Katie’s Story

Site created on August 7, 2009

THE CLIMB - The Katie Hawley story available on Amazon.

Venmo ~ Mary-KayHawley (white visor)

This page hasn’t been updated for almost 13 years! Crazy that our youngest has lived with cancer longer then she has hasn’t.

During her short almost 22 years here on this planet Katie has battled cancer SIX times. Each relapse the disease showed up in a different location; right adrenal gland, through out her bones, back of her skull, thyroid, lungs, chest cavity and now a benign tumor intertwined around a nerve in her spine. If I hadn’t of personally walked this journey with her - this would all sound made up.

Despite her difficult journey, Katie has faced these trials with faith, grace and courage. Throughout the past 13 years, she has consistently given back to the community ~ paying all your generosity forward, if you will. My daughter helped found S.O.S, Stuff Our Slippers and over the years has passed out hundreds of fuzzy footwear to the pediatric cancer ward. Rallied friends to run for Pediatric Cancer Research. Along side of me Katie has volunteered at the Motel Church, passing out breakfast and hope to the working homeless. She has served Crossline Church, both in the nursery and co-leading a small group of junior high girls in Bible Study. Katie still works on Sunday with the littles when she’s home from college.

Finding her voice, Katie has spoken and shared her story dozens of times with local charities; NEGU, Soccer for Hope and Goldrush Cure Foundation. As well as speaking in front of thousands of college students at UCLA and Oregon State for Relay for Life. As a Tri-Delt, Katie has assisted her sorority in raising millions for Saint Jude’s. Her legacy she is building will have a ripple effect for generations to come.

Life, though full of chaos and uncertainty has not slowed my daughter down from living life to the fullest! She has swam with the dolphins, interviewed hockey professionals, pursued her Hollywood crush and not only got to meet Ansel Elgort, she sat in a Teen Vogue photo shoot. She had one line in a Netflix’s series, had chatted with Michael Buble’, showing him off to her college dorm friends. Katie played video games with Justin Bieber and has his guitar propped up in her room. She’s jumped Blackrock in Maui, snorkeled the deep seas, skied the slopes in Utah and California. Yep, despite a life full of chaos and uncertainty- by the grace of GOD our Father she has LIVED!

Early on Katie was told she might have learning disabilities because of all the chemo. Yet this young women is months away from graduation. She transferred into the business program at Baylor University in Waco Texas, because she wanted to challenge herself. She may even end her four years with honors! She makes no excuses - but tackles all obstacles with faith, Hope and perseverance!

The most beautiful part of her story is the young man Andrew who I believe Jesus brought to her. He is a gift! Andrew has embraced my girl and loves her unconditionally. Planning their wedding is one of the highlights of my life.

We will continue to pray for someone, somewhere to find a cure!

We will continue to pray our precious Katie will live a full lifespan and someday see her children’s children!

May the Lord bless you and keep you - May His face shine upon you and give you Peace! Amen!

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Katie Hawley Fund - gofundme

Prayers are being answered! Above all...continue to pray!Catherine (Katie) Hawley is a happy, outgoing, athletic and very spiritual 9 year old girl. She has always been able to comfortably walk into a room of strangers and ask the first person she sees if they would like to play. At a very young age she led our family in prayer at the dinner table.

At age 4 she started playing AYSO soccer with me (her dad) coaching her. Coaching my daughters was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had as a father. Katie excelled, so at age 6 we decided to enroll her in a competitive club soccer program with the Southern California Blues.

In Jan/Feb of 09 during the Blues run for the California State Championship, we noticed a slight difference in her energy level but dismissed it as her just needing a break for a few weeks. During that time I also noticed her struggling to keep her feet under her. She appeared to labor to get up to speed and she seemed to have lost some of her quickness. Again, I dismissed it due to her recent growth spurt.

In the spring of 09 her club team took a much needed 2+ month break after they lost in the GU9 State Championship game. In this "off-season" period for the Blues, she continued to play soccer for the Ladera Ranch AYSO GU10 Plus team. That team won the championship for south Orange County and the end of season Area Tournament. At the same time, Katie worked out at an indoor conditioning facility.

During the early summer months her club team played in several soccer tournaments. Before the first Surf Cup tournament game on Saturday morning July 25th Katie threw up. About 2 days prior, Katie had complained about some minor but persistent abdomen pain. We thought she might have the flu, but she felt better after throwing up so we let her play. She was just not herself. She sat out during the 2nd game Saturday afternoon only to wake up on Sunday morning feeling better and wanting to play again.

Then the following Monday, July 27th, I decided to take her in to the local Urgent Care facility to get examined. Thank God for the perceptive Physicians Assistant that saw Katie named Michelle B. She just didn't think things seemed right and ordered an abdominal x-ray and ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a "mass" near Katie's stomach area so a CT scan was ordered for the next day. The result was further confirmation of the existence of the tumor.

This was the most shocking and devastating news MaryKay and I had ever heard. We cried during and in between making the calls to our family to tell them. At this point we did not know if the tumor was cancerous.

Another parent on Katie's soccer team had connections into the medical community.  That parent's name is Curt Wasserman and I will forever be in debt to him. Through his actions, and those of our new friend Len Shulman, we were immediately connected to Dr. Cairo in NY. Dr. Cairo is a world renowned leader in Oncology. He was on a speaking engagement in Texas but offered his contact information to us, perfect strangers to him, so he could assist. He guided us to Dr. Marcio at CHLA, who is also a widely recognized "world expert" in Pediatric solid tumors. Dr. Marcio agreed to see Katie the next day, Friday, July 31st. That day, we were introduced to Dr. Stein, the leading pediatric surgeon at CHLA.

On August 5th, 2009, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor that was causing her abdominal pain. During surgery, it was determined that the tumor was malignant. Katie was diagnosed with Stage 3, High Risk, GanglioNeuroblastoma, nodular cancer. The egg-sized tumor growing from her right adrenal gland and the adrenal gland itself were removed as were 2 of Katie's lymph nodes. Cancer remained in her abdomen and she began chemotherapy treatments at CHLA on August 11th under the care of Dr. Araz Marachelian who we have the utmost confidence in.

In all, Katie has had 4 surgeries, 6 cycles of Chemotherapy, Stem Cell Chemotherapy, 12 rounds of Radiation, 5 rounds of ch14.18 and high doses of Accutane. She was declared N.E.D. (no evidence of disease) in December of 2009 and remains that way today.

Life has dealt us this unexpected and incredible challenge.  With your prayers, and God's Good Grace, we will continue to overcome this.  Please keep Katie in your prayers.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Mary Hawley

Today I am grateful for all of you and The Gold Rush Cure Foundation. 

Remember that old soap opera’s slogan? “As sands through an hour glass, so are the days of our life.” You won’t remember that last Starbucks coffee, but I guarantee if you’re a part of 5$ Friday, you will fondly remember that feeling of giving all the days of your life. Your handful of change, will literally change the life of a sick child. 

One Pot Of Gold cost roughly 500.00 - we are still short of that goal and could use your donation today! 

_____________________

After high school graduation Katie came to me and her father, Bob with a serious heart. “I know we don’t have the money for private school, but I prayed about this and really believe I should go to Baylor.” She had been accepted to several universities; I was hoping she’d stay home and attend UCI. For one it was MUCH less expensive and selfishly I could keep her close to me.

It’s difficult to tell your child ‘no’ to their dreams, but add a lifetime battle of illness and all bets are off. We told her we would discuss it. Looking at our financial situation, there was no way we could swing this. I went before my Lord Jesus on bended knee and prayed. $25,000.00 - I came before God and put a fleece before Him. Father in Heaven, if we can get 25k of scholarship money before school next fall, I will take that as a sign Katie’s destiny should be Baylor.

I immediately went to work, researching any and all scholarships. There were a number of documents needed with each one; letters of recommendations, doctors documentation with dates of each relapse, transcripts and of course the essay’s written with different and difficult instructions, detailing why Katie should receive funding. Mid May, weeks before having to make a decision we had reached 20,000.00 in outside money! Bob, over zealous jumped the gun at 20k and told Katie to decline UCI’s offer and let Baylor know she’d be a freshman in the fall! 

I however when discovered him pulling the trigger, panicked! “Bob, I had an agreement with God, that twenty FIVE thousand was our ticket to pick Baylor. We are only at 20,000!” He shrugged it off. I couldn’t do that and went back to prayer. “Jesus if this isn’t your will for our girl Katie SHUT the DOOR or make it clear we are taking the right path!” 

Well, He is so faithful, remarkable actually. Within 6 to 10 hours I receive an email from Baylor, from the admissions office. They apologized for OVER estimating our tuition, by FIFTY ONE hundred dollars! We basically got the 5 grand to hit the 25,000 and my friend Jesus threw in an extra 100 bucks, as a hug from heaven!

The rest is history! Katie thrived and loved every moment she experienced on campus; from rushing Tri Delt, to surprise snow storms and snowball fights at 2 AM. 

Why did I share this? What does this have to do with Fun 5$ Fridays and Gold Rush Cure Foundation? 

Years ago, Sandy had read on my CaringBridge my goal of 25k and she did her own homework. She found an organization that supports cancer survivors and assist them to get into college. Her heart, her connections, her compassion turned into action introduced us to Game Changers who presented Katie with 10 percent of our goal! That’s the heart of this woman. She sees a need, she does everything in her power to meet it. Now that YOU see a need - please help me and Katie, help her, help others!!

As we round the second to last Friday of the month, I’d like to invite you to join me in the privilege and blessing of giving to a deserving charity. Gold Rush Cure Foundation is totally and completely volunteered run and NO ONE receives a paycheck for their services. Every single dime goes to the children! 

You can either Venmo me, or go directly to their website. While you’re there, check out the online auction happening now. Either way, please consider giving. Your small contribution can make such a HUGE impact on a small child.



I love you all so much. 

All of you who have given - thank you so much!!

 All of you who are prayers, may I boldly ask you to continue to pray for Katie and her older sister Melanie. Melanie is rounding the corner of her second year of law school and the pressures are intense. We could use backup 🙏 

I posted a couple fun pics of Katie’s BEAST Kenia. Also I went line dancing with a handful of friends the other day and ran into a lot of strangers who’s child attends or have attended BAYLOR! Pretty cool… 

Love ya all, 
MK
Until she sees her children’s children 

Let’s break the internet with all the giving today! 🥰
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