Meet Katie.
A vibrant third-grade special education teacher from Solvay Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, Katie is known for her unwavering spirit, infectious laughter, and deep love for her students. When she’s not in her classroom cheering on her “Bearcats,” she’s rooting for her Syracuse Orange, spending time with her husband of five years, or spoiling their miniature schnauzer, Binx—a “COVID puppy” named after the iconic black cat from Hocus Pocus. Fun fact: Binx shares his birthday, August 23rd, with the GOAT Kobe Bryant—a coincidence Katie calls “a sign of greatness.”
On Sunday, April 16th, 2023, Katie’s life changed in an instant. She woke up at 4 a.m. with sharp stomach pains and, by morning, could hardly breathe. Her husband rushed her to Crouse Hospital, where doctors suspected gallbladder issues. After X-rays and a CT scan, she received devastating news—lesions on her liver and stomach lining, and a tumor on her colon. At just 39 years old, Katie heard the words no one expects to hear: “You have cancer.”
Katie was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Though her doctors explained that it’s not curable, it is treatable—and from that moment on, she vowed to fight with everything she had. Since then, Katie has completed 28 rounds of chemo and immunotherapy, 9 rounds of radiation, and a full hysterectomy. She’s now enrolled in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, where she’s receiving three types of immunotherapies and a chemotherapy pill twice a day.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. One of Katie’s hardest moments came when she and her husband, who had been pursuing IVF, learned that their embryo transfer just weeks earlier would be their last chance for now. Her oncologist explained that fertility preservation was no longer an option due to her diagnosis and treatment plan. “That was the hardest thing I had to hear,” Katie shared. “I went to Shake Shack in a daze, double-fisting a Coke and chocolate milkshake.”
Despite the heartbreak and the physical toll of treatment, Katie continues to show remarkable courage and grace. She works full-time teaching, takes only the time needed for treatment, and finds joy in her daily routines. “My team and my students give me my sense of normalcy,” she says. “If I was healthy, I’d be teaching—so that’s what I do. Never bet against me.”
Her biggest supporters include her husband, her family, and her lifelong group of best friends known as “The Dolls.” Together since childhood, they’ve stood by her through every milestone and challenge, offering love that stretches across the country.
Outside of the classroom, Katie finds peace in walking Binx, cozy nights by the fire, going to the movies, and traveling whenever she feels her best. She’s also committed to her health and recovery through self-care—cold plunges, saunas, massages, red light therapy, and her membership at Edge Strength & Recovery.
When Fightstrong Foundation met Katie online, we were immediately moved by her light, strength, and positivity. We knew she was someone special—a fighter with an unbreakable will to overcome every obstacle in her path. To support her through her recovery, we donated three months of her Edge Strength & Recovery program, a gift card for her monthly facials, and Wegmans gift cards to help her stay nourished and strong throughout treatment.
We truly believe that Katie will continue to defy the odds, and one day, she will be the incredible mother she has always dreamed of becoming.
Katie’s mindset is one of faith and gratitude. Before every appointment at Sloan Kettering, she lights a candle and says a prayer. Every New Year’s Eve, she and her husband make vision boards and sage their home—creating space for healing and new beginnings. “My mindset is I am healed,” she says. “I pray on it, believe it, manifest it.”
Her advice for others: “Keep going. On the hard days, go outside and breathe. Be a champion for yourself and someone else. Do small acts of kindness—because what you put into the world comes back to you.”
Katie’s journey is one of faith, perseverance, and endless love. Her motto says it best:
“Believe it. Manifest it. Pray on it.” #Champion
Katie, we cannot wait to see you overcome this battle. Your strength and spirit inspire us every single day, and we’ll always be here — right by your side, cheering you on through every victory ahead.