This is sad: The News Herald: Breaking news coverage for Southgate, MI

Katie Viger, who received her honorary nursing license from the state Feb. 12, died of brain cancer Thursday morning.

She was 23.

Viger fought cancer for six months.

She was a “vibrant young woman” who was “so full of life,” said Cathy Wakefield of Allen Park, one of Viger’s nursing instructors at Henry Ford Community College who became a friend.

Viger graduated with a nursing degree in May. Days before she was to take an exam to be certified as a registered nurse in August, doctors diagnosed her with terminal brain cancer.

She remained upbeat, despite her prognosis. One of her only regrets was not being able to complete the requirements to receive her registered nursing license.

She underwent experimental treatments, mostly to alleviate the symptoms of her illness. However, just a few weeks ago, Viger entered hospice care as her health began to decline swiftly.

It was then that Wakefield decided to find a way to get Viger an honorary nursing license. Though she encountered considerable political red tape, Wakefield found an ally in state Sen. Raymond Basham (D-Taylor).

Basham was immediately on board with the cause and pushed his fellow legislators to consider what came to be called Katie’s Bill.

Wakefield also started a group on Facebook to support the cause. Thousands of Downriver residents and others joined the cause and sent letters and e-mails to their state legislators. Many who joined had never met Viger.

With strong bipartisan support, Katie’s Bill will be introduced in the Legislature soon. It will provide the state nursing board with the authority to issue honorary licenses for those in the health care field who fall short of their dreams because of severe illness or death.

Basham presented Viger’s parents, Joe and Cathy Viger, and her brother, Mark, with the honorary license.

The Facebook page, originally called “Give Katie Viger her honorary nursing license,” was flooded with congratulations from its many members. Wakefield then changed the name of the group to “Katie Viger Gets Her Honorary Nursing License 2-12-10. … Thank You!”

“We got exactly what we were fighting for,” Wakefield said, adding that she was humbled to know how many lives Viger’s story had touched.

Viger lived to see her dream come true.

Shortly after Viger’s death, many of the more than 5,000 members of the Facebook page filled the wall with messages of grief, condolences, love and prayers for her family. Joe Viger thanked the group members for their “prayers and support during Katie’s illness.”

And though she is no longer here, Viger’s name “will live forever in Katie’s Bill,” Wakefield said.

Wakefield said Viger didn’t want a traditional funeral, and her body was cremated. A memorial service was to be announced on the Facebook page.