Help Kat Get Her Life Back! #helpKat
Donation protected
This fundraiser is made in the name of Kat.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Kat has worked diligently as a Licensed Practical Nurse for over 25 years. She suffered two unimaginable losses almost two decades apart: first, the death of her daughter at age 10 while learning to ride a bike, and then her son, in 2009, while he served with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq.
The torment of these losses alone would be unbearable for most. But Kat had two younger sons to raise, and so she stood firm, even when her legs quivered and her eyes filled with tears. To spend more time with her sons, she began working in Home Health and Hospice, which often required going into high-risk neighborhoods throughout the city to provide care and management to patients in their homes.
Then, on January 26, 2012, Kat’s life changed forever. While en route to see a patient, she was kidnapped at gunpoint and taken to an abandoned house. She was robbed of her phone, house keys, tablet and wallet. Then, more masked individuals arrived and ordered her to disrobe and threatened to shoot her if she looked up. Kat was raped. Orally, anally, and vaginally. Kat describes the physical pain and sheer terror as “beyond her worst nightmare.” Wondering whether she would survive, she thought only of her two sons and their safety.
The physical attack ended but the nightmare continued. The fear, panic, and anxiety were all just beginning. Kat could not return to work, not only fearing if or when an attack could recur, but also knowing that she could not possibly take on the responsibility of caring for a patient when she herself struggled to recover.
It took two and a half years for justice to be reached with guilty pleas and guilty verdicts in criminal court. However, by now, her finances are now in ruin. A single mother who was once able to provide her sons with everything they needed and most of they wanted--a mother who worked overtime, weekends, and holidays--now struggles to make daily school drops offs and pick ups, counseling sessions, and, until very recently, seemingly endless court hearings and meetings.
To make matters worse, a once patient landlord is now calling for her eviction. Kat owes over $4000 in back rent on top of all her other struggles. Too humiliated and anxious to ask for help until the criminal process concluded, she is now facing yet another potentially life damaging uncertainty, one that affects not only herself but her sons as well.
Kat still strives to see the bright side of the heavy hand she has been dealt. But recently, she has had to dig in a lot deeper to find her smile and charm. Her friends think “she's just doing it for us.”
Kat has been brave enough to step up and share her story. Let’s give Kat the help and support she deserves. What may be little to us is invaluable to her. Admire her courage, support her endurance, and most importantly, thank her for SPEAKING UP LOUDLY ON BEHALF OF RAPE SURVIVORS EVERYWHERE.
LET'S HELP KAT OUT!
More information about her case can be found through numerous news articles, such as
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/9248815-171/home-health-care-nurse-testifies
and
http://www.fox8live.com/story/25594400/former-home-health-nurse-gives-graphic-testimony-of-2012-gang-rape
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Kat has worked diligently as a Licensed Practical Nurse for over 25 years. She suffered two unimaginable losses almost two decades apart: first, the death of her daughter at age 10 while learning to ride a bike, and then her son, in 2009, while he served with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq.
The torment of these losses alone would be unbearable for most. But Kat had two younger sons to raise, and so she stood firm, even when her legs quivered and her eyes filled with tears. To spend more time with her sons, she began working in Home Health and Hospice, which often required going into high-risk neighborhoods throughout the city to provide care and management to patients in their homes.
Then, on January 26, 2012, Kat’s life changed forever. While en route to see a patient, she was kidnapped at gunpoint and taken to an abandoned house. She was robbed of her phone, house keys, tablet and wallet. Then, more masked individuals arrived and ordered her to disrobe and threatened to shoot her if she looked up. Kat was raped. Orally, anally, and vaginally. Kat describes the physical pain and sheer terror as “beyond her worst nightmare.” Wondering whether she would survive, she thought only of her two sons and their safety.
The physical attack ended but the nightmare continued. The fear, panic, and anxiety were all just beginning. Kat could not return to work, not only fearing if or when an attack could recur, but also knowing that she could not possibly take on the responsibility of caring for a patient when she herself struggled to recover.
It took two and a half years for justice to be reached with guilty pleas and guilty verdicts in criminal court. However, by now, her finances are now in ruin. A single mother who was once able to provide her sons with everything they needed and most of they wanted--a mother who worked overtime, weekends, and holidays--now struggles to make daily school drops offs and pick ups, counseling sessions, and, until very recently, seemingly endless court hearings and meetings.
To make matters worse, a once patient landlord is now calling for her eviction. Kat owes over $4000 in back rent on top of all her other struggles. Too humiliated and anxious to ask for help until the criminal process concluded, she is now facing yet another potentially life damaging uncertainty, one that affects not only herself but her sons as well.
Kat still strives to see the bright side of the heavy hand she has been dealt. But recently, she has had to dig in a lot deeper to find her smile and charm. Her friends think “she's just doing it for us.”
Kat has been brave enough to step up and share her story. Let’s give Kat the help and support she deserves. What may be little to us is invaluable to her. Admire her courage, support her endurance, and most importantly, thank her for SPEAKING UP LOUDLY ON BEHALF OF RAPE SURVIVORS EVERYWHERE.
LET'S HELP KAT OUT!
More information about her case can be found through numerous news articles, such as
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/9248815-171/home-health-care-nurse-testifies
and
http://www.fox8live.com/story/25594400/former-home-health-nurse-gives-graphic-testimony-of-2012-gang-rape
Organizer
Kathleen Mckeown
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
