Katharine Welch gives a thumbs up during her chemotherapy treatments. Photo courtesy of: Katharine Welch
By George E. Mauzy Jr.
From Compass
Ohio University junior Katharine “Rina” Welch had her life changed forever during her freshman year in April 2014 when she went to the emergency room at O’Bleness Hospital with severe abdominal pain.
The Cleveland resident, who attended high school in San Rafael, California, described the pain as feeling like she was in the birth scene from the movie Alien.
After undergoing several tests and procedures, including an ultrasound, doctors diagnosed Welch with a ruptured cyst that caused inflammation in that area of her body. She said the doctors released her from the hospital because they thought the cyst had already burst and that she would soon start feeling better.
Welch’s health improved over the summer after she returned home to Cleveland. She returned to Athens in the fall and successfully completed the first semester of her sophomore year.
Katharine Welch poses in her car after participating in the Outrun Ovarian Cancer 5k event in Cleveland. Photo courtesy of: Katharine Welch
Welch’s workload is not light and her sights are set high for the future. A major in Political Science with a minor in Linguistics and dance, she will return to Ohio University’s Athens Campus once again this fall in pursuit of her dream to work in international relations as a government translator. To prepare for this career, she is studying the Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Hindi languages.
During last year’s winter break, doctors in Cleveland decided to remove the problematic cyst from Welch’s abdomen. After removing the mass from one of her ovaries and testing it, doctors discovered that it was a stage 3 cancerous tumor. Doctors then decided to remove the affected ovary as a precautionary method.
“My doctors said they will take out my other ovary after I have kids,” Welch said.
After further tests, doctors also found out that Welch has a p53 gene mutation that makes her more susceptible to growing cancerous tumors in her body.
“When I was told I had cancer, it was really scary,” Welch said. “They just kind of told me and left me alone to process it. I didn’t know what to think and was freaking out.”
One of the people who have helped Welch throughout her journey is Ginny Horton, an OHIO alumna who has known Welch since she became friends with her son while she was growing up in northern California.
“Maybe it’s the ballet background that gives her stamina, but I really don’t know many kids who could have endured what she has, with the dignity she has,” Horton said of Welch. “She’s my hero. She has amazing strength for such a kind and gentle young woman.”
Welch said she has now embraced her role as a cancer survivor and participated in the “Outrun Ovarian Cancer” 5k fundraiser in Cleveland on Aug. 1. The event allowed her to network with other cancer survivors and taught her more about the cancer nicknamed “the silent killer” because of its lack of symptoms.
Welch now must undergo annual precautionary cancer screenings with numerous doctors, including brain, breast, skin, bone and blood specialists as a result of her p53 gene mutation diagnosis. She also has her blood tested every three months.
In May, Welch finished five months of chemotherapy while taking several online courses from her home in Cleveland during spring semester. She wanted to personally thank everyone who has helped her so far, especially her professors during her chemotherapy treatments, Areej Ahmed, Bhakti Shah and David Bell. She also wanted to send special thanks to Ginny Horton and her family.
“My teachers were amazing to me through all of this,” Welch said. “They worked around their deadlines while I was taking chemo because the treatments were making it hard for me to focus and concentrate and also left me tired.”
One of the courses Welch took online was a genetics course where she learned that many people don’t get examined for cancer and other serious diseases out of fear. She said national statistics show that in many fatal cases of cancer, the disease would have been treatable if it was diagnosed earlier.
While her insurance is paying for some of her medical costs, Welch said her uncovered expenses are currently more than $20,000 and rising with every test and doctor visit.
“In addition to my high medical bills, I am also paying my way through college,” Welch said. “I have been working two jobs through most of this ordeal in an effort to keep up with the bills, but there is only so much I can do as a 20-year-old student with a major and two minors.”
Welch, who is majoring in political science and minoring in linguistics and dance, will return to Ohio University’s Athens Campus this fall in pursuit of her dream to work in international relations as a government translator. To prepare for this career, she is studying the Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Hindi languages.
As far as her lifelong battle against cancerous tumors, Welch said she better understands what the disease is and doesn’t fear it like she once did.
“In my genetics class, I found out that cancer is a consequence of humans being multicellular organisms and it is nothing that I should fear or be ashamed of,” Welch said. “Things are looking up. I’m feeling good. My hair and eyebrows are growing back and I’m also gaining my weight back.”
Welch said she could use the emotional and financial support of anyone who wants to partner with her in her battle against cancer.
“There are still a lot of unpaid bills because of my surgeries, tests and medicines,” Welch said. “Anything people can give will be greatly appreciated and it will help. This is not over for me.”
Welch had one final piece of advice for everyone who reads about her ordeal.
“Never complain about growing old; it’s a privilege,” Welch said.
Welch has a GoFundMe site that allows her to accept monetary donations to help her with her medical bills. The site can be found at: http://www.gofundme.com/rinasmedicalfees.
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