Shortly after my third birthday nearly 35 years ago, my parents received news that turned their world upside down. I had started walking with a limp, and a standard X-ray confirmed their worst fears: I had osteosarcoma, a rare cancerous tumor in the bone that had settled in the top of my left hip.
My oncologist told my family that I would likely not survive, and I would certainly lose my leg. But my orthopaedic surgeon saw possibility. Instead of amputating my whole leg, which would eliminate the option of a prosthesis in the future, he performed a rare, limb-sparing surgery to remove my hip and part of my femur to rid my bones of cancer. He then rebuilt my femur using part of my own lower leg and other bones to preserve my chances of walking.
Today, this type of surgery is standard practice. But back then, he was one of a handful of surgeons in the world who would have taken that chance. The surgery ultimately saved my life, making me the youngest surviving person with osteosarcoma at the time.
I’ve been cancer free since that day, but those early experiences–especially the actions of my parents, surgeon and a caring nurse named Sandy–are what shaped who I am today and inspired me to purse my chosen career.
The words you never want to hear
Unfortunately, cancer affects most of us in some way. In the United States, 43 children are diagnosed with the disease every day. I know firsthand that pediatric cancer is particularly devastating and grueling–physically, mentally and emotionally–for both patients and their families alike, which is why I’ve dedicated my life to caring for kids with similar diagnoses.
I am a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s National Health System in Washington. As a childhood cancer survivor, I am fortunate to be able to use my experiences to help patients and their families feel more informed about their diagnoses and more comfortable with their treatment options.
My inspiration
I am confident that my family and unrelenting team of doctors and nurses are the reasons why I am thriving now. But it wasn’t just the traditional medical care they provided, it was also their attention to my emotional well-being. One day during chemotherapy, that meant noticing I really missed my dog.
I remember telling my nurse, Sandy, how sad I felt about not being able to see Brandy. So what did Sandy do? On her day off from work, she brought in her own dog (who was part of the pet therapy program) to visit me. It was a selfless act, one that she’d likely never be recognized for, but it meant the world to me. When I decided to become an oncology nurse, I said that if I could be half of the nurse that Sandy was, I’d be doing all right.
Now, I also see how important it is to think beyond the medicine. Sometimes, that means just sitting with a child coloring pictures of superheroes and talking about which ones are our favorites. And, it means pulling from my own experience and reading between the lines to help families feel comfortable asking the scary questions that keep them up at night.
At Children’s National, our multi-specialty team knows that when a parent arrives with a sick child, we care for the patient and the entire family. In fact, we have a whole team of Child Life specialists and social workers who are specially trained and certified to help children, adolescents and their families understand and cope with illness, treatment and hospitalization.
Finding hope and breakthrough
At Children’s National, I get to see firsthand how far treatments have progressed in the past 35 years. I am so proud to be part of the team developing life-saving, groundbreaking therapies and treatments to beat the deadly disease.
For example, researchers are developing T-cell therapies that harness a patient’s immune system to fight specific cancer cells. They are also working to leverage immune cells to stop deadly viruses that often try to attack a patient’s body after stem cell transplant. Our internationally renowned doctors and scientists also continue to help lead the fight against brain tumors among many other cancer types, through innovative research and treatments, with the ultimate goal of eliminating childhood cancer.
What’s next for my journey
Today when I share my journey and how far I’ve come, it often provides hope at a time when families may need it most. I still proudly walk with a bit of a limp, it reminds me each day that I am not only a survivor, but a warrior.
Katherine Donahue M.S., R.N., C.P.N.P., is a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s National Health System. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the College of Charleston, she went on to receive her nursing degree from Trident College in Charleston, both of South Carolina. She graduated with honors from New York University in 2013 with an Advanced Practice Nursing degree with a focus in pediatric primary care. She is an active member in the Association of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Nurses (APHON), serving on the Cancer Advocacy Committee. Her work experience has focused on the care of oncology patients and their families from the time of diagnosis and into cancer survivorship. She enjoys providing education to patients, families, colleagues and the public, and has spoken about her work in cancer care and survivorship on Sirius XM radio, APHON and at community events. Having recently relocated to Washington, D.C. from New York, Katy enjoys exploring her new city and all of the great restaurants and arts in the area. She and her fiancé will be married later this month.
