coachkatiepsu

10/01/2026

Seeing all the pink today… and I have to laugh because I said I would never wear pink again! 😂💗
But as October begins and Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts, I’ve found myself thinking about just how much these past years has changed me. Thank you for every text, message, call, prayer, hug, check-in and word of encouragement. I have felt so much love and support throughout every appointment, treatment, surgery, radiation, and all of the moments in between. I truly don’t know if I could have walked through it the same way without the people who surrounded me and reminded me that I didn’t have to do it alone.

So, I guess I felt like I should throw something out there as October begins: please get the mammogram. Please make the appointment. Please listen to your body. If something feels off, you are always worth listening to. You are never “too young,” too busy, or too uncomfortable to ask a question or get something checked.

And maybe the bigger reminder for me this year is that cancer is only one of the hard things people are carrying.

So this October, wear pink, don’t wear pink — I promise I won’t judge. But check on your people. Check on your friends. Check on your family. Check on the person who seems like they have it all together. People are fighting battles we know nothing about — cancer, grief, anxiety, loss, relationships, parenting, work, just life. And sometimes, life is simply hard.

It’s okay to say you’re struggling.
It’s okay to ask for help.
It’s okay to lean on people.
And it’s okay to let people love you through the hard days.

I learned that firsthand.

I’m incredibly grateful to be on the other side of so much of my treatment, but I also know that this experience will always be a part of me. If sharing my story encourages even one person to schedule a mammogram, listen to their body, ask for help, or simply remind someone they aren’t alone, then every uncomfortable part of this journey has meaning.

So here’s to October.
Take care of yourself. Take care of your people. Check in. Speak up. Ask for help. And don’t forget that sometimes the strongest thing we can do is let someone stand beside us.

One day at a time. Always. 💗

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06/17/2026

06/15/2026

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04/19/2026

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02/22/2026

What a weekend it has been. I am always proud to be a part of Penn State, but this weekend — and THON — is truly what makes this the greatest place ever.
To witness the heart, the passion, and the selflessness that fills the Penn State University community during THON is something I will never take for granted. The love poured into every moment, every hour on your feet, every dollar raised — all for families battling pediatric cancer — is simply extraordinary.

I am so incredibly proud of every single person who contributed. And to the Penn State students who organize and run this entire event themselves… YOU ARE AMAZING. The commitment, leadership, and compassion you show year after year is inspiring beyond words. It’s more than a weekend — it’s a movement of hope that continues to pay it forward for pediatric cancer families everywhere.

Juice and VY danced their hearts out!! What grit. What spirit. And Volleyball was represented in every way possible — Luke, Arthi, Ava, Logan — thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your love. You embody what this place is all about.

Forever proud to be a part of this family. 💙🤍 🤍🎗️

01/30/2026

Family and Friends,
I am beyond excited to share that Joce “JUICE” Nathan will be dancing in THON this year! This is such a special commitment, and I’m asking you to join me in rallying behind her as she works to raise money for pediatric cancer.

“THON began in 1973 as a small idea by Penn State students who simply wanted to give back. Over the years, it has grown into the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Today, more than 16,500 student volunteers dedicate an entire year to fundraising efforts that directly benefit Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital—supporting children and families as they fight pediatric cancer with courage and hope.”

Penn State is special for so many reasons, but THON is one that fills me with immense pride. It represents selflessness, community, and the belief that together we can make a real difference. Watching students like Juice pour their hearts into something bigger than themselves is what makes this place so powerful.

The donation link is in the bio. If you’re able to give, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If not, please consider sharing this message and helping spread the word. Every bit of support matters, and together we can help change lives. 💙🤍

FTK 🎗️

01/28/2026

Rang the bell again today — and I am grateful beyond words. My heart is so full. Thank you to my incredible family, friends, players, and even complete strangers who lifted me up with prayers, notes, encouragement, and the sweetest surprises along the way. Every single message, every act of kindness mattered more than you know.

To those I’ve met and become friends with through this journey — you are never alone. You can do this. Stay hopeful, stay positive, and keep taking it one step at a time. This chapter is coming to an end.

Six rounds of chemo, surgery, fifteen radiation treatments, fourteen maintenance chemos, and one more surgery to go — I share this for anyone who is in the middle of it right now. It is hard, but you are stronger than you think, and you will get through it.

To the amazing team at Mt. Nittany – Shaner Cancer Center: thank you for your care, compassion, and for walking beside me every step of the way. So much love, so much gratitude, and so much hope as I move forward. 💙

01/19/2026

On Jan. 21, 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. visited Penn State and addressed a crowd of more than 8,000 people in Recreation Hall on the future of integration. He spoke to those assembled about the civil rights movement, America’s legacy of slavery and segregation, and the principles he believed would change the world, bringing many in the assembly to tears. Only a few weeks earlier he had received the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against racial inequality. 

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Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons WeAre💙

01/02/2026

Happy New Year! Let’s embrace gratitude and the opportunities that lie ahead. May this year bring joy, growth, and success in everything we do! Let’s make 2026 our best year yet by celebrating every moment and supporting each other! Cheers to new beginnings and unforgettable memories. 🤍

12/24/2025

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