08/28/2026
“Cancer is not like a sprained ankle. It takes awhile.”
That’s how Tom Notermann describes the months he and his wife, Carol McDonough, have spent in Milwaukee while Carol receives treatment for acute myeloid leukemia at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Carol recently received a bone marrow transplant. In effect, Tom explains, she now has “a whole new blood system.” Her immune system is extremely vulnerable, meaning even a common cold could become pneumonia. She recently returned to Kathy’s House after being hospitalized with pneumonia and, in the months ahead, will need to be vaccinated all over again.
“That’s why Kathy’s House is a real godsend,” Tom says. “We can’t go to restaurants. We can’t go out to public places. The facility here helps you to be apart. There are lots of places where we can keep our distance.”
“It’s set up for people to work by themselves in the kitchen area and sit by themselves,” Carol adds. “It’s actually made the stay really easy because we have everything we need.”
After months away from home, it isn’t just the building they appreciate. It’s the people.
Tom and Carol describe the volunteers, staff, security team, and housekeeping staff as top notch.
“With all the things that go on in the world,” Tom says, “there are good people.”
