INTRODUCING THE GUEST SPEAKER FOR AGN, KATE FOSTER

Written by: Amanda Steelman  

Kate started gymnastics at the Gymnastics Academy of Rockford in 1st grade. It was love at first round-off! 

In May 2011, after a tough season competing in Level 5, at the age of 12, Kate was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Gymnastics had to be put on hold, as she prepared for a five-month chemotherapy treatment plan and bone marrow transplant at UW Madison Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately during the first round of chemo, Kate acquired a gangrene infection, which would eventually lead to an above-knee amputation. Five months later, Kate underwent the amputation on the same day as her bone marrow transplant, which would eventually send her into remission. 

In the Spring of 2012, thanks to a supportive family and group of coaches, Kate returned to the gym and started regaining her strength. In April 2012, Kate was fitted for her first prosthetic leg and worked hard to adjust to the adversity she now faced. Over summer, Kate began to relearn her skills and master them in a new way. However, in September 2013, Kate received news that stunned her and everyone around her; she had relapsed. Through determination and perseverance, Kate achieved a second remission after just one round of chemotherapy and moved to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. While at St. Jude, Kate received a second bone marrow transplant and participated in a trial run of a new treatment. 

In March 2014, Kate returned home to Illinois and was back in the gym a week later, on her 14th birthday. Kate never allowed the challenges she faced to interfere with the love she has for the sport of gymnastics. She is now a Junior at Auburn High School’s Gifted Academy and competes as a Level 7 Gymnast on the Uneven Bars and Balance Beam. Kate has become an inspiration for many and plans to be a doctor one day.