As Howell Teen Fights Cancer, Community Stands By Her Side

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell community is banding together behind teen Katelyn Morales, as she makes her way through intensive treatment for a rare form of cancer.

Her family, friends and students at Howell High School are raising funds in various ways.

And under the "Fight for Kate!" banner, they are also expressing their personal support of Kate, 14, after she was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma.

One such close family friend is Shannon Sullivan. She and others have established a GoFundMe site to help the family with extensive medical bills. Kate has been in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since June.

"Kate's mother Tabatha is one of my best friends and Kate and my daughter Morgan have been friends all throughout school," Sullivan, of Howell, said.

Here is part of her message to the community:

"We need your help in raising funds to help Katelyn Morales during her fight against cancer. . . . Doctors say her form of cancer is rare, which took months to diagnose and is very difficult to treat. She has been receiving radiation, chemotherapy treatments, blood transfusions," she says.

Sullivan said that, in addition to chemotherapy and radiation, Kate needs physical rehabilitation. Her mother stays with her at the hospital to help her as she goes through treatment and its side effects.

"There is nowhere else she would want to be," said Sullivan of her friend.

With all the medical and associated expenses, and an anticipated long hospital stay, all donations are welcome, Sullivan said. Again, you can go to the site here.

"Kate was looking forward to starting high school and her joy in life has always been soccer, track, and spending time with her family and friends. But now she must focus on getting better, which is going to be an ongoing and difficult battle. Her treatment will be a two-year long and very expensive journey," the message on GoFundMe said.

Katelyn’s father is with Kate's two siblings at home while her mother is with her 24/7 at the hospital, the site notes, and she is not able to work right now.

"Without the ability to work, all of her bills and expenses are piling up. Please consider donating to support Kate and her family. Every little bit helps and no amount is too small. It takes a village, and this village needs your help.#cancersucks! #fightforkate!"

T-cell lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells and is very uncommon, according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Kate's sister Madison Morales, also an athlete like her sister, says Kate is a "true warrior."

Madison has joined an American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser "to celebrate survivors, remember those we've lost, and offer up support to anyone in our community who's been affected by it," she says on the site.

"The funds I'm raising will sustain critical research and provide services for people trying to cope with their cancer experience. Believe me, every dollar really does count, so I'm asking you to please donate today," she says on the site.

The Kicking Cancer relay is scheduled for next June, according to the site, and is accepting donations here.

And Sullivan said that last Wednesday, at Howell High School, students wore special T-shirts to raise funds for Kate, saying "We Fight for Kate."

Sullivan said there has "been an outpouring of support. It shows how good people are."