The Resilience of a 12-Year-Old Girl
The resilience of a 12-year-old girl can certainly be impressive. This is a key time in life when opinions are formed and many life lessons are learned.
Katelyn Stephens was a vibrant girl with a personality that can only be described as feisty. She was outspoken about all that mattered to her because she had such a big heart, and she was not afraid to tell it like it was for the benefit of those around her.
A gifted singer, Katelyn sang at her church, was a part of her school choir, and played the clarinet and piano. Just like other kids her age, she was filled with wide-eyed curiosity and motivation to make an impact on the world—This is exactly what she did.
As her mother spoke of her, it was very clear that Katelyn left an impression on anyone who crossed her path. Elizabeth Rice fondly describes her daughter’s demeanor, talking about the use of the word “seriously?” When Katelyn perceived a question as trite, she would utter the phrase with an honest sentiment. It was very clear that Katelyn was raised to speak her mind, and this made both of her parents very proud of her.
Katelyn was more than a cancer patient, which she was diagnosed with in June of 2018. Most 12-year-old girls have middle school on the brain, trying to fit in and figuring out how to navigate the new complexities ahead that are riddled with hormonal changes. Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, was the official diagnosis that Katelyn received. This form of cancer can often disguise itself as growing pains, a completely normal part of tween evolution. In a matter of seconds, life changed entirely for Katelyn and her loving family.
After receiving the cancer diagnosis, a treatment plan was implemented immediately. This particular form of cancer can be very aggressive, and it was apparent in Katelyn’s case that this was true. By the time she was diagnosed, it had spread to every single bone in her body. The doctors were not able to pick up on it sooner because it does not show up on x-rays. It is also unlikely for a doctor to order an MRI on a child, so this was never done for Katelyn. The date of diagnosis was significant for obvious reasons, but it also ignited her mother’s determination to seek help for her daughter.
With her chance of survival at only 15%, Katelyn did not back down. She immediately knew that she wanted to fight as hard as she could, and her parents supported her every step of the way. This was a period of time when the family bonded together and became stronger than ever. Katelyn was started on six different chemotherapies at once to combat the aggressive illness. Each one of these treatments required her to be inpatient, which meant that the family was starting to spend more time at the hospital than at their own home.
Elizabeth is no stranger to caring for a sick child. Her older son, Draven, was already diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. He had spent time inside the very same hospital that Katelyn was now frequenting. Because of the complexities of her type of cancer, they were not able to catch it soon enough. Understandably, Elizabeth did not know what to do. Both of her children were sick, and the hardships seemed to keep piling up relentlessly. Still, Katelyn was a fighter through and through, so the treatment was the only logical next step to take.
There were times during the treatment when Katelyn’s immune system plummeted due to the chemo, and she ended up developing infections. Despite all of these hardships, she never complained. Instead, she took to creativity to find respite. Already a musically inclined girl, Katelyn received a ukulele as a gift. She proceeded to teach herself how to play, and she started to create music that she wrote entirely on her own she ended up developing infections. Despite all of these hardships, she never complained. Instead, she took to creativity to find respite. Already a musically inclined girl, Katelyn received a ukulele as a gift. She proceeded to teach herself how to play, and she started to create music that she wrote entirely on her own. This was her way of expressing herself as she went through the countless days that turned into weeks inside hospital rooms.
Family Resilience
In times of distress, kindness is often the only thing that makes the burden any easier. Because of The Toby Keith Foundation, the family was able to have access to housing closer to the hospital in Oklahoma City, which was around three hours away from their Roland home. The foundation housed the family, giving them access to many different resources at no cost to them. Elizabeth is very thankful for this because it helped to alleviate at least a fraction of the stress that was suddenly placed on the family. This foundation works with the hospital to provide these resources to families in need with sick children. It is a large facility with many helpful options that Toby Keith takes the time to visit himself. Because he has just fought cancer, his passion for helping others in similar situations is evident.
This lifestyle became normal for the family, and they adapted as needed for survival. Elizabeth’s husband ended up taking on two jobs, and she left hers to become a full-time caregiver for their daughter. Thankfully, the children did not often need to be hospitalized at the same time. There was only one instance that Elizabeth can recall where Draven had to receive treatment for his Crohn’s at the same time Katelyn was receiving treatment for her cancer. It was very apparent that this family was not going to give up.
Unwavering Faith
There was one moment Elizabeth recalled through tears, explaining that Katelyn only complained once during all of her countless cancer treatments. Things were getting incredibly difficult, and she was tired of fighting. There was a point where she did not feel she wanted to continue living. Her parents held her tight to comfort her and, the next day, the family attended church together. This service was exactly what Katelyn needed to hear. She turned to her mom and proclaimed, “Mom, that was for me.” Elizabeth encouraged her daughter that it was absolutely beautiful to hold onto her faith and receive this message as strongly as she felt it that morning in the church. Katelyn went on to pick up her ukulele and write an entire song that she titled “Riptide.”
Life-Changing Medicine
After Elizabeth’s recovery and still grieving her daughter’s passing, she needed to return to work. This proved to be a challenge because many employers turned her away due to her cannabis use. This was until she came across a large cannabis processing factory in Oklahoma City. Elizabeth was taken on as a sales rep and cannot express enough how much she loves her job. Given her history, she is a big proponent of cannabis medicine and the importance of cannabis education. Through her work, she gets to help others in situations where people feel they have no other options. “I live to tell her story,” Elizabeth poignantly explains.
She maintains a connection with Cancer House in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. If there are patients in need of cannabis cancer treatment, Elizabeth helps make this possible by providing them with the resources necessary to get this help from Cancer House. She is the true embodiment of what it means to never stop fighting, and it is clear she is continuing to honor her daughter by implementing the same passion for life that Katelyn was filled with.
At the time of Katelyn’s fight with cancer, there were other mothers in the hospital asking for cannabis treatment, but none of them were able to get it. Now, children are able to have access to this life-saving treatment as more education is present. Elizabeth believes that cannabis education is crucial and can help so many people with the correct use. She fondly tells stories about her daughter and the amazing person she was. It is her passion to help others who are fighting cancer and any other auto-immune-based illness that could benefit from using cannabis.
Allowing yourself to continue living your life after a loved one passes is almost as debilitating as the trauma experienced from the loss. Elizabeth’s husband got her a service dog since Katelyn passed who she speaks fondly of. His name is Cooper, and this is where her TikTok username comes from. She began couponing as a way to get out of the house and took Cooper with her everywhere she went. Today, Elizabeth is a pillar of strength and will always do her part to honor the incredible memory of Katelyn and all that she accomplished in a life that was far too short.
For additional information about Katelyn and Elizabeth, you can find more on Facebook: Katelyn’s Fight-Beating Ewing’s Sarcoma 1 Day at a Time.
