Family House guests Pat and Kate O'Brien

Recent Family House guests, Pat and Kate O’Brien, have been married for nearly 53 years.  Hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, this retired service technician and horticulturalist were staying with us while Pat underwent treatment at UNC Hospitals for prostate cancer.

Led by Drs. Shivani Sud, radiation oncologist, and Ethan Basch, Physician-in-Chief at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital, Pat was to receive twenty-eight radiation treatments over 5-1/2 weeks, with the goal of shrinking the cancerous tumor. It was their patient navigator at UNC Hospitals who told Pat and Kate about our Hospitality House.  Had they stayed in a local hotel, it would have cost them at least an average of $130.00 per night.

Kate and Pat shared that they appreciate the “friendly atmosphere” here. They went on to say that the “meals at night have been super. We invite folks to join to come and sit with us. Everybody here has health issues and they want to talk.  The staff is super friendly and very accommodating.”

With the combination of Kate at his side and the excellent care he’s receiving at UNC Hospitals, we have every reason to believe that Pat will beat cancer so he can enjoy many more years with his beloved wife.