by Pat Jones
My wife, Kate Straub-Jones, lived a life of dedication and purpose. We both served in the U.S. Navy and continued to work as government civilians after retirement. In 2014, after years of service, we moved back to Washington State, where Kate began her second retirement—not to relax, but to care for her parents, both of whom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Kate’s dad passed later that year, followed by her mom in 2016 and my own mother in 2017. Supporting all three of them through end-of-life decisions, financial matters, and the emotional weight of saying goodbye deeply shaped Kate’s own thinking. She often said those experiences helped her understand what she wanted for herself when that time came.
We had plans for our next chapter. I officially retired on December 31, 2017, and we were excited to spend our early retirement traveling the world. We kicked off our adventures with some short trips and then took a big, unforgettable journey to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji in the spring of 2018.
But everything changed shortly after.
A Sudden Turn
Our next trip was a road trip to California to visit my sister. It was then that Kate began to notice changes in her vision. She described it as a dark area—completely black—in the upper right quadrant of both eyes. She saw an optometrist who immediately suspected a stroke and referred her to her primary care doctor.
Kate was sent for an MRI the next working day. By that evening, we were called in for a follow-up. We were the last patients seen, and the silence in the exam room told us something serious was ahead.
The Diagnosis: Glioblastoma
A biopsy was scheduled the following week. The results confirmed what we feared: Kate had glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive and challenging brain tumors to treat. She was referred to the University of Washington’s specialized brain tumor center, and within days, our lives had changed forever.
She started radiation and chemotherapy immediately. Once her scalp healed from radiation, Kate began wearing the Optune device—Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) technology that we believed helped delay her tumor growth. We became Optune Ambassadors for Novocure, hoping to support others while continuing Kate’s treatment.
Living Life Fully, Even with GBM
Every two to three months brought another MRI. But we were thankful to go nearly three full years before the tumor recurred. In that time, we still lived our lives with joy and meaning. Our youngest son got married. Our first grandchild was born. We visited friends and family, took road trips, and even reached a huge milestone—our 40th wedding anniversary.
Kate began another round of chemotherapy, and again, it delayed tumor growth for a while. Our second grandchild arrived in the summer of 2022. We cherished every moment we could.
But by fall of that year, another recurrence arrived. This time, Optune was no longer an option. The tumor’s location led to severe aphasia, making communication nearly impossible. Eventually, Kate required a wheelchair and entered hospice care in February 2023. She passed away just a month later.
Her Legacy of Strength
Kate lived 4½ years after her GBM diagnosis—far beyond the average life expectancy. She faced each day with grace, courage, and what I can only describe as an “awesome attitude.” She never stopped fighting for more moments with the people she loved. And she never let cancer define who she was.
Her story is one of service, strength, and deep love. For me, our children, our grandchildren, and all those she touched through her advocacy, Kate’s legacy will never fade.
