Kati has passed.

May 1. Kati has passed. It was a peaceful and pain-free transition.

She was surrounded by family.

Go be with D Dog, mom and dad.

Update 4/23/25: Fellow Katinauts—Lori Myers here. It’s been a minute since my last post due to a tragedy in my family, many apologies…as I come out of the fog I wanted to provide an update for Kati. So much has happened for Kati in the last 7 months. This is a photo of Kati in March with her brothers Rich and Scott. Kati has moved from NYC to Lincoln, NE under the care of her brothers, her sister-in-law, as well as several cats and a beautiful dog. The vicious wounds on her heels have healed after several painful treatments, which has been a game changer for her comfort level. Today is 4/23/25 and she said that she does not have an appetite but that she is not in pain. Kati has lost a great deal of weight. She has been trying to take several bites but then feels full. Kati’s cervical surgery from a burst fracture/spinal tumor several years ago has left her with a forward flexing of her head, for which her brother has been ordering soft cervical collars for a comfortable position. Her brother has created a safe haven for her in his home, and for that we are so extremely grateful. Her medical team agreed she should no longer be alone and manage those stairs…she was stubborn to leave her home in NYC as we know and love her, but ultimately she is comfortable and taking on the next part of her journey. Please message me if you would like to mail anything to Kati. Her energy is very low and she is very fatigued doing her everyday tasks, but she is thinking of everyone and sending love. And she even corrected me several times on my own brain farts during our call. If you have her information, I am sure she would appreciate a kind word, animal pic, humor…she is understandably scared and could use familiar comfort. Your kindness since the very first day of her diagnosis 9 years ago has been so overwhelmingly inspiring. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Kati Brazda, Chicago & New York actor. Sept, 2024 update.

Nov 8th marks the 8th anniversary of when Kati was first diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. She has endured intensive surgeries to her colon, lungs, liver, a burst spinal fracture from tumor invasion, lumbar surgery, countless rounds of chemotherapy, clinical trials…she is, as she calls herself, a professional patient. Surgeries to keep her body together, save her life, decrease pain in her legs and feet, and in some cases—to allow her the use of her neck and legs.

The colon cancer has continued to metastasize in these 8 years and settled into a tumor around her right fallopian tube. The cancer continues to metaticize into her spinal column.

Kati is no longer a candidate for clinical trials at this juncture, and oncology is looking at quality of life--non-curative treatment with continuing infusions and pill form chemo.

She needs your help. And if you know Kati, you know she does not easily ask for help. Many folks ask what they can do, and if there is anything we have learned these last five years...cash is what helps. Services that can be paid for works with Kati's schedule, her lifestyle, her independence.

I hope you will consider taking the time today to make Kati's life a little easier so that she can use services like an Uber to treatments (which she considers a luxury) or food delivery, purchase groceries and pay the bills, laundry services….the 8 story walk up and navigating the transportation, healthcare system and even the daily life of NYC ain’t no joke.

Kati Brazda has given me permission to share that her cancer has been deemed incurable.

It was an honor to be present for her first immunotherapy treatment in her Phase One trial at Mt. Sinai, and even more incredible is watching Kati endure what no one should endure with strength and determination and grit.

If you know her, you love her. If you don't know her, you should know her--she is light and goodness; she feeds pigeons out of her hand because she is worried they are hungry because they used to be carrier pigeons and she pitches tents like a pro to have a whiskey by the

campfire to listen intently to this beautiful world. 

Reach out to her on this next part of her journey in whatever way you can: laughter that makes her pee a little, kindness,

cash for the struggle of living in NY without the ability to work, summer cabins, great moments to relish as she fights 

this fight like Ali--do for her as she would...in fact...do the same for you.

 

March 15, 2021 Update: Lori Myers here.

Kati Brazda’s cancer is back and she needs our help. Kati will be recovering from

surgery on March 23rd for the removal of

cancerous nodules that have spread to

both right and left lungs from Stage 4 colon cancer that began in November of 2017.

Six to seven weeks later in May, she will

undergo a second surgery for the left lung.

Kati has taken many hits medically these

past 4 years in addition to colon, intestinal, liver and gall bladder surgeries to remove

the cancer—she has endured corrective

foot surgery, cataract surgery and a

surgery to remove blood clots from her leg. This is all also during the time Dempsey her hound has been diagnosed with cancer. 

Add a pandemic into the equation while 

living in NYC—I can’t beat around the bush:this is terrifying, painful, exhausting and 

not even touching on the depth of 

loneliness and isolation this suffering has 

amplified. She is struggling. 

She needs our help. NOW more than ever.

Kati’s Story: Needless to say, this recent

diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer and

Dempsey’s diagnosis have taken a toll on

our Kati. Kati is still facing huge challenges

with her health, finances, safety, and

well-being. Kati has spent the last four

years in intensive surgeries and recovery

periods that included chemo after being

diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that

spread to her liver and gall bladder.

The surgeries removed major sections of

her ascending intestines, the surrounding

lymph nodes, her entire gall bladder,

two malignant tumors in her liver, 

and then later a large portion of her liver.

After undergoing intensive chemotherapy, 

surgeries to aid in easing pain in her foot

and legs— Kati has been dealing with living in NY during this entire pandemic only to

find out that Dempsey her beloved pooch

has also been diagnosed with cancer which requires surgery and treatment. 

Any help you can give us a step closer to

easing Kati’s burden and bringing back JOYinto her life!!! Any little bit will help, so

let’s get back to KICKING CANCER'S ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kati’s Background: 

We all know and love the wonderful Kati

Brazda. You may know Kati from her long

career in theatre in NY and Chicago. Kati is incredibly talented and bright, an intense listener, down to earth, a fierce animal lover, kind, caring, compassionate--she's more

than likely got a smile on her face and she

puts one on your face by the light that she generates. Kati is the first to look at a

person's good side and their good intentions, and never shies away from looking for

the authenticity that is at the core of everything. She’s more comfortable on a horse 

than riding the subway, prefers a tent in

the Shenondah to the red carpet, and a

campfire and friends does her just fine on astarry night.

As we all know, Kati is a wonderful

freelance actor and was waiting tables

before cancer and the pandemic to make

ends meet. She has been unable to work

due to these major surgeries and

chemotherapy for her Stage Four colon cancer. NYC is expensive. Major surgeries are expensive. Taking care of a sick dog is

expensive. 

You can recall the many times Kati made time to talk to you, hang out, and to comfort you...now she needs us. Kati's life and

actions speak for themselves. I hold her dear to me, and I know that you do, too.

Please consider making a donation to help us reach our goal to help cover Kati's

medical expenses as she navigates the health care system, taking care of Dempsey, unemployment—an 8 flight walk up in NYC!!! And this is not even considering what she

has had to do to survive in NY during this

pandemic. Any little bit helps. Once and for all—help Kati KICK CANCER'S ASS.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Lori