Catoosa teen overcomes birth defect, looks to future at OU and in medicine

By Susan Parrott

Published: July 27, 2005

When doctors diagnosed a 1-year-old Katelyn Wilbanks with spina bifida, they warned she might die before puberty.

Wilbanks, now 15, surprised them by weathering 54 surgeries and becoming a high school cheerleader and an inspiration to her family and friends.

When doctors recently amputated Wilbanks' left leg because of complications of her disorder, they said it would be months before she adapted to a prosthetic limb.

The Catoosa teen surprised them by striding out the door without a stumble.

Tuesday, it was Wilbanks' turn to be surprised.

On live television, she was presented with a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where she wants to study medicine and develop new treatments for the defect that has ravaged her body but not her optimism.

OU President David Boren awarded the four-year scholarship, which includes room, board and books, during NBC's "The Today Show," where the teen was featured during a segment called Christmas in July.

Although it will be several years before the high school sophomore attends college, the promise of a paid scholarship was a dream come true for Wilbanks and her family, who have spent their savings on her medical care.

"It's awesome, it's wonderful," she told The Oklahoman by telephone from New York.

During the show, Boren, joined by eight members of the OU marching band, told a stunned Wilbanks she embodies the Sooner spirit.

"Katelyn, the Sooner spirit is to have the courage to dream and then the tenacity to carry out your dreams and make them reality. So we think you need to be a Sooner."

OU learned of Wilbanks' wish to attend OU from an Oklahoman who is an NBC producer. When the network contacted OU, officials dipped into private scholarship funds. She'll also get tutoring help in high school from OU students.

Wilbanks said she decided to study medicine after her surgical stays at OU Medical Center, where she was inspired by the care. She hopes to find new ways to treat spina bifida.

"It's huge for us," said her mom Tracy Turner, who said she's always been proud of her daughter's tenacity and fighting spirit.

"She never quits; she never gives up," she said. "She holds onto a dream and goes at it with everything she has."

Katelyn is likely to have additional surgeries and might lose more of her left leg, but says she'll face those with the same humor and faith.

When her leg was amputated at the knee, she asked family and friends to come up with one-legged jokes. They gave her good-natured nicknames like peggy, hoppy and flamingo.

"I love to laugh," she said.