An email from Katie after she found out they were having a boy:
To my most precious ones....it's a BOY. And the rush of joy I felt to hear that he is just perfectly fine despite the fact that he is living in this sad little body of mine is beyond anything I could ever describe. The short curls over my ears were soaked with tears that had streamed down the side of my face. I have been praying since August that if my body was ever failing this baby that God would take him in His own arms and cradle him for a while. Perhaps he has spent some time in the hands of angels but right now he is with me because he is kicking (smile). Just pray that he keeps kicking and growing. The best ultrasound picture we got is one of the bottoms of his little feet.
This baby isn't more special than any other...this is the kind of protection God offers to all little babies given over to Him. That is something true that I thought as I laid in the ultrasound chair thinking about all the other little unborn babies floating down the halls of the obstetrician's office. That is why I get up in the mornings and pray for healing...because there are so many living without Christ, so many, and it makes me shiver...and it makes me hungry to share the ways in which He has blessed me over 26 years. And the peace I have even after the world has afflicted me in the worst way is just a testament to the power and omnipotence of the God I serve.
My favorite verses in the bible have always perplexed me because I knew that I could never obtain such surrender own my own. I have lived under such a great canopy of love and acceptance all my life. With this disease God has offered me a chance to move, if only for a moment, out of the shadows of this rich world and into His arms.
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1:12-13
I am in chains for Christ. I am powerless and weak and have no provisions to offer my husband, children and myself apart from the relationship I have with THE GREAT CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE LOVER OF MY SOUL. From where I sit...that's just not too sad (smile). My cup runneth' over.
Pray for me like crazy. And by all means tell somebody about Jesus. Tell them what He's doing for me. Merriwether is clueless about the baby and clueless about the disease. She is just so happy, dancing and tearing up ornaments and loving on Maggie!! I love you all and rest easy believing that each of you sincerely knows that I mean that to the moon and back.  

Jill Harris-

I graduated with Katie from Northwest High School in 1999, but my friendship with her started 13 years before that.  Katie and I were in the same kindergarten class at Pleasant Grove Elementary together, and later attended middle and high school together.  Because our names were so close in the alphabet, we always were assigned seats near each other in class.  I was always impressed with Katie's kindness.  In middle and high school, girls turn mean and catty toward each other, but Katie never acted that way.  She exuded a graciousness that made our class so happy to crown her Miss Northwest and homecoming queen--truly there was never another choice but her.  I remember that she wrote in my yearbook, in her creative, artsy way, of course, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Life handed Katie an unfair dose of lemons.  It is so surreal that she no longer lives in this world.  When I drive past Dr. Thomas's house on Haig Mill Rd, where we used to celebrate birthdays growing up, I think of her every time.  Reading over her website, I am renewed with a desire to strengthen my relationship with God and with my family. 

Pete Pelletier - Dalton, GA

I met Katie in the 8th grade while attending North Whitfield Middle School.  On my first day, being a "yankee" and feeling out of place -  a girl with long brown hair and an endearing shyness and comforting smile greeted me.  Every time our paths would cross she would say hi.  It was by far the best part of my day.  We said hi to each other throughout high school: either a simple wave or a "Hi, Pete..." -  I never told her how much it meant to me.   Katie's sweet spirit and kindness touched the deepest parts of my heart.  .

To learn she was taken from this world breaks my heart.  She was the embodiment of joy.  -  Katie was greeted warmly in heaven and wrapped in the Father's arms.  The Hammontree & Whitlow families will stay in my heart and prayers.

With Warm Regards and Deep Sympathy,
Pete Pelletier

~ Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:31

*I've attached 2 pictures:  
    1- A middle school dance, she was my 'first dance'  (you can tell from the look on my face :)
    2- Last day of school

    

Email from Daniel in China:
Dear Sherry and Tom and everybody,
The “running for Katie” relay race is moving to me. I even want to be one of those guys, although I am not sure whether I can finish the race. It is amazing!  I am missing you these days so much! I want to tell you something.  I did a lot thinking these days and I found something changed from the days before this impressive trip to America.  There is a song in my computer named “Better Man”, which is sung by Robbie Williams. There are words in it “Lord, I am doing my best to be a better man.”. When I was following it months ago, it is hard to say it surely, because I doubted whether it is true on me. I mean “Did I do my best to be a better man?”. However, when I listened to it tonight, I found I can tell it aloud, which, I am pretty sure, does not result from that I tried harder or I want less. I think the reason is my attitude of the life changed. I mean I know what I want even though not very exactly or in the far future.  But I do know what I want is passing the TOEFL in my third or fourth grade
and studying in America or Europe even not in Computer Software.  I feel I like life more than ever these days. I mean, you are right, life is good and I like it. And I think “My cup runneth over”, by the way, I wear that bangle every single day!  Thank you again!

P.S. I think it is hard to express my feeling. But here is the word which
can mean something: I—feel—good! J

With my truly love,
daniel

Anonymous:
I have been raised in the church and have always considered myself a Christian.  Prior to Katie's sickness I started questioning certain areas of my beliefs.  When Katie's Leukemia came back it only escalated myquestions. I wondered why God would allow such a beautiful person, mother and wife to be dealt such a bad hand.  I found myself not wanting to sit and listen to the gospel.  On December 20th, 2007 when Katie passed I sat in my office and cried.  I cried and questioned how God could allow something like this to happen. My beliefs were being put to the test and I began distancing myself from God.

A few weeks after her death I sat at church wondering what life and death were really about.  As my eyes filled up with tears with each passing song I started to see that Katie's life was one of a true angel.  She was faced with more than I will ever come across and in those situations she never lost her faith.  I started to venture back towards the Lord, but still had many questions.

One question I have been able to answer is yes; there is a Lord who loves each and everyone of us.  I feel that Katie was providing us with a testimony through her sickness and up to her death.  It taught me to love my family each and everyday.  It has brought my family closer together and has brought me closer to God.

I think about Katie and her precious family daily.  I want them to know that Katie's death has taught me to believe in the Lord once again.  That no matter what you are faced with, always turn to God and he will get you through the bad times.

She has passed from this world but one day I know I will be able to thank her for being such an angel.  I will be able to tell her that her actions and beliefs have helped steer me back in the right direction.