HELENA -- Cancer treatment is hard enough and doing it through the COVID-19 pandemic will test the mettle of anyone. On May 28, Katie Madsen finished her final chemotherapy treatment, and though her family wanted to celebrate with her at the hospital as she rung the bell in the cancer ward, they weren’t able to. In turn, Madsen's mother-in-law got creative.
“The tradition is to have a family join them at the cancer center and bring the great big bell, but because of the virus, we can't be with her today," said Kim Gardner. "So we're having a parade for her and we decorated their house to welcome them home”
Over 50 friends and family welcomed Katie, and her husband Curtis, home after the final treatment, and the best part of it all, it was a surprise.
"I was surprised. I had no idea," said Madsen.
Car Horns, cow bells, and exuberance lined the street as they pulled in, and after Katie and Curtis got out of the car, Madsen expressed her gratitude to those who are supporting her though this fight.
“I just want to thank everybody for your endless amount of support, the prayers, the calls, the text messages, the donations, dinners the list goes on and on. I just cant thank everyone enough,” said Madsen.
Madsen's friends and family, beamed welcoming her home, just thankful that Katie eclipsed a big milestone in her journey.
“She is a magician at spreading love and all of these people are proof, that she’s going amazing things in the world and the world is not all finished with her," said Kirsten Madsen, Katie's sister-in-law.
