Kathryn: a Testimony: 10–42 Days to Live

By Kay Taylor

Looking at the well-packed boxes, my eyes focused on a box of binders containing many unfinished writings of Kathryn. Like a moth drawn to the light, my heart yearned to feel every word. As I attempted to put the pieces together, I realized it was already complete. Treasures of truth like nuggets of gold flowed from its pages. Each nugget intended to fill my heart with healing, comfort, and joy, which started to mend my heart with each word that she left. Kathryn told me, You will be OK, you will be OK.

I thought if I shared Kathryn, I would not lose her. Losing any loved one is devastating, to say the least. There is something so absolutely unnatural about losing your child. We have in our heads that our parents will go first, then we will, and last our children. So I picked up a pen to share a very remarkable person. Through my grief, often with blinding tears and thoughts of giving up and going to bed, I pulled the covers over my head. I would read a nugget that Kathryn left. Soon I realized that the little nuggets of gold kept drawing me more and more.

One nugget at a time, and there will be an explosion in your spirit. The beauty that surrounds you, its comfort, healing, and joy . . . its God! I soon realized that by sharing her nuggets, her heart would be shared too.

You will meet a very special young lady. As she walked through the storm of storms with courage, joy, and an unshakeable faith, she lived life to the fullest every day. Daily, Kathryn would write. Each binder titled, chapters, dedications, verses set to a perfection. I would get so frustrated at all the books. Every day I would say, Just write one, and get it finished. As I concluded all my writing here, I realized that her books werent finished because all her writings were a road map to the book that was to be written. You see, she was the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973615750

Kay Taylor

She is an Artist of paintings. A mother filled with grief placed a pen in her hand, instead of a paint brush to share a most remarkable person. Her credentials are of a simple woman that loves, and expresses from her heart. Come closer to this portrait. You will be blessed beyond measure.

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Copyright © 2018 Kay Taylor.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-1574-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1575-0 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/22/2018

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Pastor John Hagee. My daughter, Kathryn, loved reading his books and listening to his sermons. When she was in the battle of her life, Pastor Hagee was generous to Kathryn. He laid his hands on her and prayed the prayer of healing. We will forever be grateful to him. I wish to give a tenth of any proceeds of this book to Pastor Hagee for his ministry. I know that would be Kathryn’s wish.

Preface

You Were Right, Mom, I don’t have a pituitary problem. However, I do have a brain tumor. They give me ten days to six weeks to live. Can dad come pick me up? They just took my driver’s license away.

This is a journey of complete faith displayed, in the form of unfailing love and unfailing devotion to God. You will see true grace under fire. Has life come at you like a tsunami in a moment, in the form of the loss of a job, a divorce, or a catastrophic illness like the one Kathryn faced? I think you will find strength and inspiration as you gather each nugget of gold Kathryn left behind, to be placed in your heart.

S ome time

after the death of my beloved daughter, I woke up to an ordinary day filled with ordinary chores except for one. In order to prepare for a new floor to be installed, I had to clean out a particular closet. I had to face that closet door. I knew that as soon as I opened the door, the door in my broken heart would be exposed. You see, this was not just a closet full of coats. This closet contained items I had chosen to lock away for an undetermined time. I didn’t want to face them. But I had to. I opened the closet door.

As I surveyed the packed boxes, my eyes focused on a box of binders containing many writings of Kathryn’s. Like a moth drawn to the light, my heart yearned to feel every word. As I attempted to put the pieces together, I realized the writings were already complete. Treasures of truth like nuggets of gold flowed from the pages, each nugget intended to fill my heart with healing, comfort, and joy. Starting to mend my heart with each word that she left, Kathryn told me, You will be OK, you will be OK.

On February 8, 1967, I woke after a very hard delivery to my husband’s over-the-moon excitement. She is beautiful! Why, her eyes are exactly the same color as all those Hershey bars you ate. There I was, in a fog, feeling like a cross between Mother Earth and Superwoman at my great accomplishment. Suddenly my mind was in full overdrive, instantly recalling all my secret hiding places throughout my pregnancy, from shoeboxes to the attic, every nook and cranny stuffed with the hidden treasures.

How did he know? How did the Hershey bars color her eyes? Fortunately, a nurse walked into the room and placed a pink-blanketed bundle in my arms. As I very carefully unwrapped this greatest present I had ever received, I said, Let me see, two legs, ten fingers, ten toes. Definitely a girl. My eyes worked their way upward, and there they were. Two immense Hershey-colored eyes staring at me.

In this magic moment, the miraculous happened. An invisible bond wrapped around each of us—indescribable, but the most real thing I have ever experienced. I knew at that moment our bond was unshakable, immovable, and complete. I was seeing love in its purest form, as I stared at God’s miracle with Hershey-colored eyes. Yes, God has a great sense of humor.

I have a brother four years older than myself, and that’s all. I was never around babies or small children. To say I didn’t know what to do is a great understatement. Mistakes? Oh, I made millions. Through it all, though, those Hershey-colored eyes would look at me with pure love, trust, and inexplicable wisdom. I could always feel her telling me, It’s OK. You will get it, and we will get through this together. I’ve got your back.

Kathryn possessed a wisdom from the beginning. She was very intelligent. She had lightning-quick reflexes, impressive coordination, and speed at mastering all she attempted. She walked and talked early. She was always easy. I would just talk to her as I would an adult.

Kathryn began reading at the age of three. She started kindergarten at five. When she arrived home one afternoon, I asked her how her day had gone and what she had learned. Well, she replied in a slow manner, and I was sure her eyes were crossed. We colored a stoplight. Red means stop. Yellow means wait. Green means go. After hearing about her day, I sent her out to play. My mother was there, listening intently to the exchange. My mother was a very wise woman. She said, I’m afraid she is not being stimulated and could easily fail kindergarten.

The next day, I called a Christian school to have her tested. The school determined that she belonged in the accelerated first grade. Needless to say, we transferred her to that school. She immediately started thriving. Never could we have