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KASEY GULDAN
On February 12, 2003, 18-year old Kasey Guldan of Marshfield, daughter of Kathy Guldan,
passed away after a 4-½ year battle with cancer. Kasey’s father, Rick, also died from
cancer 7 years earlier. Kasey wanted to be a Child Life Specialist and she wanted to
be a Children’s Miracle Network Champion. Two days before she passed away, Kasey was
awarded an honorary certificate from the Child Life Council as a Child Life Specialist.
Two weeks later, Children’s Miracle Network announced that Kasey would be part of the
2003 Children’s Miracle Network campaign. Kasey wanted us to share her story.
Kasey’s five-year battle with cancer began in August of 1998. "I had the pleasure of
meeting Kasey, her sister Katy and her mom Kathy for the first time," shares
Heidi Loomis, Child Life Coordinator at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.
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Kasey Guldan
In Loving Memory
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"Kasey
had just been admitted to the Pediatric Unit and was undergoing numerous tests and
procedures. I was consulted to meet Kasey and her family to provide support and to
help prepare Kasey for the many procedures that she was going through."
Kasey was 13 years old at this time and like any teenager admitted into the hospital
was scared and nervous about all of these unfamiliar tests. "My role as a Child
Life Specialist was to help explain each procedure to Kasey in a way that she could
understand," explains Heidi.
As results started coming back from some of the tests, it was determined that Kasey
had Ewing’s sarcoma, which is the second most common type of bone cancer in children
and young adults. The news was obviously devastating to the entire family,
especially because Kasey’s father had died of cancer only two years earlier.
During Kasey’s 4½ years in and out of the hospital, it became apparent that
Kasey loved to meet new people, loved her friends and definitely loved younger children.
Kasey was the first one to offer to show a newly diagnosed patient her central line or
talk to another teenager about what it was like to be in the hospital or be diagnosed
with cancer. "Kasey took one day at a time and was always a fighter," adds Heidi.
"She always had a positive attitude and always tried to look at the bright side of things."
"Kasey Guldan made a huge impact on many people’s lives, including all of the
children that she helped along the way. She will always have a very special place
in our hearts."
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