|
|
 A Life That Matters
When I first saw Katie Brant, she was as effervescent as the finest champagne. Her energy and light left one feeling that they had just met one of God's special children, someone who had honed in on a Universal Principle at a very young age. Katie was a woman committed to creating something far beyond the scope of her life, her job, her family and her friends. Katie was committed to making a difference for the world and in turn completing for herself the ultimate human quest, creating a life that matters. As I gazed on this breathtakingly beautiful young woman of 25, the words coming out of her mouth were inconceivable to me. Katie was telling me that she had a brain tumor, cancer that was diagnosed during her freshman year at college. As I listened I realized that Katie had lived through more in her short life than many of us experience in a lifetime, and it was clear there was no room in her world for pity, only friendship. Katie had a clear vision of what she wanted to accomplish in her life, the expansion of cause-related marketing, where for profit corporations donate some of their earnings to non-profits. She was committed to this happening and asked for my help. At the time we met, I wasn't sure how I could help, but I was sure I wanted to know this incredible young woman. So Katie and I began a journey of mutual love and respect. Every phone call Katie made to the heads of giant corporations were answered. Doors that were shut to the world, were opened to Katie. She made a way through the maze of corporate America where there was no way. She was a force to be reckoned with, and people responded to her grace and elegance. No one could say "No" to Katie Brant. When she learned last summer that there was no way to stop the cancer that had led her to five operations and countless rounds of chemotherapy and experimental drugs, Katie decided it was time to leave a lasting mark. She founded Katie's Kids, a non-profit organization, dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric brain cancer. This innovative organization funds research into the cause of brain tumors in children, the leading cause of cancer death in children under 15. Only July 10, 1999, Katie lost her battle with cancer and she won the war of life. She was able to pull herself up from the mire of self, to become a member in good standing in God's choir, she lived a life that mattered. She stretched herself beyond her limit, time and time again and created a legacy that will find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. It was my good fortune to support Katie through a scholarship from the Simple Abundance Charitable Fund, for a trip she wanted to make to Operation Smile. This wonderful organization brings a medical team into third world countries, where doctors operate on children born with cleft palates. These children are often outcasts in the societies where they are born, and this surgery is life savings because it allows them to re-enter society as a full member. Although Katie was unable to join the mission because of her health, I received a report that stated that 143 operations were accomplished during this trip. One hundred and forty three little smiles exist today because of the heart of Katie Brant. A woman who made a difference with her life in the little time she had with us. Each of us can follow Katie's lead and live a life that matters by reaching out to those that need our help. Today, Katie's Kids can use your support to keep Katie's dream alive and to end the suffering of children with brain tumors. To learn more about Katie, and Katie's Kids, visit her website at katieskids.org. If you find that you are in a position to support Katie's Kids, please let me know. We will be launching a new feature on our website called The Simple Abundance Circle of Giving, where we will feature reader's experiences of giving and the gifts they receive back from the experience. In honor of Katie, a portion of the proceeds from The Illustrated Discovery Journal is being donated to Katie's Kids. |
|