Kat Morrissey is a senior at Towson majoring in special education; she wants to work with children who are deaf after she graduates. However, a brain tumor has put that dream into question. Earlier this semester, Kat was experiencing migraines, loss of balance, blurred vision, and loss of hearing. Over spring break, she was diagnosed with a rare benign brain tumor. The tumor is 4 centimeters, which is huge for a tumor. Kat told TSM:
“I’ll be getting surgery after I graduate, but unfortunately the surgeon I’m using in NYC is out of network aka it’s not covered by insurance. The recovery is a long process and I will most likely be a completely different person after the surgery because of the risks, but I’m hopeful for a miracle… There’s no doubt in my mind I’ll kick this tumors ass, just like we do in Greek week!”
Knowing the uphill physical and financial battle Kat faces, her Alpha Xi Delta sisters sprung into action, starting the #KeepKatKickin campaign to help Kat and her family, not only with positive messages, but also with her medical bills. The chapter told us in an email:
“For the remainder of the semester, Kat has to fly back to her hometown in New York so she can make her doctors’ appointments and also finish up school so she can receive her degree. After graduation, she will undergo a risky and costly surgery that will not be covered and will affect her and her family financially and emotionally. We are asking for donations for our incredibly strong sister as she goes through one of the most difficult times in her life.
Your donation will go directly to Kat and her family to subside the costs of medical care, transportation, and surgery in the next couple of months. Together, we can keep her spirits up and relieve some financial worries while she goes through this tough time.”
When we asked Kat’s little sister, Amy Barksdale, why it was so important to the chapter to help Kat during this time, her answer was simply beautiful:
“Kat is an incredibly strong person. She is kindhearted, loving, and the kind of person everyone wants to be around. She would bend over backwards for anyone around her, and our sorority plans to do the same for her in this time of need. She is the person I look up to and take advice from. She not only is my big, she is my hero.”
She’s ours, too.
To donate to the chapter’s GoFundMe campaign for Kat, click here.
Image via Kat Morrissey
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Jenna Crowley
Jenna used to be known as 2NOTBrokeGirls, but then one of the girls actually went broke, so she's struck out on her own. Jenna spends her free time saving the world, one sorority girl at a time (usually while wearing yoga pants), questioning why she decided to get a doctorate, and documenting her love of all things cheese related. You can ask her anything you want about football, using your boobs to get what you want, and pizza at @JennaLCrowley on Twitter or via email at JennaLCrowley@gmail.com.
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