Katy's Courage Program Helps Kids, Teens Cope With Grief

EAST HAMPTON, NY - The memory of Katy Stewart, a brave little Sag Harbor girl who lost her battle with a rare form of liver cancer when she was only 12 years old, lives on forever in those who are carrying her memory in their hearts.

In her honor, Katy's Courage will host a Katy's Kids, a group session to help children and teens deal with grief. The session will be held on Wednesday, March 16, beginning at 5:45 p.m. at the Children's Museum of the East End, located at 376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton.

Katy's Kids@CCME is a new program aimed at focusing on peer support groups for grieving children and their families.

"At Katy's Kids we understand that grief is a natural reaction to death. Katy's Kids @ CMEE is a peer group support program for children, teens and their families that provides caring and acceptance to assist in the healing process," a release said.

For additional information on the session or Katy's Courage, email info@katyscourage.org, or call 631-745-8590. Donations may be sent by check to P.O. Box 3251, Sag Harbor, NY 11963.

Katy’s Courage is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization honoring Katy Stewart. The organization is dedicated to raising monies to fund local school scholarships, pediatric cancer research and Katy’s Kids @ CMEE.

When Katy died in 2011, hearts were broken on the East End.

Katy's bright smile became familiar to East End residents after two Roar For A Cure benefits organized by The Max Cure Foundation raised funds and support for two families fighting fiercely to save their children from deadly cancers.

Katy, said Max Cure President David Plotkin, whose son Max survived his battle with lymphoma, "fought with courage and bravery, always wearing a smile." The Roar For A Cure carnivals, he added, lent support to Katy's parents, Jim and Brigid, so they "would be able to dedicate time and energy on getting Katy well," while providing some normalcy for their young son, Robert, during the times that Katy underwent treatment.

"As parents, and as a community, everyone rallied around Katy," Plotkin said. "Memorial Sloan-Kettering did everything they could to cure her. Unfortunately, the cancer was too strong."

Katy , a seventh grader passed away in her sleep, only days before the New Year.

"Early this morning as the sun was rising in pink hue over the harbor, our beautiful and beloved daughter and Robert's sister, Katy, became an angel in heaven," wrote the Stewart family in a message on CaringBridge.org, a website devoted to sharing news of those who are facing health challenges.

"She was a special gift to the lives of those who knew her, a kind and thoughtful child who was a giving and generous soul," the message continued. "She was a magnificent blessing to our lives and words can't really express just how we much we loved her so."

Katy's parents are familiar faces on the East End.

Her heartbroken family also thanked the community for reaching out to them during their darkest hours. "You made our journey lighter, and touched Katy's heart in so many ways. Please say a prayer for her. She will be with us always."

As news spread of Katy's passing, those who knew her reached out with words of support — and memories of the little girl who touched their hearts forever.