Support Katie's Fight Against Cancer

How do I even describe Katie Conlan Corbett? How do I do justice to a person like her? I'll do my best.

Kate came into my life in 1991. I had just come home from Louisiana with baby Christina on my hip. I got a job at Bennigans and, well, that job, gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life, Katie Conlan. It was bizarre, how I knew when I met her that she was meant for Kevin. I told my mother Kevin was going to fall in love. My mother met her and agreed. Then Kevin met her. After a while, we were all suprised, nervous, and happy to hear that Katie and Kevin were waiting for the arrival of Chelsea. That beautiful little sweet baby that my baby brother Kevin and Kate, a baby herself, brough into the world. I survived being a young mom with Kate joining the ranks. Our little girls, Christina and Chelsea, have been best friends since birth.

Young moms still need their moms. Sadly, in 1998, we lost Katies mom and, at just 6 years old, Chelseas grandmom, Gert. The Conlans electric personalities are a reflection of Gert. Since then, and after a promise my mother made to Gert, my mother became Kates earthly mom. Thinking back, I think this is when the whole Conlan and Diehl family just became as one. If you've ever been to a family party you probably cant tell who is from what family, especially when "Thunder Road" is playing

Thank God for that job at Bennigans.

Katie grew up on Harper Ave in Drexel Hill, where she and her family were active members of the Saint Andrews Parish. Youngest daughter of Gert and Jack Conlan, and youngest sibling to Marion, Jack, Larry, and Tommy. She went to Saint Andrews from first through eigth grade. It was during this time that she found cheerleading and also how much she loved to sing. Her highschool career was at Arch Bishop Prendergast. Here she continued her cheerleading career and made friends that she still to this day has by her side. Kate was a student at Neumann when Chelsea came along in 1992.

Kevin and Katie stayed true and amazing parents even though they did not stay together as a couple. They are what all parents should be, a united front for the well being of their daughter. Plus she couldnt get away from us even if she tried.

Now comes Ryan Corbett. The irish boy with the handsome face and brogue so thick you could barely understand him. His smile and laugh matched Kates and his confidence was unmatched. Their relationship was a whirl wind but honestly they were so right, at the time, everyone was just happy to be around them. I remember the day, sitting on the beach in Ocean City, when Kate had just gotten in to town, walked down to the beach, put her chair down, sat and said, "I'm pregnant". Then along comes Erin, aka Bubs Corbett, and not to far behind, little Ryan. The family dynamic which has always included Kate, Ryan, Kevin, Chelsea, Erin, and Ryan, is nothing short of beautiful. Family, Friendship, Love. They embody the meaning of these words

If you're from Delco you know the Conlans or you know of the Conlans. You know their history of charity and fundrasing. You know their contagious laughs. You know their beautiful smiles. You know their wonderful hearts. You know the unfair losses the Conlan family has dealt with.

Thinking her anemia was bad because she could hardly walk, on March 22 of this year, she went to Bryn Mawr Hospital. It was there she found out her hemobglobin was 3.4. They did a cat scan and found the mass on her cervix. In that moment, we saw Katie, show her stregnth and prepare for battle. She has no intention of letting this beat her. This is a fight all her own. But she does not need to be destracted by financial burdon right now. This is where we all come in. This is the reason for this go fund me. Please help me help, her so she can focus on what we cant help with, beating Cancer.

Her official disgnosis is cervical cancer 4A. She recently completed radiation and chemo after about 9 grueling weeks. Due to her kidneys not functioning properly because of pressure from the tumor, she has to have nephrostomy tubs and bags for the kidneys to drain and we are unsure how long she will need them. She recently had to go to Penn for an excruciating radiation therapy called Breachytherapy. There were complications during the procedure which resulted in her having to have blood transfusions. It was terrifying. Thankfully they were able to get the bleeding under control. She rang the Chemo/radiation bell recently but her battle is FAR from over. As she explained to me, this was the little bell, not the big bell, but every bell is a big bell if you ask me. Now they are working to bring back her immune system and she will be beginning 15 rounds of Immunotherapy this upcoming week. They are hoping over the next two months the tumor, which they are hopeful is dead, will pass through her system. She has countless specialist appointments coming up and in August will have a pet scan where we will find out if the tumor is gone and she can have surgery. Her blood cell counts are not normal now, which is a cause for concern. Things can change and pretty much have been changing often. But Kate, she keeps her smile, laugh, and sense of humor in true Conlan style. Shes got this.

I've started this GoFundMe to help with her growing and unfathomable medical costs and daily living costs. The last thing she need to worry about right now are bills. We need Kate to focus on one thing...... getting better and back to all of us.