In 2010 at only 3 years old, Katie was diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus, which causes her body to rapidly lose water, and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH)—a rare disease which caused her to develop a brain tumor. Katie’s family turned to Levine Children’s Hospital’s medical experts for help. When physicians encountered complications in their attempt to biopsy her tumor, Katie and her family faced a longer stay at Levine Children’s Hospital than they initially expected. They spent the next couple of weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit to. Katie eventually underwent 6 months of chemotherapy at Levine Children’s Hospital. At the end of 2010, Katie’s doctors gave her family the miraculous news that her tumor was gone. Due to a 50% chance of re-occurrence of the LCH and late effects of the chemotherapy, Katie returns to Levine Children’s Hospital for checkups on a regular basis. During their extended stay, Levine Children’s Hospital became a home away from home for Katie and her family. As her mother, Theresa, comments,

“We’re lucky to live close to a wonderful children’s hospital, Levine Children’s Hospital and to have never needed the services of Ronald McDonald House. Katie and I do a lot of volunteering there to help those families feel a bit better during their stay. I also joined the family advisory council at [Levine Children’s] hospital as a way to give back. Katie is always looking for an opportunity to make other sick kids feel better.”

Katie, who is now 7 years old and 4 years cancer-free, spends her time giving back to Levine Children’s Hospital by donating and delivering Girl Scout cookies to their oncology, radiology, recovery and pediatric intensive care unit teams, and to families staying nearby at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Katie’s efforts were a far-reaching success. To-date, more than 300 boxes have been donated from people in nearly 20 different countries across the globe.

While Katie’s battle with Langerhans Cell Histocytosis is fortunately over, countless patients at Levine Children’s Hospital still suffer from pediatric cancer. In fact, 160,000 new cases of pediatric cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. The Keep Pounding© 5K Run is an opportunity for everyone in our community to contribute to the fight against pediatric cancer. This annual fundraising event benefits pediatric cancer programs at the most comprehensive children’s hospital in our region with the latest treatments: Levine Children’s Hospital.

Sign up for the 4th Annual Keep Pounding© 5K Run TODAY to do your part in our fight to #KeepPounding pediatric cancer on behalf of kids like Katie!