Join Katie's Fight Against Colorectal Cancer

On June 10th, Katie (Ahlers) Standley, age 34, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. She is the loving wife of Jacob Standley and mother to 3 wonderful kids, Lawrence age 4, Stefan age 2 and Baby Rose age 4 months.

Katie’s cancer was discovered on a colonoscopy that she had following months of worsening tailbone pain. After she gave birth to her daughter, Rose, her pain worsened. After further testing, we learned that her cancer had spread to her tailbone and to nearby lymph nodes. She is scheduled to start radiation and chemotherapy.

Katie started out adulthood as an elementary teacher in Northern Virginia. After falling in love and marrying Jacob, she focused on her growing family and a thriving photography business (she is an amazing photographer!!). Five weeks ago her family relocated to North Carolina, far from her family and friend networks.

Katie has battled serious medical problems before. In 2016, she was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve (something she had since birth but didn’t know) and a resulting aortic root aneurysm. Her aneurysm unexpectedly grew in pregnancy, making childbirth life-threatening. Cleveland Clinic answered her prayers: On March 2nd 2020, she gave birth to her first son by c-section. Two weeks later, on March 20th 2020, she underwent a major open heart surgery to repair her valve and graft her aorta. While undergoing surgery, the world shut down due to COVID and her husband was literally kicked out of the waiting room while waiting for her surgery to finish. Katie woke up to no family nor access to her newborn baby for the next week.

As many of you already know, Katie is tough as nails. Even though she is a very sweet, generous and kind person, she has grit that many people could not even fathom.

We are hoping to make life just a little bit less stressful for Katie and her family. We are asking for donations to cover expenses so Katie and her family can focus on beating this horrible disease.

God performs miracles every day, including miracle recoveries from Stage 4 cancer. Katie is so grateful for medical technology, her faith, her medical team, and this time with family.

Please keep Katie Rose in your prayers.

Dear God, give us another miracle so Katie can continue to be a Light in our lives and in the lives of her husband and kids.

Katie and her whole family still cannot believe this is her reality and really appreciate any help to make her journey just a little easier. Thank you.

Check out Katie’s heart story from 2020 on Good Morning America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp6OG5hvV9o