The Details: ‘We’re So Blessed She’s Still Alive’
February 11, 2017 | General, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
It has been more than six years since Katie Collier was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Six years since the senior's unplanned trip to the hospital during her official visit at Washington. Six years since her mother, Ann, had to watch, wait and worry as her daughter was diagnosed.
At that point, basketball seemed like the most insignificant thing in the world.
"I didn't even care if she would play ball ever again," Ann said. "Is she even going to live? Is she even going to live?"
A breast cancer survivor, Ann knew what it felt like to stare down death, beat it back and recover. And in that moment, she would have welcomed a second bout with disease to spare her daughter.
We share the experiences of thinking about death and dying, coming close to that," Ann said. "Definitely as a parent, I wish it had been me both times."
At the time of Collier's diagnosis, Ann told her daughter, "I wish I could do this for you, but I can't. You have to go through the process."
Collier handled her situation with grace and eloquence.
"She just went with it," Ann said.
And it was in that moment, while processing the news, that basketball once again became important. Because, as she received the worst news of her life, Collier knew he career wasn't over, despite what doctors told her initially.
"When she first got admitted, after 48 hours, when they knew she was going to survive, they said, you'll grow up, you'll get married, you can have children, but you're not going to do what you do now," Ann said.
At the time, Ann was simply happy her daughter had the potential of a cancer-free future.
"We're so blessed she's still alive," she said. "We didn't think she'd live five years."
But here Collier is. She's healthy. She's happy. She's a starter on the nation's No. 10-ranked program. And, on February 12th before the Huskies' game against Arizona State, she will be honored for everything she's accomplished.
It will be a special day for the senior. It will also be significant for Ann. Not only will she get to celebrate with her daughter, but it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
For both mother and daughter, the important thing is they get to share the moment together.
"I've been thinking lately just how blessed we are to have her that she's healthy," Ann said. "It's kind of been a journey to watch her play over the past five years – well four years, because she sat out that one year with the knee – just to watch her get stronger every year, get her body built back up and have her strength come back.
"It's really taken this long. We're just happy she's playing."
Basketball was a constant through Collier's recovery. She set a goal. She made it happen. The game provides a reminder of what she's endured and where she is headed.
And now the senior takes every opportunity to be a source of inspiration for others battling cancer. She is a frequent visitor at both the Ronald McDonald House and Seattle Children's Hospital.
Ann calls her daughter and "magnet" for children. She never refuses an autograph. And is always willing to pose for a picture. Her personality, perseverance and story are an inspiration.
Like Ann said, when faced with life and death, Collier chose life. "She just went with it."
The past six years have been, "quite the journey," Ann said. And now, well, "this is all icing on the cake."
