Social Worker Lived Life to the Fullest
Katie Scharlow. Photo courtesy of MLive.com.
Michigan social worker Katie Scharlow, who had battled cancer since she was a child, found out in May 2012 she had only a year at most to live, this MLive.com article said.
At first she was angry. Then Scharlow and her family cried for a week. Finally she decided to live her remaining life to the fullest and inspire others to do the same.
Since she knew it was unlikely she would marry Scharlow, 24, threw herself a Celebration of Life Party that attracted 450 guests. She ran for city council. And as a former Miss Reed City she continued her pageant hosting duties.
“I want people to live,” said Scharlow, who earned a degree in social work from Northwestern Michigan College and Ferris State University. “They got this whole life in front of them. Don’t wait. Do stuff you want to do. Live for you.”
Scharlow died on Sept. 21 with her family, close friends and dog Riley by her side.
Her funeral was just the way she wanted it. Gerber daisies and rhinestones decorated her casket and Scharlow had purple glitter in her hair.
Cheers to MLive.com for telling Scharlow’s touching story.
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What an inspiring account of a LIFE. We moan and groan so much about life, worry about death but do nothing about it. I went to a funeral recently,,,, a young woman in her 40’s…. The gathering of friends and family and celebration of life that followed in the evening was beautiful. It was then I decided that we should be celebrating people when their alive surely?? Had my 40th birthday recently and did nothing to celebrate … However to make up for it given every opportunity of clean fun, a go!!
Sorry I’m a social worker of 14 years