Mary Catherine “Catie” O’Brien

April 23, 2001 – January 25, 2009

“Our dearest Catie, we know that you are in Heaven with Jesus. Please pray for the success of our retreat, for all of the families who attend our retreat, and for all children in the world who are seriously ill. Amen!”

Kevin and Christine O’Brien and their children have been part of our “retreat family” for several years. Their middle daughter, Mary Catherine “Catie” O’Brien was born on April 23, 2001. Catie loved the family retreat. She especially loved the Divine Mercy Chaplet, sung by Bethany Music Ministry. On June 17, 2008, Catie was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of brain cancer called an ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rabdoid Tumor). For the next several months, Catie was treated at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn.

In spite of the best efforts of the doctors and nurses at St. Jude’s, the cancer returned. The fact that the cancer had returned during treatment, indicated to Catie’s doctors that this specific type of cancer could not be stopped…at least not at this time.

Catie returned to her home in Pennsylvania in early December so that she could be with her family for Christmas. In early January, Catie, her family, and a few close friends traveled to France, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. On January 13th, at least 3,000 people, including hundreds of school children, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, stopped their daily routine at 10 am Eastern Standard Time, to pray with Catie at the exact moment she was at the shrine. Catie and her family returned home a few days later.

On Sunday, January 25, 2009, just before dawn, Catie O’Brien was called home to the Lord.

Catie was fully aware of her situation. She suffered in silence, and she spent the final weeks of her life in constant prayer...especially praying the Rosary, surrounded by people who loved her. Catie O'Brien's life, although short, was a lesson and a blessing to all of us. She not only taught us how to die, more importantly, she taught us how to live. The redemptive power that came through the heroic virtue of this little girl is beyond our comprehension.

Before she died, she told her parents that she wanted two things, but not for her own glory, she was much to wise for that. Catie’s “wish” was to become the patron saint of children with catastrophic diseases, and to have a legacy, where each year on her birthday, April 23rd, a donation would be made to St. Jude’s Hospital, equal to their daily operating costs - approximately $1.4 million dollars. Even though Catie understood that she was not to be physically cured of her disease, she believed in the work of St. Jude’s Hospital, and in the ongoing effort by doctors, nurses, and scientists to save as many children as possible. Catie wanted to be part of this mission, well beyond her own time on Earth.

Through the faith and strength of her parents, Catie developed the courage to face death, realizing that God did not cause her to have cancer, but that He would use her suffering to bring about some good. Through God’s grace, Catie and her family have responded to Lord’s call with a resounding YES, and have formed The Catie’s Wish Foundation to assist St. Jude’s Hospital in fighting pediatric cancer and other terrible childhood diseases. This will be the legacy of Catie O’Brien.

Everyone who encounters Catie, even now, is changed forever. The love and faith that was shown by this amazing seven-year old child has set hearts on fire. You can become an on-going part of The Catie’s Wish Foundation and help other sick children find hope.

Catie O’Brien experienced the warm embrace of God’s love in her life, and she understood that God does not intend for us to keep that love to ourselves, but to take it and give it to the rest of the world. That is why her family and friends are dedicated to honoring her memory by financially supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in their fight to save the lives of our children. Please become part of Catie's legacy, and send your tax-deductible contribution to The Catie’s Wish Foundation by logging on to www.catieswish.org.

Thank you and God bless!