Kathy Elmore, 33, is your typical Keys busy mom on the go. She has a full life with two children — Cailyn, age 15, and Austin, age 10 — her job at the tax collector’s office, her Marathon home and animals. Her husband Ben, 42, is a road-patrol sergeant for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Sometimes, he has to spend time at command-officer development school at the University of Louisville, and Kathy has to juggle responsibilities on her own a bit. But the family manages. They still find leisure time on the water and bring out their shaved-ice food truck for local special events to have some fun and make a little extra money.
Then, in May, all activity stopped. Kathy was hit with recurring stomach pain. The pain was so severe, she went to Mariners Hospital to have it checked out. Doctors said she had an abscess, so she had immediate surgery to have it drained. But the pain unexpectedly came back. The doctors prescribed exploratory surgery. On May 15, she received an unexpected diagnosis: Stage IIIC colorectal cancer.
The family is shocked, especially since she’s so young.
“I have no family history of this type of cancer,” she told Keys Weekly. “My family is now doing genetic testing for my brothers.”
Kathy is also not a smoker. The cancer appears to be random.
An intense treatment plan started immediately. Kathy wears a port to administer chemotherapy. After a few more weeks of that she’ll receive radiation therapy, all in hopes to shrink the tumor before surgery to remove it in a few months.
“I try not to let myself worry or stress,” she said. “It won’t help my body. It helps that my oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute is very confident in my treatment plan. As the chemo builds up, I’ll feel more side effects. Right now, it’s manageable.”
“The uncertainty sucks,” said Ben. “It leaves a lot up in the air. And we don’t Google. Our doc said the surveys on Google are not accurate” about survival rates.
The expenses have started adding up, such as the out-of-pocket maximum for health insurance and medical supplies. Also, Kathy has had a loss of income from her tax collector’s job because she has run out of sick days, though she is extremely grateful that her boss, Sam Steele, is very patient about her needing time off.
“He’s amazing. He said, ‘If you’re feeling well enough to come in, come in. If not, not.’”
Her best friend Stephanie saw the stress the family was under and stepped in.
“Kathy Elmore is the sweetest, kindest person with the biggest heart,” she said. “I’ve known Kathy and Ben for eight years, since our kids were about 2. We met at a playground and learned that our husbands work together. I lost my mom to brain cancer in 2006. I’m just trying to do my part and be there for my friend. I also want Kathy to know that no one fights alone.”
Stephanie asked the family if she could start a crowdfunding campaign on Facebook so they could cover their out-of-pocket maximum. To the Elmores’ surprise, the account, called Spotfund, raised $5,505 almost immediately.
Then, Stephanie got connected to the staff of Marathon’s Overseas Pub & Grill, which is known for running fundraisers in such situations.
“I got in touch with Andy, and he brought to fruition the vision I had in my mind,” said Stephanie.
Andy Sharf, the bar manager of the Overseas Pub & Grill, said, “This is the fifth time I’ve done this since 2010, the second time for a police officer. We help the helpers. This is what I’m trying to do. Kathy works for the tax collector, and Ben is a police officer. On average for the fundraisers, we get $30,000 to $40,000. We’re a locals’ restaurant. From the mayor to a pauper, we know everybody. We’re one big smaller family. Ever since Hurricane Irma, I’ve seen the best in people. I like to live that way. And I can’t do this without the staff — from the servers to the kitchen to the boss.”
All the money raised, between the Spotfund and the Overseas Pub & Grill fundraisers, will be placed in a special account just for medical-related expenses at Centennial Bank.
Married for 12 years and with the support of the community, the Elmores are facing their uncertain future.
“This has brought us together stronger,” said Ben.
The Overseas Pub & Grill fundraiser for the Elmores will take place on Saturday, July 10, from open to close, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The bar staff will donate 100 percent of their tips from that day. There will be a silent auction and 50/50 raffles that will include fishing charters and a stay at the Hyatt as well as other prizes from businesses up and down the Keys. Bands will play from 4 to 10 p.m., and deejays will spin from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The pub is located at 3574 Overseas Highway, Marathon, bayside. For information, call 305-290-4666. To donate to the crowdfunding campaign, go to Spot.fund/helpkathyfightcancer.
