Catherine Rowan

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Catherine Rowan was diagnosed with Optic Glioma at two years old and underwent 18 months of chemotherapy.  In her 17 years of life, she has had 52 surgeries related to her early cancer diagnosis. This includes bladder augmentation, open heart surgery, kidney removal, several foot reconstructions, cleft palate correction, pharynx repair, spinal cord detethering, and ptosis (eye) correction.

 In her scholarship essay, Catherine wrote that “all of these events have shaped my life, my faith, and my plans for the future.”  Catherine will be attending Shorter University and majoring in nursing as she plans to become a pediatric nurse and care for children facing medical challenges, just like the ones she has endured.

“I know I will be better able to help children and their parents through medical challenges. My comfort level in the hospital will be passed on to the patients I will treat. I am confident that I can succeed in college and nursing school.”