This website came from the love our daughter Katie had for the Ocean and Sterling Silver.
When our beautiful daughter Katie was 11, in July of 2003, she was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This is an adult disease that is a form of a pre-leukemia. She went through rounds of chemotherapy which did help, but not enough. At the end of the summer of 2003 a wonderful organization called Make-A-Wish gave her a bright light to look forward to at the end of this difficult journey that she had just begun. In November of 2003 she underwent a bone marrow transplant. She struggled with the many medical side effects of a transplant.
Katie had a joy inside that shown brightly on the outside. We called this her Jesus Joy. She had been through so much and continued to face many challenges ahead. We had always told her that she had the heart of a servant, for she did for others all the while she was so ill. We were so blessed to have people around the world praying for Katie and supporting our entire family. Make-A-Wish asked Katie what she would like when she got the "All Clear" sign from the doctor. She asked to go to Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas. They granted her this wish. It gave her something to get excited about and look forward to. She waited and dreamed and planned for this special event .
In the Spring of 2005 she received the "All Clear" from the doctors and we started planning, She could go on with her life. She enjoyed her summer and in the Fall she entered 8th grade. In those 2 years she had grown and knew what was important in life. She had always known Jesus and made Him Lord of her life. She knew that honestly and integrity were more than just words, they were an important part of who she was.
Her Make-A-Wish dream came true on Thanksgiving weekend of 2005. We couldn't imagine a more appropriate time to go to Atlantis. All her excitement that she had built up for over 2 years would be realized. We all went and she had the time of her life. We shared and enjoyed every moment with her. It was the time of our lives as well.
She continued throughout that school year , then in May of 2006, our worst fear became reality. Her disease had come back and progressed to AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This had far worse effects than the first time. We spent the next 6 months in Childrens Hospital never, ever leaving her side. Even in there she was thinking of others. On November 12, 2006, God took our precious Katie home.
Make-A Wish is an incredible organization that gives hope to a child with life threatening illnesses. You can be part of that hope for a child who needs it so desperately. Please donate today in Memory of Katie.
