A dying Manitoba girl and her wish to give strangers comfort in their greatest time of need

While battling a rare form of cancer, a young girl had a selfless dream to help others.

Kaitlyn Reimer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2010 when she was just 13 years old. But even while battling cancer, she was working on how to make the people’s lives around her easier.

Reimer realized how hard it was for patients and families to travel long distances to the hospital. So, one day, with her father, she pulled out a napkin and sketched out an idea with him.

“With her dad beside her, she had a napkin and they started to draw out the house. And that’s how that started. On a napkin,”Kaitlyn’s mother Ruth Reimer said.

She designed Katie’s Cottage. A home away from home for people having to go across the street to the Boundary Trails Health Centre for cancer treatment, surgeries, anything. A comfortable, cozy, friendly, warm place to be in people’s greatest time of need.

It opened its doors, just across the street from the hospital on Aug. 3, and has helped countless families already.

“Thank you very much for having the insight to know how important it is to stay close to your relative,” said Jane Holden when asked what she’d say to Katie to thank her.

Simon Ott’s grandmother is staying at Katie’s Cottage while his grandfather battles cancer across the street.

“First time I walked in here, you get a hug. It’s heart warming. It’s one of the best decisions they ever made because it’s helping a lot of people,” said Ott.

Katie’s Cottage is run by minimal staff. Her parents, a house manager, and 60 volunteers do what it takes to make everyone feel at home between the baking, books, board games, and fully set up eight different guest rooms, washrooms, and laundry facilities.

Sadly, Katie never lived to see her dream become a reality. But her mom said she feels her presence at the cottage everyday.

“I feel she’s jumping up and down saying yes mom go. Go mom and dad,” said Reimer.