Hannah Katz shows off her karate medal and pink belt which she won even though she is in hospital receiving cancer treatment.
In many ways Hannah Katz is a typical 11-year-old who loves dancing, singing and making everyone laugh. She is also a prize-winning karate champion.
A few weeks ago Hannah and her family received news that turned their world upside down.
“I got a really bad headache and I couldn’t sleep the whole night because it was really sore,” said Hannah in a video, her face beaming in contrast with the painful story she tells.
“Then it went away during the next day and then the next night the same thing happened. And then the next night and the next night…”
Hanna Katz takes part in a karate tournament in spite of the fact that she is receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer.
The headaches, it turns out, were brought on by a soft mass that had been silently growing inside her, according to her parents. She had a rare form of cancer called embryonal parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma.
Doctors told Hannah’s parents that this type of cancer is life-threatening and inoperable. Her family members are, however, hopeful and have already started taking action.
“There’s one big hope for her,” said Hanna’s 48-year-old mother Hayley Katz, who is a psychotherapist. “A new radiation process called proton beam therapy allows greater amounts of targeted radiation that does not damage surrounding tissue. It’s her only real chance.”
The problem is this targeted therapy is only available in the US and it’s very expensive, she said.
“We’ve worked hard, been responsible, planned ahead, saved, but not enough to get the only therapy that has any chance of killing the cancer inside her without killing the brain that makes her who she is.”
The treatment has already proven to be successful with other children. In September 2014 it was reported that Aysha King, then 5-years-old, was cured of brain cancer after he had received proton beam therapy in the US.
“We have reached out to family and friends for help, but need outside support as well. Time is of the essence.” A crowdfunding page has been set up.
Hannah Katz’s family is appealing to the public to help raise funds for her cancer treatment in the United States.
She said Hannah also designed a Relate bracelet with bright coloured beads, which is available from the Relate Trust website.
Funds from the sale of these special handmade bracelets will go towards treatment for the karate champ as well as creating jobs for people in low-income communities.
In the meantime, Hannah forges ahead. She was recently given permission to leave the hospital for two hours to take part in a karate tournament. And as a show of solidarity for the brave little fighter, all the other participants wore pink belts.
“Hannah competed in a dojo karate competition and won a well-deserved gold medal for her kata. She then returned to her hospital bed to continue her treatment. Her goal of competing got her through an immensely difficult week,” said her father Julian.
And when she wins this battle, the 11-year-old said: “I want to go back to school and stuff…”
