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KATHERINE AMES
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BY MOLLY NICHOLS ‘23 KATHRYN AMES: IRON WOMAN
BOYS DIVISION COUNSELOR PROVES TO BE A TRUE SUPERHERO AFTER SURVIVING A DIFFICULT BATTLE WITH CANCER
Regis Jesuit is a community full of love, laughter, and most of all, support. Kathryn Ames, Boys division counselor, experienced this support throughout her battle with Breast Cancer.
Ames has spent seven years in the Boys division counseling center and four years as the head coach of Regis Jesuit Girls Lacrosse.
In early March 2020, Ames was diagnosed with cancer, around the same time that the current pandemic rose. The cancer was presented on a routine scan and came as a surprise to her and her family, as the condition was not hereditary.
The timing with COVID made treatment options tricky and procedures complicated. Ames opted for an extreme surgery, that quickly transformed from an emergency surgery into elective surgery due to COVID.
After having the procedure on March 13, 2020, she thought this would be a great time to make some household changes. It is becoming known that a significant percentage of new cancer cases are being traced back to environmental factors, rather than just genetic history. This was the case for Ames, she changed her diet to vegan and switched to more natural products.
“I made a lot of changes in my own health, so that moving forward I can work more easily to be cancer free,” Ames said.
The journey gives Ames the benefit of being able to learn more about her condition and other conditions that are similar.
Giving her time to research surrounding environmental causes of cancer as well, Ames feels more research needs to be done to determine the significance of these factors.
She believes there should be much more emphasis on the prevention of cancer, rather than a focused effort towards a cure.
Given the time to make changes, Ames adjusted her mindset; some being the importance of learning how to take a break, healthy ways to vent, and the effect of stress on your health.
“I’ve always been a doer that is always go, go, go,” she said. “And it’s okay to slow down and prioritize.”
She stresses the importance of asking for help when needed is for those struggling. As well as the idea of creating boundaries, learning when you need to say no for the well-being of yourself and staying calm.
“I feel like life is so short, and you really got to follow your passions,” Ames explained. “I started to realize what really mattered to me over this time.”
Being faced with a situation that can be life or death creates a space for people to feel grief, depression, and fear. Kathryn Ames felt all these emotions upon learning about her diagnosis. It was especially hard sitting through surgeries and doctor’s appointments by herself.
Ames, as well as many other cancer survivors, feels like part of a club that holds a negative connotation.
“It’s strange to be associated with a word that carries so much heaviness for so many people,” she said.
Going through all the emotions upon learning about her diagnoses, a colleague encouraged her to reach out and ask for the help she was not sure she needed. Ames worked hard to unpack the denial and grief to work towards being vulnerable enough to ask for the assistance.
She received the help she needed from the Gonzaga circle of support, and is eternally grateful. They provided a collective and organized effort to help support the Ames family through this tough time. Through donations of gift cards, groceries, and homemade dinners, some of that stress was alleviated.
With all the stress of a pandemic on top of multiple surgeries, Ames said it was nice to have groceries and small things taken off of her plate. She is constantly amazed at the strength and kindness of the Regis Jesuit community, who came together as a safety net for Kathryn Ames and her family.
“Life can change in a heartbeat, struggle can be a part of that journey,” she said. “And it’s a really beautiful thing when people want to help you, and you’re open to the help.”
Between the Girls Lacrosse team and the Gonzaga group, Ames is one of many recipients of the organization’s structured help. She hopes that her story inspires others and lets them know they can get through their struggles as she has overcome hers.
“I’m a fighter, I’ve always been a fighter,” Ames said. “I knew that I wasn’t going to sit in self-pity, even if I spent a few days in tears.”
For her, it was again difficult to go through the process without family being by her side, but this gave her time to prioritize. “I’ve been given clarity o what matters, people get so wrapped up in checking the boxes and fitting the mold,” she said.
The lesson being that life is never going to be easy, choose to improve with the challenges thrown in. It is necessary to find a balance in the chaos of the world,
Ames hopes to stand as an example of this for the students, staff, and parents of Regis Jesuit.
Kathryn Ames is a true testament to what it means to be a fighter and a bright light in the Regis Community.
“I don’t think my time is done, I have so much left to do,” she said. Ames continues to motivate others with the story of her journey from cancer patient, to incredible and inspiring survivor.
“I’M A FIGHTER. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER.”
