers and great health insurance that became effective in mid-September. However, as a new employee, she is only eligible for minimal paid time off, so her only option through all of her medical appointments and treatments is to take unpaid days off. At a minimum, she’s expecting to miss 12 days of work for her chemo treatments and may need even more time off depending on how her body responds to the treatment and what the next course of action is.
Kate and Jim have three wonderful young adult children—MaryBeth, who is a senior at Illinois Wesleyan University; PJ, who is in the final year of his special education transition program; and Annie, who is a junior at Larkin High School. Jim is self-employed and also paid by the State of Illinois as PJ’s full-time disability assistant. Kate’s job carries the health insurance for the family, so it is essential for her to maintain her employment through her treatments.
This fundraiser will help the Thommes Family meet their needs, including the increased expenses associated with a serious medical condition, and help make up for Kate's unpaid days off from her job. A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated.
You can also follow Kate’s story on her Caring Bridge page here (you’ll need to create an account and sign in for privacy):
And if you’d like to bring the Thommes family a meal or donate a gift card for meal delivery, you can sign up on the Meal Train page here:
Thank you so much for your generosity and care for this sweet family!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kathleen Thommes
Beneficiary