Meredith’s legacy: A family’s mission to save lives

When Kathryn and Abigail talk about their sister Meredith, their voices fill with love, grief, and unwavering purpose. Meredith was just 28 years old when she was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. She was vibrant, healthy, and deeply loved — and her battle would go on to shape the course of her family’s lives.

“I’m almost 38 now,” Kathryn said. “And it’s scary. Our sister died at such a young age, and it’s hard to make sense of that. But she made us promise we would be her voice, and we are.”

A Wake-Up Call 

Meredith’s symptoms were initially dismissed. Doctors suspected IBS or Crohn’s disease, common misdiagnoses for younger adults presenting with gastrointestinal issues. But their mother, Pam, a nurse, insisted something wasn’t right. She pushed for a colonoscopy — and the tumor was discovered. Despite more than 90 rounds of chemotherapy and a fierce determination to live, Meredith passed away in June 2023 at the age of 33.

Her diagnosis sounded an alarm for the entire family.

Meredith urged her sisters to get screened, even though none were near the typical screening age of 45. Kathryn was 32 when she had her first colonoscopy. Doctors found and removed precancerous polyps. She said she’s now classified as a “previvor” and will be screened every two years. Abigail, now 32, has already had two precancerous polyps removed and requires annual screenings.

“Without Meredith’s diagnosis, I likely would’ve had colon cancer by age 40 or 50,” Kathryn said. “She saved my life.”

A New Generation, Flagged Early

The impact stretches beyond the sisters. Their children will all begin colonoscopies in their teens or early twenties. 

“It’s hard to say out loud,” Abigail admitted, “but our kids are already flagged for early screening. That’s just the world we’re living in now.”

Kinsley, Kathryn’s oldest, is just six and a half, but knows who Meredith was, what cancer is, and why her family talks about her aunt every day. 

“She was the first grandchild,” Kathryn said. “She knows how hard Meredith fought. She knows that we keep going because Meredith would want us to.”

Breaking the Silence 

Meredith’s story — and now Kathryn and Abigail’s — underscores a troubling truth. Colorectal cancer is increasingly striking younger adults. What used to be considered a disease for those over 50 is now showing up in people in their 20s and 30s.

“The doctors are listening more now,” Abigail said. “They’re not just saying it’s IBS anymore. They’re hearing patients out. But we still need to keep raising awareness, especially about all the symptoms — not just blood in the stool.”

Kathryn and Abigail emphasized that insurance coverage is a major barrier. 

“We shouldn’t have to pay $500 or $800 out-of-pocket when we have a direct family history,” Kathryn said. “No one should be choosing between groceries and a life-saving screening.”

The sisters are working with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to push for policy change and support programs that provide financial assistance for colonoscopies. 

“People need to know there are resources out there,” Abigail said. “And if they aren’t — we need to create them.”

Grief, Faith, and Sisterhood

Losing Meredith left an ache that has never dulled. Abigail described being present for her sister’s final breath during hospice care. 

“It’s something I wouldn’t trade,” she said. “But it’s so hard. I think about her every day. We all do.”

Birthdays are particularly difficult. 

“She didn’t get to turn 34,” Abigail said. “And now I will. It feels selfish, in a way, to keep moving forward without her. But she would want us to.”

What sustains them is each other — and a bond that goes beyond sisterhood. 

Kathryn, Abigail, Meredith, and their older sister Kristen were always inseparable. 

“We’ve always been a close-knit family,” Kathryn said. “And that’s what’s helping us get through this. That and our faith.”

Even Meredith’s husband, Jack, remains deeply connected to the family. 

“We talk to him every couple of days,” Kathryn said. “He’s not just our brother-in-law. He’s family.”

Carrying the Torch

From fitness fundraisers that have raised tens of thousands of dollars to legislative efforts in Rhode Island — including a bill to create a license plate in hopes to raise awareness and increase screening rates— this family is doing everything they can to keep Meredith’s memory alive and make a difference.

“We’re her biggest cheerleaders,” Kathryn said. “And we’ll keep going for as long as it takes.”

When asked what they want others to take away from Meredith’s story, the answer was simple:

“Don’t wait. Advocate for yourself. Push for testing. Don’t assume you’re too young,” Abigail said. “Meredith did everything right — and still, it wasn’t enough. But maybe her story can be the reason someone else catches colorectal cancer in time.”