If you've visited Cocktail bar at 3359 N. Halsted, you've no doubt had the pleasure of meeting Paté. This Boystown fixture has been serving up the sauce at many local LGBT bars ( including Cocktail, Berlin, Spin and The Closet ) since 1986. Last year, while behind the bar on a very busy Sunday afternoon, fate served Paté a potent potable that was a little hard to swallow. "The pain was mind-blowing!," Paté says of the very first indication that something was awry. "My barback suggested I sit down, but there was no time. I had to keep moving!"
Not one to be knocked down easily, Paté continued to walk around "in and out of pain" for several months, in hopes that these pains would subside. By October 2009, however, they had not subsided and Paté wound up being rushed to the emergency room by a friend ( under defiant protest ) . After a series of tests, it was determined that she had developed a massive abdominal tumor, measuring a full one foot across. News that the tumor was benign provided cold comfort, as Paté knew that the coming surgeries—to say nothing of the costs and dealing with health insurance—would end up taking quite a toll on this stalwart, punk-tough girl.
Paté found out that her limited insurance would only cover some of the many tests, procedures and hospital visits needed to attack this "Texas-sized" tumor. She revealed, "Frankly, I anticipated problems with insurance. I was a cancer patient years ago ( and kicked its ass! ) and couldn't obtain better coverage because of it. 'High risk,' I think they called it. It stinks. What do people with families and children do? Medical bills are astronomically ridiculous." As a result, she ended up having to wait five more months before the invasive procedure of removing the tumor could begin.
In addition to confronting the mounting medical costs involved, she has been out of work for seven months and is enduring a "long, painful, emotional, reflective" recovery process. When asked about these reflections, Paté responded that this whole situation has taught her to "never bring a knife to a gunfight."
She is no stranger to fights, either. Paté has lost all members of her immediate family to death within the past few years. "I have learned to be resilient by necessity," said Paté. "This was the proverbial 'cherry on top'! The universe keeps knocking me down, but I keep gettin' back up!" Her indomitable fighting spirit ( with a touch of that Elvis swagger for which she is so widely known ) also drives her to donate countless hours of her time to local pet adoption agencies, humane organizations, and animal rescue programs. Not only is she anxious to get back to work behind the bar, but also to do what she can for her animal friends in need.
Cocktail owner Geno Zaharakis also expressed his sincere desire to see Paté back in action: "These past few months we have missed Paté greatly and hope for her speedy return. The family at Cocktail and myself agree that her presence has been missed and we can't wait for her to heal and get back to work."
Her home bar, Cocktail, is planning "Chicks Dig Scars," a benefit to raise much-needed funds to aid in the recovery and financial strain all of this has put on Paté. In addition to the benefit, the bar has created a page on their website where people can go to make donations via the online payment service PayPal. Cocktail General Manager David Sikora began posting benefit information on Facebook May 20, and has been floored by the immediate community outpouring of support: "I have been getting an overwhelming response from people by Facebook, e-mail and phone. Many of the other bars and resturants in Boystown have donated gift certificates to help us raise money, but I have been getting calls from all over, actually. I talked with people who know or who worked with Paté who live as close as Minneapolis and as far as Austrailia! Within a few short hours of setting up the PayPal account for those who can't make it to the benefit, there were hundreds of dollars donated to help her pay for the medical bills. I can only hope that if something were to ever happen to me, that the community would step up the way they are doing for Paté. If we don't look out for each other, who will?"
The emotional impact of all of this community support can only help Paté heal faster. She describes herself as "humbled and so very grateful" to see the reaction. "I don't know that there are words to convey my sincere thanks. I fervently want to get back to work slinging drinks behind the bar and to see everyone!"
Chicks Dig Scars: A Benefit For Paté takes place at Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted, Saturday, June 12, 3-7 p.m. Visit www.cocktailbarchicago.com/pate to make a donation.
