When hope is tied only to a desired outcome, disappointment becomes inevitable. Katherine Wolf knows this truth more personally than most. At just 26, with a newborn in her arms and a lifetime ahead of her, she suffered a massive and unexpected stroke that changed everything.
Today, through her writing, speaking, and nonprofit ministry Hope Heals, Katherine invites others into a deeper, sturdier hope—one that can withstand even the darkest valleys.
On today’s show, she joins us to share her journey: how suffering reshaped her faith, her understanding of God’s goodness, and even her family’s finances.
A Life Forever Changed
In 2008, without warning or symptoms, Katherine experienced a catastrophic brainstem stroke caused by a congenital condition she never knew she had—an arterial venous malformation (AVM). Overnight, she went from fully able-bodied to fighting for her life.
A 16-hour surgery saved her, but her new reality included significant impairments. Today, she uses a wheelchair, has facial paralysis, reduced function in her right hand, and additional physical limitations. Still, she radiates joy and purpose.
“I did live—and I’m doing great,” she says with her trademark resilience.
Katherine describes the stroke as the moment “the pebble hit the metal”—a collision between everything she had learned about Jesus and the hardest chapter of her life.
Years of Scripture, sermons, prayer, and discipleship prepared her for a moment she never imagined. “This is no longer a drill,” she remembers telling herself. Her long walk with Christ, though imperfect, had built a foundation strong enough to stand when everything else fell apart.
In her memoir Hope Heals, she writes that suffering is not the end of the story—but the beginning of a new one. Christian hope does not deny pain; it declares that pain will not have the final word.
Katherine’s more recent book, Treasures in the Dark, draws from Isaiah 45:3—God’s promise to give “hidden treasure” in the shadows of our lives so we might know Him more deeply.
“If we must walk through darkness—and we all do at some point—why not gather the treasure God has placed there?” she asks. In other words, don’t waste your pain. Let God use it to form you, deepen you, and show you His faithfulness in ways comfort never could.
Hope Heals: A Ministry Born from Suffering
One of the greatest treasures to emerge from Katherine’s hardship is Hope Heals, the nonprofit she and her husband, Jay, founded.
Hope Heals Camp
Their flagship outreach is a fully scholarship-supported summer camp for families affected by disability. Guests experience rest, community, and the love of Christ through what Katherine calls “inter-ability community”—people with and without disabilities sharing life together.
Volunteers and families leave forever changed. The joy is contagious.
Mend Coffee Shop
In Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, Hope Heals also operates Mend, a universally accessible coffee shop that employs people with disabilities and creates a space where everyone belongs.
Katherine describes both initiatives as “glorious,” a word she uses often—and always with delight.
The Financial Realities of Suffering
Medical crises don’t just affect the body; they often reshape a family’s finances. Katherine knows this firsthand.
When disability or sudden illness enters a story, she notes, “the finances can be ravaged.” Many famil
