My guest for episode #98 is the amazing Katherine Wolf. At the age of 26, Katherine suffered a massive brainstem stroke while her 6-month old baby James slept in the other room. Against all odds, she survived the 16-hour brain surgery and perhaps even more miraculously she recovered her life, though it looks very different than she ever imagined. To this day, many issues remain, from walking and swallowing impairments to facial paralysis, double vision, right ear deafness, and lack of fine motor coordination in her right hand, and yet hope remains also. On June 26, 2015, seven years after the stroke, Katherine and her husband, Jay, welcomed their miracle son, John, into the world. Today, the Wolfs reside in Los Angeles, CA, and they share their journey of whole-hearted living and hope in Christ through many successful digital and in-person forums through their non-profit ministry, Hope Heals.
I met Katherine this year at IF Gathering, and ever since I have wanted to have her on the show. Also, some of you have heard her story or read her book, and emailed me to suggest her for the show. I am so excited we were finally able to make it happen. You are going to love this show.
In our conversation, Katherine shares what it was like to wake up two months after having a stroke. The last thing she remembered was being home with her napping baby, and two months later, she wakes up to machines, wires, and an amazing medical team. She shares what that experience has been like and how God has given her purpose to her suffering. She talks about how her body now is indicative of how broken our hearts are, saying “We're all living out what I am living out on the outside of my body… We all have issues – terrible sad issues on the inside of our bodies – wounds and scars and we've been through the fire. You may not have a paralyzed face, but I bet you have issues with your appearance and don't feel beautiful all the time. I can't walk, but I bet you don't feel free all the time even if you can.”
Even though your suffering may not look exactly like Katherine's, she shares such valuable wisdom that I think will persevere your heart no matter what your path has looked like. I hope you feel encouraged by today's show, knowing and trusting that God is good in every single one of our circumstances.
{You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!}
Links from the Show
Eight Twenty Eight by Ian & Larissa Murphy + Esther by Beth Moore + Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer + Being Mortal by Atul Gawande + Steadfast Love by Lauren Chandler
What Katherine is loving: Kombucha (GT's and Kevita), a capsule wardrobe and her neighborhood
Connect with Katherine
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
Sponsor:
Restore Women's Conference
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International Justice Mission
Slavery exists now more than ever. Today, there are 45 million men, women, girls and boys being bought, sold, trafficked and used against their will. Girls like Mien who was sold and trafficked to a brothel in Cambodia when she was just 14 years old. But there is hope. International Justice Mission is working day and night, relentlessly searching for each and every one of these lives. And when they free ONE life, they search for the next and the next and the next… Making them the largest international anti-slavery organization in the world. And if this problem seems too big for them to handle alone, you’re right. So there’s a way for you to be a part: Freedom Sunday. The idea is simple, on September 25th, 2016 your church will dedicate its service to FREEDOM – it's just one Sunday to awaken God’s people and answer his called to see slavery end for good. From the lobby, to the message, to the media – your church will experience God’s love for justice, and be given the opportunity to join His work in ending slavery. Would you commit to asking your pastor to host a Freedom Sunday? Someone from IJM will personally walk you through the process and give you everything you need including talking points, videos and FAQs. Commit today, go to their site and click on “host a Freedom Sunday”!
Listening to this podcast feeling so alone … I am battling lymes disease right now and the ups and downs of treatment and pain and feeling here but not here in this world and Katherine’s podcast is speaking straight into my heart and bones even. Thank you for this encouraging podcast and for doing what you do so well. You are making a difference.
Katherine’s joy was flipping contagious!!!!! My goodness, she was such an encouragement to me!!!!
Thank you for having Katherine on your podcast! Love her enthusiasm for life – inspirational! Thank you Katherine for accepting Jamie’s invitation – keep on truckin’ girl!
It was a joy to hear Katherine’s voice! Even after all this time she sounds the same as she did in college! JOYFUL!
I love how she brings up post traumatic growth. I find myself longing for the days we were sitting in the unknown in the NICU with my daughter for a total of 71 days. I lived in the daily, was placed in a season where total dependence on God was all I could survive on. I grew in my relationship with Him, I grew in my ability to undergo stress and trauma, I grew so much that I appreciate the season of suffering I endured and am still working through!
Jamie, Your ability to make a listener feel like they are sitting at the table with you and your girlfriend is amazing! I just feel like I’m enjoying a chat with my friends even without having to say a word! My daughter has doc appointments 1 and 2 hours away from home and your podcast is uplifting and keeps my mind off what could be at the next appointment – which usually brings on fear. And it’s helping me be encouraged to read and FINISH books!! I love to read and want to be more intentional about reading!
Anyway, thank you for your work! it makes a difference to many!
It was a joy to hear Katherine’s voice! Even after all this time she sounds the same as she did in college! JOYFUL!
I love how she brings up post traumatic growth. I find myself longing for the days we were sitting in the unknown in the NICU with my daughter for a total of 71 days. I lived in the daily, was placed in a season where total dependence on God was all I could survive on. I grew in my relationship with Him, I grew in my ability to undergo stress and trauma, I grew so much that I appreciate the season of suffering I endured and am still working through!
Jamie, Your ability to make a listener feel like they are sitting at the table with you and your guest/girlfriend is amazing! I just feel like I’m enjoying a chat with my friends even without having to say a word! My daughter has doc appointments 1 and 2 hours away from home and your podcast is uplifting and keeps my mind off what could be at the next appointment – which usually brings on fear. And it’s helping me be encouraged to read and FINISH books!! I love to read and want to be more intentional about reading! Especially when you said you feel like writers should be reading to become a better writer! I totally agree and want to pick up with my writing now that life is settling and so I’m juggling books like crazy with some encouragement from you and your guests!
Anyway, thank you for your work! it makes a difference to many!
I’ve heard Katherine’s story before and I’m struck by so many things hearing it again. One of the main things is that we all have struggles and she has the blessing of having hers on the outside because perhaps people are more gentle with her because they can see that. Oh that we would be gentle with all of our brothers and sisters because we know everyone has SOMETHING they are dealing with. I am also really being reflective of another thing she said. We should expect more of our GOD and less of the people around us to meet our needs. I have such low expectations sometimes of what God can or will do and have so much fear that my world will come crashing down around me in tragedy one day that I forget that God is GOOD and has our best at heart always. I’m trying to let fear go and hold to the hope that God promises in Christ. Thank you for this podcast and sharing Katherine’s story. She is letting God use her to bring hope to the hurting and healing to the broken. I can’t wait to read her book!