“I only have two words to say: Thank you.” That’s how Rockford, Illinois, resident Carolyn Pitts started off her conversation about her stay at Kathy’s House.

For Carolyn and her husband Alvin, who is battling cancer, Kathy’s House made a big difference. “Even though there was a team of experts, and there was family and friends, Kathy’s House played an integral part in our healing. And for that I’m grateful,” says Carolyn, who stayed for just over a month at Kathy’s House.

“Knowing that we didn’t have to worry, like most people would, where we’re going to stay, how we were going to manage, we were able to focus on healing and getting better,” she explains. “We didn’t have to worry about where are you going to eat, where are you going to lay your head.”

Of the experience at Kathy’s House, she says, “This was just as important as the hospital. They give a different level of care, but here you were able to rest and be assured that your mind, your body, and your soul were all intact.”

The connections that the couple made with other guests facing illness helped with the recovery process, too. “We were able to meet people from other states, Texas, Georgia, New York, all different professions and different walks of life were able to benefit from this place.”