Family of Mom Who Fought Cancer Needs Your Help
Angels walk with us. In human form, they brighten our days with a smile, with unwavering kindness, and with love. So much love.
Courtney Chenoweth Kolb was such an angel who fought so hard to stay with us. She was kind and selfless and smart and funny and giving. She was loving and deeply loved. She was our daughter, our granddaughter, our sister, our niece and cousin and friend. She was Tim’s wife. She was Kaden and Hadley’s mom. She is our angel. Her family needed her. And now they need your help.
Here’s the backstory:
In April 2021, Courtney began experiencing back pain that grew steadily worse, ultimately becoming unbearable. By the time she was able to see a caregiver who genuinely cared, it was determined she had a cyst. Not unusual, except that by the time it was removed, along with an ovary, it was the size of a baseball. It was hoped that removing this mass would ease her pain. The pain persisted. And then the report came: Cancer. But the cancer was not confined to the cyst and ovary already removed; it was a metastatic cancer that remained in her body. Further testing began. Ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, again and again and again, each test looking closer, deeper, seeking answers. Those answers revealed that Courtney has Stage 4 colorectal cancer that has spread to other organs. It was in her lymphatic system, too. And her blood. And her bones.
Let the treatment begin, right? Chemo? Radiation? Surgery? Not so fast. Hospitalized in Vincennes, Indiana, not far from their home in Lawrenceville, Illinois, Courtney began “yellowing.” She was jaundiced. Her liver was failing. She was transferred to IU Health’s Medical Primary Care Unit in Indianapolis where she could also be seen by the world-renowned specialists at Simon Cancer Center. To get her liver functioning, a difficult and delicate surgery was performed to open a closed bile duct. Tough procedure, but it appeared to work. She also needed surgery to open a constriction in her intestine which kept her from eating solid food or even process fluids taken in by mouth.
Did I mention that her kidneys faltered, too? She was on 24/7 dialysis and in the Intensive Care Unit for weeks. And then there were the blood clots that extended from her midsection down into each leg, restricting blood flow and endangering her legs and feet. Another surgery that was difficult and lengthy and touch-and-go. But the clots were mostly gone; blood flow had returned. Another challenge overcome!
With every new discovery and each new setback, Courtney was not only strong and brave, but tried to keep her family and friends in good spirits. Despite everything she was going through and every battle she was waging, she was concerned about us. Typical Courtney!
Courtney met every challenge, fought every battle, and made progress. Solid, serious progress. But ultimately, the disease was too widespread to continue the fight. On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Courtney passed peacefully with her husband holding her hand. Her children, sister, and parents had spent the day before at her side. It was their last opportunity to tell her how much she was loved and how much love they had felt from her throughout her short 35 years.
She was our angel on earth; now she's our guardian angel in heaven. It's Tim and Kaden and Hadley that need help now. Neighbors and friends and family have stepped up so generously already, and Courtney and her family have felt the love and the power of prayer and positivity. If you can keep her family in your prayers and continue to send positive energy their way, thank you!
Unfortunately, there’s also a financial need, and it’s huge. Imagine uprooting your family and not being able to work. Imagine having to put your local event-focused food service and catering business on hold. Imagine the staggering cost of round-the-clock, state-of-the-art, focused care. Imagine so many mounting bills that will not be fully covered by insurance.
Imagine if this were your daughter or your spouse or your mom.
Courtney Chenoweth Kolb was 35 years old. She was kind and selfless and smart and funny and giving. She was beautiful inside and out. She was loving. She was our daughter, our granddaughter, our sister, our niece and cousin and friend. She was Tim’s wife. She was Kaden and Hadley’s mom. She IS our angel.
Thank you so much for helping this family with whatever contribution you can share.
