Kathy Taylor, Utah Christian Mother of Five Who Refused Cancer Treatment While Pregnant Dies

By Shawn Schuster
Taylor Family
Taylor Family

A Christian mother of five who refused cancer treatment while 26 weeks pregnant to save her unborn baby has died on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Utah woman, Kathy Taylor, died at around 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve after a short battle with melanoma. She was first diagnosed with the terminal cancer in August, while carrying her sixth child, but refused the treatment because it would be too risky for the baby. Sadly, Kathy was forced to deliver the baby 14 weeks premature on September 11 after her liver failed from cancer complications, and the baby, named Luke Tazelaar Taylor, died two weeks later of an infection.

"My mom yelled my name, she sounded distressed," Kathy's husband, Nathan, wrote in the family blog, entitled Kathy's Miracle. "I got out of bed and went into the bathroom. Kathy was sitting in the bathroom and my mom was holding her up. She told me she thought Kathy had passed. I sat on the tub next to Kathy and started checking for signs of life. As I realized she had gone I gathered her in my arms and embraced her. I could not believe it. I was so sad that I had been asleep and not been with her when she passed. I was so sad it was already goodbye."

Doctors had originally given Kathy only 24 hours to live, but she pushed on for several more months through one daughter's birthday on September 14 and her own birthday on December 10.

When Luke was born, he only weighed 1 pound 15 ounces. He was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, but was able to be held by his mother before he passed on September 27.

But even through it all, Kathy and her family never lost sight of God and his plan. "I still trust that God is completely aware and that everything will happen as it should," Kathy wrote in her blog on Christmas Eve. "I will be grateful to be out of pain and with Heavenly Father and Jesus and hope to be able to offer lots of comfort to my family from the other side. I am so grateful they have so many wonderful people to turn to. A merciful God they can always pray to."

The Kathy's Miracle blog is full of inspiration that the family pulled from God's love and an amazing understanding of His plan. It was started on October 6 of this year, just before baby Luke's funeral as a way for the Taylor family to communicate the experience. It's filled with everything from descriptions of Kathy's pain through cancer treatments to light-hearted humor ("God made me live longer so I could have some French toast," Kathy jokes.), but the underlying foundation is the family's strong faith in God.

"I believe I will be welcomed into heaven and my children will be comforted by their heavenly father and their earthly father and their older brother Jesus Christ," Kathy dictated to her husband during one visit in October. "We will all get through it."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories