Katelyn Hutchinson's Strengthening Interview

Losing a parent is never easy. Katelyn told her story of what happened to her father. Katelyn traveled home to visit her father over break. They joked about the future, her going to Nationals for track and him already having his tickets and hotel booked to fly out and watch her. Everything seemed normal, except he had a cough that she kept bringing up, but he continued to dismiss it because he didn't want to worry her.

As her stay continued, his condition got worse. Eventually, Katelyn had to call an ambulance, and her father was rushed to the hospital. The world was still in a post covid world, so Katelyn could not go to the hospital with her father. Katelyn later received a phone call from her father expressing that he had covid. This incident sparked panic in her family as she sought a place to go. She tested negative and went to stay with her aunt, expecting her father wouldn't have to be at the hospital too long.

However, her father's condition quickly worsened, and she received a phone call no one wanted to hear. Her father was dying, and she couldn't be there. This was a terrible time in Katelyn's life. Nothing was the same. Going back to school was a more challenging transition than anticipated. Focusing on track and school seemed impossible. Competing without her number-one supporter felt like the end of the world.

Katelyn suffered through several months of hardships before she began to let loose and try to enjoy herself again. Katelyn graduated from Ithaca College. She is now attending the University of Kentucky and is a part of their sports leadership master's program. Katelyn continues to make her father proud as she went from a D111 athlete to a D1 athlete.

Katelyn explains that every day is still difficult without her father. Even though a year has gone by, it doesn't seem to get easier. The pain will always be there.