Katie began her Waffle House career in 2013, but I first met her about four years ago at the one near where I live. She was a day-shift server and a hard worker. She was friendly, speedy, attentive, and soft spoken. Even when she took her smoke breaks, she didn’t dilly dally. A few puffs and she was back on the floor.
I eventually learned that Katie had been a smoker for over 30 years, yet in the short time I have known her I have witnessed great strength, determination, and drive, which is why I have chosen to tell this story.
In the time I’ve known Katie she has undergone numerous vocal cord surgeries due to complications with her voice, and the doctor’s attempts to laser spots of inflammation on her vocal cords. Two years later, she was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer.
In March 2020 the cancer was discovered, and Katie received radiation treatment five days a week for six weeks, which left all the bones exposed and caused an infection on her larynx. In October of 2020, doctors then removed her larynx leaving a hole in her throat which led to internal and external reconstructive surgery to put in a tube, and a tracheotomy was installed as a permanent part of Katie’s throat, and she was told she will never speak again. After six weeks of hospitalized treatment, and just in time for Thanksgiving, she went home on November 23, 2020, but was only able to eat intravenously for the next five months.
In addition to having an external feeding tube through her stomach, in January 2021 she was hospitalized once again and received another reconstructive surgery for complications from the tracheotomy and a suction machine was installed that helped heal and merge old and new tissue. She was released in March 2021.
Once released, she received physical therapy and home health care three times a week in her home. By the end of April 2021, Katie began drinking water every day, adding thicker liquids to her diet, but was also taking protein shakes like Boost to stay healthy– and by the end of May, she was eating solid foods on her own.
In May she was also able to leave her home two times a week for an hour session for physical therapy. Over the course of this time, she had lost nearly sixty pounds, was very weak, and had lacked muscle tone. Her physical therapy consisted of balance training and movement due to the amount of bed rest she had previously endured.
Katie was excited to be able to return to work in the middle of June 2021, but her tube fell out August 8, 2021, and was continually leaking, so she was put back on bed rest and scheduled for surgery on September 22, 2021, that would stretch her throat. Unfortunately, the tool to fix her stomach wouldn’t fit and another surgery was performed to clamp off her stomach on October 6th. This lasted exactly one month, because the clamp did not work, and she was back to another surgery on December 10, 2021, where the doctors had to cut her stomach in half and had taken out the entire track left by the tube.
At this point, I had to ask Katie about her stance on smoking and vaping and see if, after all she had endured, whether anything had changed, and what she would say to anyone who smokes, vapes or is considering it. She said, “Quit now! Your life is more important than sitting in a bed. Love yourself and your family, but remember that no matter the situation, God is your biggest supporter as well as your family and friends. I wish I’d never started.”
On December 17, 2021, Katie’s work ethic preceded her, and her job was still waiting. So, an excited Katie officially went back to work. Although unable to speak, but being determined to persevere, Katie had resolved to keep working. This is what impressed me the most about Katie’s story. As an editor for Focus on Fabulous magazine, we receive success stories of women who have overcome great obstacles and love to celebrate in those successes. However, as we have seen around the country, many places are struggling to find people who are willing to work. Katie not only has worked when she is able, she also wants to, and enjoys her job. She has since trained to be a cook.
Although receiving disability, Katie works three days a week as a cook and will on occasion still wait on tables when needed.
When serving, she communicates simply by writing to her customers, and when cooking, gives a thumbs up or head shake to her servers as confirmation that she has heard the order. Katie became a Master Cook within three months of her return, which came with more money and responsibility, and has now been given the coveted Waffle House Cook title, “Rock Star” which is an honorary title given to the highest-ranking cook. As well, Katie is a huge help to myself and others in the community. She willingly helps with cleaning, organizing, landscaping and other tasks.
When I asked Katie what has kept her motivated and determined through this whole ordeal she said, “I was raised that you work for what you want and do a good job. No slacking. It was instilled in me at an early age. And Waffle House was great! They gave me my job back including all my accomplishments I had previously earned, and they were there through it all checking up on me. They are like family.”