1000-Lb Sisters stars Amy and Tammy Slaton are mourning the loss of their cousin Katie Slaton, who has died at the age of 37.
The heartbreaking news was shared by their sister Amanda Halterman earlier this week.
Katie had been battling stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer, which she was diagnosed with earlier this year.
Katie was a familiar face on the TLC series, making several appearances — including during season 5, when Tammy was released from a weight-loss rehabilitation center.
‘It [is] with a completely crushed heart and spirit that I have to post this. My little cousin went to sit at the feet of Jesus yesterday. She was a force to be reckoned with and showed love that was accepting and given freely,’ Amanda wrote on Instagram.
She continued: ‘She was the life of the party and my best friend. I know both our grandparents and friends was there to welcome you home. Please pray for my aunt, uncle and cousins but mostly for the babies and for Natalie to be strong.’
1000-Lb Sisters stars Amy and Tammy Slaton are mourning the loss of their cousin Katie Slaton, who has died at the age of 37
Amanda concluded her emotional tribute by adding: ‘Please pray for everyone whom loves her. Thank you all who has come out and supported her.’
‘Deepest sympathy & condolences goes out to you Amanda, your family, & friend,’ one fan commented.
Another wrote: ‘Godspeed to your cousin. My heart goes out to all of you.’
Tammy and Amy have have not publicly responded to the news about Katie’s death.
Back in January, Tammy urged fans to help support Katie as she began her cancer battle, sharing a link to her cousin’s GoFundMe page.
‘Y’all, I’m so sorry to be asking a big favor like this, but if anyone can help, even if it’s a dollar would help my cousin out so much,’ the reality star wrote at the time.
She continued: ‘She has been on my show, but this is something new; our family just found out about her having cancer. Even if you can’t donate, [all I] ask is for you to pray… anything and everything is greatly appreciated not only by [my cousin], but myself and my siblings.’
Katie’s longtime girlfriend, Natalie Gerrick Bailie, also kept friends and supporters updated on her condition, revealing in January that she had started chemotherapy.
Katie (pictured) had been battling stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer , which she was diagnosed with earlier this year
‘My little cousin went to sit at the feet of Jesus yesterday. She was a force to be reckoned with and showed love that was accepting and given freely,’ Amanda wrote on Instagram
‘We are so thankful that her symptoms are improving,’ Bailie wrote in a February 19 Facebook post.
She added: ‘Both our families have been so great throughout this whole process. We could not get through this without you! Thank you everyone for the thoughts and prayers!’
The tragic loss of Katie comes just over a year after the Slaton sisters faced another devastating family blow.
In July 2023, Tammy’s husband, Caleb Willingham, died at the age of 40.
According to his autopsy report, Willingham passed away from ‘complications of super morbid obesity.’
The Slaton sisters endured another difficult loss in July 2023 after the death of Tammy’s husband, Caleb Willingham, who was just 40-years-old
The couple had first met in 2022 while undergoing treatment at the Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio.
Though separated at the time of his death, Tammy paid tribute to him in a heartfelt post, calling Caleb her ‘sweet angel.’
‘You will forever be missed and loved so much. Thank you, Caleb, for showing me real love and happiness,’ she concluded.
In April, Tammy revealed she was in her first relationship since Willingham’s death, seven months after they got married.
‘A few years ago I came out as pansexual but after Caleb passing, I just don’t want to be with men anymore,’ Tammy said on her reality series. ”I don’t know how my family is going to react when I tell them I’m seeing a woman.’
According to his autopsy report, Willingham passed away from ‘complications of super morbid obesity’
Last year, Tammy opened up about the moment she found out that Caleb had passed away.
During an interview with People, Tammy revealed a friend of Caleb’s told her over text message that her husband wasn’t doing well – before he informed her just 20 minutes later that he had died.
At the time, Tammy was at her home in Kentucky and Caleb was at the Ohio rehab facility she had previously been at with him.
‘I was sitting in the fetal position,’ she told the publication.
‘I got a text message from his friend up there and the text said, ‘Caleb’s not doing good. They’re in there working on him.’ 20 minutes later he texted me back and said he was gone.’
Tammy, who has lost a staggering 500 pounds during her weight loss journey, first shot to fame after appearing on 1000-lb Sisters alongside her sister, Amy, back in 2020.
