- Teacher SMOTA
- Mother - 4 boys, 15yrs, 13 yrs, 6 yrs, 5yrs
- Adventurer, hiker
- Domestic Violence Victim Survivor
- Breast Cancer journey
- Katie had just rebuilt her life post her escape from DV when she was diagnosed with breast cancer
- Domestic Violence never starts how it ends, subtle changes starting with control and isolation
- The final straw happened when Katie got home from work, doors were locked, car keys hidden and violence ensued. Partner called Police on her, but luckily they saw through the lies and got Katie and the kids out
- Vincent Care helped by changing locks and other assistance
- Primary Care Connect helped the family rebuild their lives
- New partner Wayne found a lump in her breast and so she booked in to see the GP, which turned into a 2 week wait for ultrasound and mammogram of right breast
- Katie remembers the silence in the room from the healthcare providers when getting the scans
- Dr took her hands and said 'I'm sorry it's not good'
- Friend /colleague Steph was in waiting room and asked to come in for support
- Remembers the constant waiting , waiting, waiting, waiting for scans, waiting for referrals, appointments etc
- Result was triple negative Ca with two tumours
- Reality check - cancer doesn't wait for a convenient time!
- Keep teaching...
- Keep parenting...
- Eventually asked for help and (work wife) Steph Sparrow rallied a group of friends to contact medical professionals for earlier appointments
- Wayne was in QLD when Katie got the diagnosis and came straight home
- Steph stepped in and created the 'Titty Committee' book to track
- Still had not told children or school kids of the diagnosis however some had started to get suspicious that things were not right
- Told her kids in the school holidays the news!
- Principal of SMOTA told the whole school the news after the school holidays and SMOTA organised a 'turn pink for the day', where Katie was going to shave her head to raise money
- Motto was to choose to live and laugh through treatment
- Chemo is relentless...reflux, nausea, brain fog, bone pain! and metallick tastes
- Steph and Wayne have seen me at my worst but never left my side
- I have been fighting for 147 days, I'm tired, it's not over, but last treatment is this Friday 14th Feb (Valentines Day)
- Plan is to dress up in a ballgown, and give out roses to the nurses
- Planning a double mastectomy coming up with 8-10 hour surgery and a 3 month recovery time
- Final message - you are stronger than you think and get yourself a good team!
Katie had a powerful, candid, personal story to tell that touched everyone in the room!