Katherine Wolf, the Samford alumna whose recovery from a hemorrhagic brain stroke at age 26 is a testament to deepening faith and cultivating joy, provided a powerful message to the university’s Legacy League scholarship luncheon.
“I can take the hardest things that life can throw at me, I can be OK, and I can learn to love the life that God is writing,” said Wolf ’04. “This story is not what I would have written, but I can love it. I can turn inward and say, ‘This is the goodness of God.’”
Wolf had a six-month-old son at the time of her near-fatal stroke, which led to 11 surgeries, required her relearning to walk, left her face partially paralyzed and impaired her speaking ability. Now 43, she and her husband Jay ’04 have a second son. They founded the Hope Heals Camp on Smith Lake for families affected by disabilities and co-authored two books about the redemptive story. Katherine released her third book, Treasures in the Dark, a devotional aiming to encouraging those “with broken bodies, broken brains, and broken hearts.”
She grew emotional addressing a record-setting crowd at the Legacy League event, which celebrated the organization’s 100th anniversary of serving Samford students.
“Jesus is not different for me than for you — He’s the same,” Wolf said. “We have the opportunity to implore the same truths of gospel, to look through the wreckage of our lives, no matter what is to come, and to recognize the faithfulness of God is here. He has shown up time and time again.”
A former Step Sing emcee and Legacy League scholarship recipient at Samford, Wolf said the university’s faith-fortifying environment proved essential during the stroke’s aftermath.
“I was really built for the hardness that was to come,” she said. “Samford gave me the opportunity to grow in my faith and knowledge of Christ, so that when my life blew up three-and-a-half years later, I was equipped.”
Among the Legacy League audience members were Wolf’s family members from Montgomery, Alabama, and four college classmates, who drove from Franklin, Tennessee.
“The Lord just writes the crazy stories,” she said. “They say that that the longer you live, if you're looking, the more you can see how the hand of God is just weaving the story together so beautifully.”
Taylor Praises ‘Powerful Moment’
Samford’s First Lady Julie Taylor came to know Wolf through the honest accounts shared in the books Hope Heals, Suffer Strong and Treasures in the Dark.
“Katherine’s life is a testament to the kind of hope that does not ignore pain but redeems it,” Taylor said. “And that is our hope, that our Legacy League students would continue to also experience as Katherine has this redemption from the pain that they have endured, and along with it, a steady confidence that the Lord is part of their story. Thank you, Katherine, for being a part of their story.”
Taylor credited the luncheon for highlighting the enduring power of scholarships, the relational strength of our alumni community, and the intergenerational impact of Samford’s mission.
“With the centennial celebration, record attendance, and Katherine’s homecoming, it felt like a particularly powerful moment,” Taylor said.
Testimonial from scholarship recipients
Brandy Beaumont, student care coordinator for the Legacy League, spoke about intentional connections meant to uplift and support the 25 students in the current cohort. The organization, which counsels students through life and academic challenges, shares monthly family-style dinners, book clubs, coffee meetups and birthday celebrations.
“Our students have chosen to let their challenges shape rather than define them,” Beaumont said. “Long before these students arrived at Samford, God was already preparing a way. Our students mentioned teachers, counselors, grandparents, friends and Samford admission staff, who saw their potential, encouraged them and believed in a future that they could not imagine for themselves.”
On behalf of those students, Beaumont shared their background stories, emphasizing how God provided for them to attend Samford and His impact on their lives now.
Testimonial #1: “When I was 4, my life changed forever. My father took me to an orphanage and told me, ‘This is your new home.’ I remember crying and begging him not to leave, not understanding why I had to stay. Life in the orphanage forced me to grow up quickly. During that time, I found hope in my faith. I prayed constantly and reminded myself that my circumstances did not define my future. When I was 14, my sister and I traveled to America for the summer, where I experienced what it felt like to be part of a loving family. I was determined to make the most of my second chance. When it came time to apply for college, I fell in love with Samford but doubted whether I could afford it. I prayed daily, asking God to make a way. Just when I began to lose hope, I received a Legacy League scholarship. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I knew that God had answered my prayers.”
Testimonial #2: “Ever since my parents’ separation, I did everything in my power to help my mother. I took it upon myself to handle the things that she couldn’t do, like making sure bills were paid, picking up my siblings from school and helping wherever I was needed. Because of this, the idea of leaving home for college felt overwhelming and unrealistic, especially when I had spent so many years trying to fill my father's shoes. My advisor believed in my potential long before I believed in myself. Choosing to attend was not an easy decision, but with encouragement from her and my mom, I was able to take a bold step of faith for the sake of my future."
Testimonial #3: “For the first 10 years of my life, I was blessed with two amazing parents. However, things progressively declined in our home. Both of my parents fell back into a pre-existing addiction that completely consumed our family, which resulted in me, as well as my two older brothers, being extremely neglected and abused. My dad passed away abruptly. My mother completely cut contact. My baby brother was born addicted to heroin and meth, and it truly felt like my life was on a downward spiral of tragedy. A dear teacher introduced me to Samford with the No. 1 benefit being the Christian community she knew would surround me. Feeling slightly defeated due to my financial situation, I almost didn’t apply. The day before final scholarships came out, I got a call from my admissions counselor who told me I had been awarded the Legacy League scholarship. Truthfully, I just sat in my car praising Jesus that day for what he had done.”
GIVE: Legacy League scholarships change lives.
