The owner of C.C's Elbow room closes to help focus efforts on helping daughter battle cancer

 

BROOKEFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A tough life decision was made for a family in Brookfield.

The owner of C.C.'s Elbow Room is closing it down to help focus efforts on helping her daughter battle cancer.

"It was always a dream of mine to own a bar and live upstairs," said Cee Cee Ceman, bar owner.

In 2022, that dream came true. Ceman opened her first bar here on Brookfield Road with a new look that sparkles.

"Oh yea, down to the studs. New floor, new walls, new everything," said Ceman.

But it came on the heels of great sadness, the death of her husband.

"He had something called MSA, Multiple System Atrophy, it's much like ALS. My husband was ill for eight years and I was his caregiver and he passed away," said Ceman.

When C.C.'s Elbow Room opened, her supportive daughter Joanie sadly couldn't be there in person. So, they did the next best thing.

"I would Facetime her and put her little bald head on the shelf and she would watch everything going on and say 'I just want to be a part of it,'" said Ceman.

The 34-year-old Joanie was fighting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma with chemo.

"And it was completely all over her body, every organ, everything. The scan was horrifying to see," said Ceman.

Success battling the disease was temporary. Remission was short-lived. The cancer is back, and Joanie is now 30 weeks pregnant.

"Everybody goes through this stuff, so we're just keeping positive, she'll be okay, the baby will be fine," said Ceman.

With C.C.'s Elbow Room open less than two years, Ceman abruptly announced she's closing to do what she can to help her family.

Support from the community has been big. Just look around, every seat in the house has been taken.

"We're here at least once a week. We love them. They are family. We completely understand, completely understand what she's going through and support her so much," said Debbie Sommers, bar patron.

The bar's been packed all week with people stopping in to wish her well. They're leaving bracelets, and a prayer in their heart that all goes well for Joanie and the baby.

"We're like a family here. We're just all going through it together and we're making the best of it," said Ceman.

There's even a GoFundMe, earmarked to pay for a night nurse to help care for the baby, allowing Joanie time to rest between her chemo treatments.