SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC-News) – Kate Walters works in the Office of External Relations in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. There is more to what the eye when it comes to Walters however as in 1996, just 15 months away from her wedding, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Although Walters was concerned about her health, her cancer was not at the top of her priority list.
“It’s funny because with my wedding coming up and being just diagnosed with cancer although I was concerned with my health, I put other concerns ahead of my health because that’s just who I am and what I do but I was convinced about whether I was gonna make it,” Walters said.
Walters went on to get married as planned, even getting to keep her hair has she opted to do radiation therapy instead of chemo. During the process of her treatment, Walters learned something about the man that she will be celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with next year.
“When you are with somebody and not having that commitment in marriage and something like this happens, it really kind of tests your relationship and not in a bad way but in a good way,” said Walters. “He could have left because he didn’t sign up for this. He could have said ‘Oh, I don’t need this sick girl.’ So it made me really solidify the fact that we were meant to be together. He’s my right hand, I’m his left hand, so we are just a great combination.”
Not long after her wedding day, Walters gave birth to the first of her two children. Walters said both of her children are simply blessings, given the status of her health at the time.
“Yeah, I mean my kids are both just gifts,” Walters said. “Absolute gifts and when you deliver a healthy child regardless about what your past health history is, it’s just a blessing. When you have a healthy child based on what you have been through the last 15 months, there is no feeling like it in the world.”
Three months ago, Walters received word from her doctor that she has been freed of her cancer, in the sense that she is so far removed from it, that it is in the rear-view mirror.
