Katie Drablos’s Only The Best for HNC Living
Katie Drablos and I connected as pen pals when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Tongue Cancer during the pandemic. It didn’t take long for us to become great friends. She has generously invited me to dance in her last two shows that she created to tell her story and raise money for multiple cancer organizations.
Her show, “Only the Best” benefitted HNC Living Foundation, and they invited Katie to bring her show to Kansas City for their benefit, “Masks for Aid.”
Katie and HNC Living then invited me to create a video to introduce Katie and Kelly Drablos, to tell their story of mother and daughter, patient and caretaker. It has been one of my greatest honors.
To be able to dance and create a film to help others fighting cancer means more than I can say. It is a dream and a deep honor to take two things I love to do, and use it for something that is so personal to me.
Katie had to learn how to speak again, and here she is so eloquently sharing her story on camera. I struggled to walk and lift anything post treatment, and I got to dance and create this film. Miracles abound.
Here we are, two stage 4 cancer survivors using our art to help heal others, and in doing so, we help to heal ourselves.
Katie is a remarkable human and dear friend. Even though I wish cancer never happened to us, I am grateful that it brought me to her. I hope you’re inspired by her story as much as I am.
Filmed and Edited by: Shayla Benoit / Shady Theatrics
Assisted by: @Kenny Fox
Additional Footage by: Sam Lobel & @jacob.hiss
Only the Best Co-Creators: @Katie Drablos & Kelly Drablos
Dancers: Katie Drablos Choreography , Kathleen Laituri , Morgana Mauney , Kristi Smith , Colby Marie , Taylor Habershaw
