Katherine G White Foundation
Donation protected
Katherine Grace Christina White, 19, of Vassalboro, ME passed away peacefully with her family by her side, Thursday, October 18, 2018 in the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Purpose:
It has been the goal of Katie's parents to always make sure that she wanted for nothing. The only times they struggled with this was when they ran into roadblocks with Insurance and MaineCare. Her parents and nurses fought for over two years to get her a new bed that would support her growing body and relieve any chance of pressure on her very sensitive skin. Mountains were finally moved and the bed was acquired, just this last summer. However, a wheelchair replacement (for the one she has had since she was 10 and a foot shorter) never was. It is her parents and sisters goal to make this fight a thing of the past for other kiddos like Katie.
Although her fight is over many other children continue theirs. Katie's parents hope to advocate on behalf of these children and young adults to change the rules that hinder their acquisition, as well as help fund equipment for families who have been waiting far too long. With the funds raised the family plans to help kiddos that are going through similar circumstances as Katie did so they may make the most of their time with their families.
Katie's Story:
She was born in Kirkland, WA. on August 14, 1999. Even before she was born her mom Sarah knew she was special. Katie underwent her first surgery while still in uteru and was one of the first 50 to pioneer the way for future kids like herself. After she was born she continued to fight while having surgeries for spina bifida, brain shunts, tracheostemy, and feeding tubes. By the time she was a toddler the number of brain surgeries had topped 50 and more than a dozen other surgeries on top of that. Frankly it was more surgeries than any one person should have to endure, yet she still stayed strong.
Her mom moved the girls, Katie and her sister Julia, back to Maine to be closer to family in 2004. A few years later in 2008 Katie met her future Step-Father, Tyler as he moved to Maine to be with the family. With the family now whole they were able to move into a home in Vassalboro, ME that had the space needed and provide a wonderful room with a specialized bathroom and enough space for all the equipment and medical supplies desperately needed.
Katherine was a student at Winslow High School. She was not your typical teenage girl. Instead of being obsessed with boys and social media, she was obsessed with Elmo and Sesame Street. At last count, she had acquired enough episodes to watch a different one every day of the year. Elmo has been her best best friend since she was tiny. He was basically her spirit animal. On any given day you could find her dressed in Elmo red and mimicking his laugh to perfection.
Katiebug also loved her animals, including her cat Angel (not such an angel), the “other cat” Singey, her dogs Jackson (the goofball) and Sadie (the other princess), and the family horse Lincoln.
24/7 nursing staff was needed to help support Katie and give the family time to help make life feel as "normal" as possible. Her nurses, too numerous to name, became a fixture in the household by providing critical care and support. Whether it was reading her a book, playing with her on the floor, watching videos, or going for a walk with her wheelchair they were always helping the family make her feel loved and happy.
The family was very blessed to have dedicated private duty nurses both here in Maine and in Washington who have cared for her since she was six months old. Teachers and therapists from her schools would come daily to visit Katie at home to make sure she received her education. Their arrival was often greeted by Katie’s big smile and her emphatic “HI!”
Thank you to all of the doctors and nurses on her PICU team at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. The level of dedication, compassion and commitment they showed in caring for her and in their interactions with her Mom, Dad and Sister were immense. Words cannot begin to express the gratitude the family feels for all of the generosity and support they received.
Purpose:
It has been the goal of Katie's parents to always make sure that she wanted for nothing. The only times they struggled with this was when they ran into roadblocks with Insurance and MaineCare. Her parents and nurses fought for over two years to get her a new bed that would support her growing body and relieve any chance of pressure on her very sensitive skin. Mountains were finally moved and the bed was acquired, just this last summer. However, a wheelchair replacement (for the one she has had since she was 10 and a foot shorter) never was. It is her parents and sisters goal to make this fight a thing of the past for other kiddos like Katie.
Although her fight is over many other children continue theirs. Katie's parents hope to advocate on behalf of these children and young adults to change the rules that hinder their acquisition, as well as help fund equipment for families who have been waiting far too long. With the funds raised the family plans to help kiddos that are going through similar circumstances as Katie did so they may make the most of their time with their families.
Katie's Story:
She was born in Kirkland, WA. on August 14, 1999. Even before she was born her mom Sarah knew she was special. Katie underwent her first surgery while still in uteru and was one of the first 50 to pioneer the way for future kids like herself. After she was born she continued to fight while having surgeries for spina bifida, brain shunts, tracheostemy, and feeding tubes. By the time she was a toddler the number of brain surgeries had topped 50 and more than a dozen other surgeries on top of that. Frankly it was more surgeries than any one person should have to endure, yet she still stayed strong.
Her mom moved the girls, Katie and her sister Julia, back to Maine to be closer to family in 2004. A few years later in 2008 Katie met her future Step-Father, Tyler as he moved to Maine to be with the family. With the family now whole they were able to move into a home in Vassalboro, ME that had the space needed and provide a wonderful room with a specialized bathroom and enough space for all the equipment and medical supplies desperately needed.
Katherine was a student at Winslow High School. She was not your typical teenage girl. Instead of being obsessed with boys and social media, she was obsessed with Elmo and Sesame Street. At last count, she had acquired enough episodes to watch a different one every day of the year. Elmo has been her best best friend since she was tiny. He was basically her spirit animal. On any given day you could find her dressed in Elmo red and mimicking his laugh to perfection.
Katiebug also loved her animals, including her cat Angel (not such an angel), the “other cat” Singey, her dogs Jackson (the goofball) and Sadie (the other princess), and the family horse Lincoln.
24/7 nursing staff was needed to help support Katie and give the family time to help make life feel as "normal" as possible. Her nurses, too numerous to name, became a fixture in the household by providing critical care and support. Whether it was reading her a book, playing with her on the floor, watching videos, or going for a walk with her wheelchair they were always helping the family make her feel loved and happy.
The family was very blessed to have dedicated private duty nurses both here in Maine and in Washington who have cared for her since she was six months old. Teachers and therapists from her schools would come daily to visit Katie at home to make sure she received her education. Their arrival was often greeted by Katie’s big smile and her emphatic “HI!”
Thank you to all of the doctors and nurses on her PICU team at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. The level of dedication, compassion and commitment they showed in caring for her and in their interactions with her Mom, Dad and Sister were immense. Words cannot begin to express the gratitude the family feels for all of the generosity and support they received.
Organizer
Sarah Watson
Organizer
Vassalboro, ME
