Kathrine Ann Hammons

I met Kath on a lupus mailing list, when she was fighting a very aggressive form of lupus that was destroying her lungs and the only hope given to her, was by undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Kath chose to fight and underwent the tough procedure. I followed her closely then, it was shortly after my own wife lost the battle with lupus. Kath is my hero for that period of time and thereafter. After recovering this procedure and been gifted with extra years to live, Kath chose to become a...

I just found out about the passing away of Kath and my hearth is weeping. I met Kathrine on the lupus e-mail lists when her lungs were failing due to this dreadful disease. I followed her courageous fight to be accepted to the bone marrow transplant study, talked with her when she was in isolation and followed her recovery. She is my heroic example when I need to encourage a lupus victim in her lowest time. Sometimes, I referred patients with lungs involvement to talk with Kath. Katherine was...

As her much older cousin, I remember Kathy as a cute little toddler much loved by her family. As an adult I remember her as a brave, smart, kind, independent, tremendously strong woman. She promised to introduce me to fly fishing this coming summer, and I am so sad that I won't get that opportunity to spend some time with her enjoying the natural world. She had endured some limits due to her health issues, but she was so fearless in forging ahead anyway to embrace life, marriage, family,...