Longtime Elgin businesswoman has cancer
Patricia Keeney, whose sporting goods business has been a longtime anchor in downtown Elgin, has contracted a serious form of cancer.
Doctors confirmed Wednesday that Keeney is suffering from multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks the blood plasma, and from other related issues, including kidney failure, Keeney said Wednesday.
Keeney checked into Provena St. Joseph Hospital Oct. 26 and has begun a course of chemotherapy.
Everyone is pulling for her, said Tonya Hudson, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
“I know that she's a fighter and I know that she will do everything in her power to fight it,” Hudson said. “And she has a strong army of people behind her who will be right there beside her to help her with anything she needs.”
The Daily Herald published a story Tuesday about her hospitalization and efforts to help her out before tests confirmed how serious her condition is.
The army Hudson speaks of has already started deploying troops.
For the past three weeks, a group of eight DNA volunteers have been working shifts at Keeney's Sporting Goods in her absence nobody knows how long Keeney will be hospitalized.
The 127-year-old business is the sole source of income for Keeney, who takes care of her 90-year-old mother Kathryn and has no health insurance.
As well, DNA is organizing a fundraiser for December to unload some of Keeney's eclectic wares proceeds will benefit Keeney and her mother's home and business expenses.
Several other downtown businesses have set out collection jars for Keeney.
Keeney meanwhile, was in good spirits Wednesday and is confident she'll beat the cancer.
Once she gets back to the store, she intends to give it a complete makeover by clearing it of clutter and of items that haven't been selling.
She'll also resume her role as the human newspaper.
“I have big plans to be here next year. I don't care what anyone else thinks,” Keeney said. “I have them.”
DNA has so far collected $600 for the Keeneys. If you would like to send a donation, you can mail it to: Downtown Neighborhood Association, 2 Douglas Ave., Elgin, Ill. 60120.