Kathryn Finlayson

Kathryn "Kate" Finlayson passed away on November 27, 2010, following a long battle with complications of hydrocephalus. She was 26 years old. Kate was born severely prematurely in Boston, Massachusetts, and suffered a major stroke with multiple complications from which she was not expected to survive. She overcame her early illnesses, however, to enjoy a lively and happy childhood with her brothers Peter and Sam, whom she adored with all her heart. Kate’s early years in Bethesda, Maryland were filled with enthusiasm, adventure, writing, and a tremendous love of literature. Kate developed dear and lasting friendships with classmates and teachers at the Norwood School, as well as fellow members of the Little Falls Swim Team where she spent joyful summers playing, training, and competing. Although she at first took up swimming to strengthen muscles that had been weakened by her neonatal stroke, with time, wonderful coaching, hard work and determination she developed into a surprisingly strong competitor. Some of the records she set still stand 18 years later. Kate also loved family time spent visiting her grandparents’ summer cottage on Lake Owassa in New Jersey, where she learned to fish and water ski, and enjoyed canoeing, catching turtles, collecting leaves and flowers, chasing lightning bugs, thunderstorms, and evenings on the still, calm waters with her mother. After moving to Tokyo with her family, Kate attended upper elementary and middle school with her brothers at the American School in Japan. She enjoyed studying Japanese, learning to play the Koto, performing in a memorable play, dancing, singing, swimming, doing volunteer projects with a wonderful church group, and making new friends from all over the world. While in Japan, Kate’s medical condition began to decline, requiring several emergency surgeries, but she bounced back with great resilience supported by devoted friends and teachers. Kate reluctantly left Japan to move with her family again, this time to Alamo, California, where she swam with the Del Amigo Swim Team and briefly attended the San Ramon Valley High School, before declining health required her to complete high school through an independent study program at the Venture School in San Ramon, supplemented with coursework at Diablo Valley College. Despite some deficits and increasing illness, Kate worked extremely hard and graduated with an outstanding academic record, while continuing her involvement in numerous service activities including Soldier’s Angels and John Muir Medical Center Volunteers. She was admitted to the Bachelor’s of Nursing program at St. Mary’s College, and attended classes initially on a full-time basis, later shifting to part-time as her medical challenges grew. Kate spent the last 16 months of her life in Phoenix, Arizona, receiving treatment at the Barrow Neurological Institute. Kate’s rare and complex problems caused her great suffering and ultimately proved to be impossible to cure, but it was meaningful to Kate to know that her treatment helped push the frontiers of knowledge of hydrocephalus, revealed new areas of potentially fruitful research, and inspired the invention of new shunt technology that has already been used to save other patients. Kate met her deepening medical challenges with remarkable courage and grace. After a stroke took away most movement on her left side, she worked with diligence and positive spirit and eventually was delighted to be able to recover the ability to sit unaided, to walk under her own power, and even to participate again in some volunteer service - until overwhelming complications finally made further treatment impossible. Through all her adversity, Kate continued to seek and find joy in every moment. She never lost her characteristic patience, good humor, love of life, or sense of gratitude for the many people who blessed her life. Her appreciation for her doctors, nurses and other caregivers was heartfelt and expressed often. Kate was known for her pure heart, courage, determination, great capacity for love and sympathy, and kindness toward all. She had a remarkable gift for bringing inspiration and peace to those she touched. Kate’s goodness was deeply rooted in a powerful faith in God’s love for her and all His children, which uplifted and inspired her throughout her life. She drew great strength and comfort from reading the scriptures. Kate will be greatly missed by her family: parents Pam and Grant, older brother Peter and sister-in-law Nina, younger brother Sam, three grandparents, 15 aunts and uncles, 15 cousins, and her devoted dog, Wags. We envy the loved ones gone on before, especially Kate’s beloved grandfather Steve Hutchcraft, Jr., who are now welcoming the strongest, sweetest, kindest, most loving angel into heaven. Family and friends are invited to honor Kate’s life at a memorial service on Thursday, December 16 at 1 pm, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 885 Old Orchard Road in Danville, California. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Hydrocephalus Association’s Kate Finlayson Grant for Hydrocephalus Research, LDS Charities, or Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation.

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