Help Kate Kick Cancer
Donation protected
In Kate's own words: "Believe it or not, I wake up every day and feel so lucky to be the mom of two amazing daughters, live in a beautiful home on a friendly street in a great neighborhood. I have a good job, a job I love, and an employer who has taken good care of me. I am very lucky to have the life I have been given and cherish every day I'm alive."
This is Kate's story.
Kate's journey began in May, 2014 when she was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer. A radical hysterectomy was the recommended treatment to get rid of all the cancer and in July, 2014 she went in for a successful surgery.
As an active triathlete, a summer of no racing wasn't ideal, but as a teacher, using the summer to heal was important. In September, 2014 Kate returned to her job as a middle school physical education teacher.
But in October, Kate knew something was wrong again. In early November, 2014, just 4 months after her hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer, she learned that she had metastatic cervical cancer. A quick-spreading cancer, a large tumor formed on her descending bowel. It had metastasized from her port site from her surgery, something that only happens to 1% of women who have this surgery.
On November 24, 2014 Kate began chemotherapy - a concoction of Taxol, Carboplatin and Avastin. Her health insurance was very good, and her employers worked with her so she could spend all her energy focusing on treating the cancer, not how much it will cost to treat it.
After 7 rounds of chemo (6 plus an additional one for good measure), Kate was told she was in remission in April of 2015. With her family rallying around her during her treatment, she was ready to use the summer of 2015 to get healthy and strong.
In September, 2015 something was wrong again. A new scan showed the cancer returned, more aggressive than the last time. Forced to leave her job as a teacher after being back for only 4 weeks, the magnitude of the situation sank in. While fortunate to keep her disability insurance during her first round with metastasized cervical cancer, she was no longer eligible for disabilty payments. While she still has her health insurance, she does not have an income.
Kate's family is no doubt the source of her strength, but as a widowed mother of two teenage girls, she is the sole source of income for her family, and she no longer has that income. Her friends and family rallied around her when she was widowed while pregnant with her youngest daughter 13 years ago, and they are with her again today.
As Kate begins chemotherapy, again, she is looking into public and private agencies for assistance, but the daily costs of running a household with active teenagers are taking their toll. In addition to daily finances, she is making sure her daughters' lives remain as normal as possible - that means spending money for dance classes, track shoes, school uniforms, etc.
Please help Kate and her family with whatever you're able to give. If you know Kate and her daughters, Anna and Lucy, you know how great their spirits are. If you don't know Kate and her family, know that you are helping a wonderful mom of two amazing girls. And more often than not, it's the kindness of strangers that helps the world go round.
This is Kate's story.
Kate's journey began in May, 2014 when she was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer. A radical hysterectomy was the recommended treatment to get rid of all the cancer and in July, 2014 she went in for a successful surgery.
As an active triathlete, a summer of no racing wasn't ideal, but as a teacher, using the summer to heal was important. In September, 2014 Kate returned to her job as a middle school physical education teacher.
But in October, Kate knew something was wrong again. In early November, 2014, just 4 months after her hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer, she learned that she had metastatic cervical cancer. A quick-spreading cancer, a large tumor formed on her descending bowel. It had metastasized from her port site from her surgery, something that only happens to 1% of women who have this surgery.
On November 24, 2014 Kate began chemotherapy - a concoction of Taxol, Carboplatin and Avastin. Her health insurance was very good, and her employers worked with her so she could spend all her energy focusing on treating the cancer, not how much it will cost to treat it.
After 7 rounds of chemo (6 plus an additional one for good measure), Kate was told she was in remission in April of 2015. With her family rallying around her during her treatment, she was ready to use the summer of 2015 to get healthy and strong.
In September, 2015 something was wrong again. A new scan showed the cancer returned, more aggressive than the last time. Forced to leave her job as a teacher after being back for only 4 weeks, the magnitude of the situation sank in. While fortunate to keep her disability insurance during her first round with metastasized cervical cancer, she was no longer eligible for disabilty payments. While she still has her health insurance, she does not have an income.
Kate's family is no doubt the source of her strength, but as a widowed mother of two teenage girls, she is the sole source of income for her family, and she no longer has that income. Her friends and family rallied around her when she was widowed while pregnant with her youngest daughter 13 years ago, and they are with her again today.
As Kate begins chemotherapy, again, she is looking into public and private agencies for assistance, but the daily costs of running a household with active teenagers are taking their toll. In addition to daily finances, she is making sure her daughters' lives remain as normal as possible - that means spending money for dance classes, track shoes, school uniforms, etc.
Please help Kate and her family with whatever you're able to give. If you know Kate and her daughters, Anna and Lucy, you know how great their spirits are. If you don't know Kate and her family, know that you are helping a wonderful mom of two amazing girls. And more often than not, it's the kindness of strangers that helps the world go round.
Organizer and beneficiary
Katie Corradini
Organizer
Elmira, NY
Kate Coller
Beneficiary