Bourbonnais school paraprofessional battling brain cancer

Since the summer of 2021, Bradley resident Rochelle Langlois has battled Stage 4 cancer everywhere from her lungs, spine, adrenal glands, brain, bone and liver.

A paraprofessional for the Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 for almost 30 years, Langlois, 58, was in remission a couple years ago, but her brain tumor has returned.

On Dec. 26, 2024, she had surgery to remove the mass. Recently, she returned to the ICU after going into septic shock — meaning a widespread blood infection causing organ failures.

There were a handful of complications which followed surgery, including minimal feeling and mobility on the left side of her body. Langlois, who had also broken her ankle, can no longer walk.

However, she is working hard to regain what she lost, doing speech and physical therapy daily as she works to overcome struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and neuropathy.

“Getting back to her students is one of the biggest reasons she is not giving up,” her daughters, Kayle, 27, and Alexis, 24, wrote on the GoFundMe page they started for their mother, who has been without income for months.

“She loves her job. She loves her students and her coworkers,” Kayle said. “Even with going through cancer, she still has hope to go back to work.”

Rochelle has worked in various Bourbonnais schools, including Alan B. Shepard Elementary School, but for the past 15 years she has been a staple in science and social studies classes at Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center.

She would often attend the school’s basketball games to support the students and enjoyed visiting with their families.

Now, with her support system of her daughters and sister, Ronda Long, Rochelle is remaining hopeful she can one day return to the classroom.

“With everything she’s going through she still remains positive,” Kayle said. “She’s always making the nurses laugh.”

Langlois, who is currently receiving care at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, was previously being treated at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Zion where she has been undergoing chemotherapy.

She will need to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility before she can return home.

The money raised will help cover medical bills, health insurance premiums, continue chemo, purchase specialty equipment and assist with monthly bills until she is able to return home to recover, and reunite with her dog, Harvey.

On Tuesday, another fundraiser is being held for the longtime paraprofessional.

A Subs for a Cause fundraiser will be held at the Bourbonnais Subway, 646 S. Main St., from 4 to 7 p.m. From each purchase, 50% will go directly toward helping Rochelle and her family.

“Our mom has been out of work and without an income for months, and the financial stress on top of the emotional stress has become overwhelming for our family,” Kayle said. “If anyone came out to support, it would mean a lot to us.”

To help Rochelle Langlois, visit the GoFundMe page at gofund.me/2e99f8a4.

https://daily-journal.com/news/bourbonnais-school-paraprofessional-battling-brain-cancer/article_30a23946-da14-11ef-b2c3-9bd133452729.html