Karen Walsh’s Story

When did your Runway story begin?

Karen Walsh first walked with Runway for Recovery in 2024, shortly after her recurrence.

At the time, she shared her story while still living inside the earliest pieces of that news. Since then, more has unfolded.

“The stories change,” Karen says.

That is part of why revisiting her story matters. Cancer does not stay in one neat chapter. It shifts. 

For Karen, the last year has brought a deeper understanding of how much cancer affects not only the person diagnosed, but everyone around them.

 

What has changed since your recurrence?

Karen’s first diagnosis was in 2015.

During that time, she remembers her own health going down, and then her husband’s health struggling deeply as well. In the middle of that, there was what Karen describes as “carnage” for her boys: challenges, pain, and disruption that unfolded alongside her illness.

After a time, there was a sense of coming back up.

Then came her recurrence.

This time, Karen saw a familiar pattern. Her own health shifted again. A year later, her now ex-husband experienced another difficult episode. And once again, her boys were deeply affected.

“It’s just a story that keeps unfolding,” Karen says.

What part of your story feels important to name?

Karen wants to make room for a part of cancer that can be harder to talk about: what happens when the people expected to be caregivers are not always able to show up in the ways someone needs.

She knows she is not alone in that experience.

“There is a different layer of experience,” Karen says. “It feels important to tell my story.” 

How have your boys shaped this experience?

Karen’s sons are at the center of her story.

Over the past year, her oldest son struggled more than he ever had before. He lost a scholarship, and his life changed drastically. Karen describes it as some of the hardest parenting she has ever done.

But she also watched him crawl his way back.

“I’m just so proud of him for crawling up and doing that,” Karen says. “Being able to be here and watch this is huge.”

How can people support you best?

Karen appreciates the people in her life who can make space for the full range of how she processes what she is going through.

Sometimes that includes dark humor. Sometimes it means naming the hardest parts directly instead of avoiding them.

“I’m going to name it instead of not name it,” Karen says.

She also values people who keep checking in.

“The story changes and the needs change,” Karen says. “Just keep checking in.”

Why did you want to return for Runway’s 20th anniversary?

“The reason I sought you guys out was for community,” Karen says. “Community for my boys, for families.”

That feeling became even more real after attending the Runway retreat.

When Karen came home from the retreat, her son Owen saw Renee’s cookbook and recognized her.

“I remember Renee,” he said.

For Karen, that moment meant everything.

“I was floored,” she says. “I was like, yes. It’s happening.”

It was proof that Runway was becoming what she hoped it could be: not just an organization she participated in, but a community her boys could recognize, remember, and feel connected to.

On the Runway stage, we look forward to celebrating Karen, her boys, and the story that continues to unfold.