The Kater Family Cancer Journey
Donation protected
Hello Everyone. Our names are Paige Lenko (sister of Reid) and Aleshia Hallberg (sister of Angie), and we are starting this fundraiser to help support our sister Angela Kater, in her journey with Stage 4 Adrenal Cancer.
Angie is 29 years old, and lives in Lumsden, SK with her husband Reid Kater. They both grew up in Weyburn, SK and met as kids on the playground and started dating after high school. Angie was raised by Daren and Kari Hallberg in their family of five (Tanner, Angie, and Aleshia). They got married on 22 August 2020, in the peak of covid restrictions, outside on a family acreage. It was beautiful and everything they imagined. In the Fall of 2021, they bought their first home in Lumsden, SK and announced they were expecting a baby! Beau Edward Kater was born 1 April 2022 and they have spent the last year and a half enjoying his presence. They have been overwhelmed with the love their child brings into their home. Beau has gotten the enjoyment of having a cousin named Kiana Hallberg who is only 3 months older than him (parents Tanner and Jasmin Hallberg). The sound of laughter and giggles is never far away with Kiana and Beau around, to which has been much needed during this journey of the unexpected.
Our amazing, beautiful and kind sister was diagnosed with cancer in mid-October 2023, after going to the doctor for hormonal changes and high blood pressure that was not easily managed with medication. She saw her family physician, kidney & adrenal specialist, and 2 specialized surgeons and completed multiple diagnostic tests over the course of 2-3 months that eventually led to her very rare diagnosis of Stage 4 Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) that has spread.
ACC is a rare form of cancer that begins in the adrenal gland. There are only 1-2 people diagnosed per 1 million people. Unfortunately, most people who are diagnosed with ACC are categorized as Stage 3 or 4 with advanced disease; symptoms of ACC can be generalized and often missed (abdominal fullness, back pain/discomfort, menstrual abnormalities, high blood pressure, acne development, deepening voice, weight changes, rounded face and abdomen, swelling to legs, fatigue). Many people who have been diagnosed with ACC go through years of diagnostic testing before getting their diagnosis; more often, ACC is found accidentally while looking for something else. ACC is mostly likely to affect children under the age of 5 years old and adults between 40-50 years old.
Angies tumor at this time is not operable, due to the spread of cancer to both close by and distant organs/spaces. They are hoping to start her on a 3-drug regimen including 2 types of chemotherapy as well as mitotane. The hope is that the cancer will shrink/reduce to the point surgery could be re-assessed.
Angies cancer journey is just beginning, and we want to try to help support the Kater family in the best ways we can. We are hoping this go fund me can alleviate the burden of costs to the family. Angie and Reid are both currently off work, spending time with their 20 month old son Beau, as well as going to appointments and tests weekly. Often the consults or tests require travel to Saskatoon or into Regina.
We are hoping to make an environment where Angie and Reid can create memories with their son Beau that will last a lifetime, and to enjoy the moments they have together during these difficult times. Their future together as a family is full of questions that can’t be answered without time. We hope the money raised through this go fund me will help the family be as prepared for this journey as possible.
Angie is 29 years old, and lives in Lumsden, SK with her husband Reid Kater. They both grew up in Weyburn, SK and met as kids on the playground and started dating after high school. Angie was raised by Daren and Kari Hallberg in their family of five (Tanner, Angie, and Aleshia). They got married on 22 August 2020, in the peak of covid restrictions, outside on a family acreage. It was beautiful and everything they imagined. In the Fall of 2021, they bought their first home in Lumsden, SK and announced they were expecting a baby! Beau Edward Kater was born 1 April 2022 and they have spent the last year and a half enjoying his presence. They have been overwhelmed with the love their child brings into their home. Beau has gotten the enjoyment of having a cousin named Kiana Hallberg who is only 3 months older than him (parents Tanner and Jasmin Hallberg). The sound of laughter and giggles is never far away with Kiana and Beau around, to which has been much needed during this journey of the unexpected.
Our amazing, beautiful and kind sister was diagnosed with cancer in mid-October 2023, after going to the doctor for hormonal changes and high blood pressure that was not easily managed with medication. She saw her family physician, kidney & adrenal specialist, and 2 specialized surgeons and completed multiple diagnostic tests over the course of 2-3 months that eventually led to her very rare diagnosis of Stage 4 Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC) that has spread.
ACC is a rare form of cancer that begins in the adrenal gland. There are only 1-2 people diagnosed per 1 million people. Unfortunately, most people who are diagnosed with ACC are categorized as Stage 3 or 4 with advanced disease; symptoms of ACC can be generalized and often missed (abdominal fullness, back pain/discomfort, menstrual abnormalities, high blood pressure, acne development, deepening voice, weight changes, rounded face and abdomen, swelling to legs, fatigue). Many people who have been diagnosed with ACC go through years of diagnostic testing before getting their diagnosis; more often, ACC is found accidentally while looking for something else. ACC is mostly likely to affect children under the age of 5 years old and adults between 40-50 years old.
Angies tumor at this time is not operable, due to the spread of cancer to both close by and distant organs/spaces. They are hoping to start her on a 3-drug regimen including 2 types of chemotherapy as well as mitotane. The hope is that the cancer will shrink/reduce to the point surgery could be re-assessed.
Angies cancer journey is just beginning, and we want to try to help support the Kater family in the best ways we can. We are hoping this go fund me can alleviate the burden of costs to the family. Angie and Reid are both currently off work, spending time with their 20 month old son Beau, as well as going to appointments and tests weekly. Often the consults or tests require travel to Saskatoon or into Regina.
We are hoping to make an environment where Angie and Reid can create memories with their son Beau that will last a lifetime, and to enjoy the moments they have together during these difficult times. Their future together as a family is full of questions that can’t be answered without time. We hope the money raised through this go fund me will help the family be as prepared for this journey as possible.
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Paige Kater
Organizer
Weyburn, SK
Aleshia Hallberg
Team member