I am still at a loss for words over Katie’s passing. To be honest I had never met her, but I do know her family, and through them I feel like I knew her quite well. We followed the stories from when she started getting sick, and how the entire 501st pulled together to show her support.
I wish I could paint a memorial, or write up a grand story, but I don’t have the skills. But I took what I do know and created this Tribute Video in memory of Katie
Today, Albin posted this letter to the 501st boards. It touched me, and since I have posted quite a few times about Katie, I thought I would re-post it here.
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As some of you may have already heard, my daughter Katie finally ended her battle with cancer on Tuesday when she passed away around 5:30 pm. Katie’s health had been declining so I began my leave of absence from work that day, not knowing that would be the day she would pass. Katie enjoyed a quiet morning with me and Kathy, watching t.v. and playing with her kittens. She asked me to put Star Wars Episode II on, then laid down to take a nap. Hours later she passed away in her sleep. She was surrounded by both sets of parents, her oncologist, her hospice nurse, and her pastor. It was a minor miracle that everyone managed to be there at just the right time. I held Katie in my arms as she struggled with her transformation, holding her close and reassuring her that it was okay to let go. She let out a deep and satisfying sigh with her last breath and it sounded just like when she was a baby. I must have held her for two hours.
Katie’s older sister, Allie, was devastated by the news. But she’s a trooper at heart and today she marched bravely to her first day of school in spite of her loss. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to go, and she said she had to – Katie had wanted to make the first day of school and couldn’t, so Allie would do it for her. Katie’s step-mom, Kathy, turned in the math book Katie worked so hard on over the summer.
It was a beautiful day. Katie had passed at just the right time – waiting long enough to see Hilary Duff in person and seeing members of the Carolina Garrison who visited her on Saturday. But soon enough for Allie to have _just_ enough time to start fresh at school.
Katie’s funeral will be held tomorrow, Friday August 12th, at Riverland Hills Baptist Church on St. Andrews Rd. in Columbia, SC. Service will be at 4 pm. Everyone who attends is encouraged to wear something pink, as that is what Katie would have wanted.
This is the most horrible experience of my life, but it is also the most incredible lesson I’ve had the privilege to witness. Katie fought cancer every step of the way, never complaining about her treatments or her disabilities. She was a plucky, wonderful child who told me she was not
afraid to die. A big fan of the LOTR character , Frodo, she remarked to me a couple weeks ago that Frodo was lucky to go in the boat over the seas to the undying lands, and likened that to real-world death. She said that there was no reason to cry, because over there there are no monsters and whoever goes over is happy and too busy having fun to
miss those they left behind.
God was at work here, no matter what anyone says. Katie had two fathers, and her heavenly one just wanted her more than her earthly one and took her home. Through all the praying and hoping, I have always felt the spirit of calm that God’s will would be worked even if I couldn’t understand it. One day I will. I’ll be in heaven and Katie will take me by the hand and show me around and reassure me that everything was fine.
It’s a nice dream I have.
I can’t thank everyone adequately here for the love and encouragement you’ve all shown me and my family and to Katie herself. If you could only see the hundreds of cards and gifts and letters Katie received you’d know just how loved she was. I will forever be grateful to everyone for their support.
I will be mostly out of touch for some time but promise to return soon.
Please hug someone you love.
God bless you all.
Albin Johnson
Katie’s dad
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