A Lifesaving Diagnosis Inspires a Legacy Gift

Larry and Kathy Hymson chose to pay it forward by making a gift that will provide comprehensive care to economically marginalized patients in Chicago and beyond.

Larry and Kathy Hymson

By Laura Lane-Garavaglia

When Larry Hymson went in for a routine physical, he never expected it would lead to a life-changing cancer diagnosis — or to a decision he and his wife, Kathy, would make years earlier than most: including Rush in their estate plan.

For Larry, who had never broken a bone or spent a night in the hospital, the news was startling. A lump in his throat led to tests, but the first two biopsies came back negative. Ashok Jagasia, MD, an otolaryngologist at Rush University Medical Center, oversaw his care and urged a closer look.

“Twice the results said it wasn’t cancer, but Dr. Jagasia just wasn’t convinced,” Larry said. “He kept pushing, and, ultimately, he found it. If he hadn’t gone that extra step, I don’t know if I’d be here today. I owe him everything.”

The tumor turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment that followed — surgery, radiation and chemotherapy — was grueling, but Larry said the way Rush cared for him made all the difference.

BTE“I really felt like Rush had my back,” he said. “From the front desk to the parking attendants to every nurse and physician, it was patient-centered in a way that I didn’t expect. They made me feel like I was going to get through this.”XT

A team who listened

Kathy remembers the roller coaster well.

“We’d never been through anything like this, and we don’t have physicians in our family,” she said. “We asked endless questions, sometimes ones we didn’t even understand, and the team never made us feel like we were wasting their time. They wanted us to be informed and involved. Medicine can feel very transactional, but at Rush, we were always treated as people first — not just patients.”

That reassurance gave the Hymsons confidence not just in Larry’s care but in Rush’s broader mission. The experience opened their eyes to Rush’s leadership in treating head, neck and throat cancers as well as its outreach to communities that have unequal access to health care.

Helping people in Chicago and beyond

When the couple learned about Jagasia’s CURE (Center for the Underserved at Rush ENT) program — which provides ear, nose and throat care in Chicago’s economically marginalized communities and abroad; offers free transportation to and from appointments for patients; and includes an educational platform for medical students and residents — they knew it was a cause worth supporting.

“At first we funded part of the program because it was new to us, and we wanted to see how it developed,” Kathy said. “But the more we learned about Rush’s outreach, the more it resonated. I’ve always been involved in tutoring and working with kids from under-resourced backgrounds, so this really connected with my values. And Larry felt such a personal connection because of his own care.”

That impact struck a personal chord for Larry as well. He admired that Jagasia’s efforts reached far beyond Rush’s walls.

“I loved that Dr. Jagasia wasn’t just doing research,” Larry said. “He was actually helping people, here in Chicago and beyond. We wanted to be part of that. We love this city. Supporting this work felt like a natural way to give back to a place that’s given us so much. It’s about investing in the future of our community and making sure that care and compassion reach those who need it most.”

For Jagasia the mission is deeply personal, and the Hymsons’ gift couldn’t have come at a more critical time.

“Every day, we see patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks — people without insurance, families in rural areas, children born in countries without basic screenings,” Jagasia said. “The support we receive from donors like the Hymsons allows us to say yes to these patients, to offer care that’s not just life-changing but often lifesaving. It helps us meet the urgent needs of today while building a healthier tomorrow.”

An investment in society

As their two sons grew older and became financially independent, the Hymsons began revisiting their estate plan. Unlike many who wait until later in life to make such decisions, they chose to act sooner.

“We realized we were in a fortunate position,” Kathy said. “Our kids are on good paths, and we don’t need to hold on to everything for ourselves. We are also fortunate to have good health insurance coverage through Larry’s work, which has allowed us to get excellent care at Rush. We want others to have that same access. I see charitable giving as another kind of investment — you can invest in the market, or you can invest in society and get a different kind of return.”

For them, designating part of Larry’s IRA to CURE and cancer research within Rush’s head and neck cancer program made sense. Required distributions from retirement accounts can create tax burdens, but leaving those funds to a nonprofit like Rush avoids that issue while making an impact.

“The IRA is something we know we won’t need in the short term, and it gives us the flexibility to revisit things later,” Kathy said. “It’s a promise we feel confident we can fulfill.”

Larry admitted he was initially hesitant.

“I thought, can we really do this now?” Larry said. “But Kathy pointed out that making these gifts didn’t change our lifestyle. We still have what we need. Our kids are taken care of, and at the same time, we’re supporting something that made a huge difference in our lives. Anyone can do this. It doesn’t have to wait until you’re much older.”

Looking to the future

The Hymsons hope their support will help Rush expand its outreach and inspire future generations of caregivers.

“If our gift means Dr. Jagasia can bring more people into this work or if it sparks others to think about how they can contribute, then that’s impact,” Kathy said. “Maybe a medical student or resident will have an experience through this program that shapes the way they practice for the rest of their career. That’s powerful.”

For Larry, it’s simpler.

“Rush gave me my life back,” he said. “Now I just want to pay it forward and let the people who know how to do good, do good. If we can help them do it, that’s enough for me.”

A message to others

By making this gift, Larry and Kathy became members of the Rush Heritage Society, a community of donors who have committed to sustaining Rush through their estates. Legacy gifts like theirs secure resources for the future and ensure Rush’s mission continues to thrive.

To fellow Rush Heritage Society members and anyone considering an estate gift to Rush, the Hymsons offer encouragement.

“You don’t have to be wealthy to make a difference,” Kathy said. “Start small, build a relationship with an organization you trust and see the impact. It enriches your own life too.”

Larry added, “Don’t overthink it. If you’ve been touched by Rush the way we have, just know that your gift can help someone else have that same experience.”

To learn more about gift planning or discuss options that might be right for you, please contact Susan Sasvari, executive director of gift planning, at (312) 942-3691 or giftplanning@rush.edu. To learn more about the CURE program or how you can support the initiative, please contact Molly Thompson, associate director of development, at (312) 942-5429 or molly_c_thompson@rush.edu.

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