When Catherine Crews received news from her doctor in May that she had only six months to live, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Immediately, she asked her husband to reach out to the courthouse.

As an active Democrat, Crews was eagerly following the presidential election and was excited about voting for President Joe Biden in November. However, given her terminal diagnosis, she needed to know: how soon could she vote?

“I’ve been living on borrowed time for 11 years,” explained Crews, a retired yoga instructor facing a rare and aggressive cancer. “I have had to confront death.”

Crews had already outlived the expectations set by her doctors. Now, she felt the impending threat of death looming closer.

As she began to reflect on her remaining time, she realized what she wanted to do most: spend time with her loved ones, prepare for the end of her life, and ensure she voted one final time. She was particularly concerned about the future of the nation.

She wanted to participate in the upcoming early and absentee voting, which was set to begin last week in certain states.

This time, she wanted to make her vote count for president.

‘This will be your Mt. Everest’

Crews, who is an artist, wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six, received her cancer diagnosis on September 4, 2013. She was in her kitchen in Oxford, Mississippi, when her oral surgeon called with the unfortunate news that a biopsy had revealed a malignant tumor in her upper right jaw and sinus area.

“This will be your Mount Everest (to climb),” the doctor said, apologizing for not being there in person to tell her the news.

Surgeons at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore successfully removed the tumor, which was identified as NUT carcinoma – an incredibly rare genetic cancer that the medical team had never encountered before. Although it can develop anywhere, it commonly appears in the head, neck, and lungs. In Crews’ case, the cancer had destroyed much of the bone in her upper right jaw.

Her treatment process included painful jaw transplants, numerous dental surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and over two dozen visits to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The aftermath of surgery resulted in disfiguring scar tissue, forcing Crews to wear a face mask to avoid unwanted attention. A significant hole in the roof of her mouth necessitated a mouthpiece to allow her to speak clearly and prevent food or drinks from spilling out.

Doctors initially gave her a mere 3% chance of survival.

Against the odds, she persevered and continued to enjoy life.

She pursued painting, spent time gardening, picked up litter in her community, and baked treats to share with others. She walked more than 10,000 steps daily and even created a Facebook support group for fellow NUT carcinoma patients. Alongside her husband, Billy Crews, a former newspaper publisher, she participated in the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign of their friend, Brandon Pressley, who is Elvis Presley’s second cousin.

“I’ve aimed to make the most of my ‘bonus’ years,” Crews wrote in a Facebook post last September, marking ten years since her cancer diagnosis.

However, in late February, she encountered yet another health setback. She required additional oral surgery, which was followed by complications, including a severe bone infection known as osteomyelitis. After being hospitalized in May, an MRI revealed that the infection had deteriorated much of her lower right jaw, reminiscent of what the cancer had done to her upper right jaw a decade earlier.

At this point, surgery was not a feasible option, and the doctor expressed that she was nearing the end of her life.

In the hospital, 67-year-old Crews broke down upon receiving the devastating news. After some emotional reflection, she began thinking about her remaining time and what important things she wanted to accomplish. Voting was one of her priorities. With the election still six months away, she wanted to explore her voting options. From her hospital bed, she had her husband contact the circuit clerk’s office in Lafayette County to find out when she could cast her vote.

They were told absentee voting would not commence until Monday, September 23.

Her heart was heavy with disappointment.

“I thought to myself: ‘I don’t think I’ll last until then,’” she recalled.

A vote for ‘honesty, decency and integrity’

On Monday morning, coinciding with the start of absentee voting in Mississippi, Crews met with her hospice nurse during her weekly visit. Once that was done, she and  Billy walked to the Lafayette County Courthouse, a trip that took him about 10 minutes.

In Mississippi, residents aged 65 and above can vote absentee according to state law. Once inside the courthouse, Crews approached a small electronic voting booth set up for those wishing to cast their absentee ballot in person. She selected her presidential choice, Democrat Kamala Harris, and handed her ballot to the clerk, who placed it in a sealed envelope. The final step was for Crews to sign the ballot, after which she and Billy made their way home.

Upon returning home, Crews logged into her computer and shared a Facebook post she had prepared a week prior for this occasion.

“I cast the last vote of my lifetime to preserve Democracy in the United States and around the world,” she expressed.

She emphasized voting to defend the Constitution, support honesty, decency, and integrity. Crews voted for the love of neighbors, regardless of race, religion, or whom they love. She supported immigrants who desire to contribute positively to the country but have faced political backlash and hate. Additionally, she voted for women’s rights over their own bodies and for uplifting the poor and the middle class.

Initially, Crews was ready to vote for Biden, albeit with concerns about his chances against Republican Donald Trump. When he exited the race in July and named Harris as the new Democratic nominee, she was ecstatic. Biden’s choice struck her as self-sacrificial, enhancing her respect for him.

Regarding Harris, Crews stated, “She is intelligent and advocates for what I believe to be meaningful change. She embodies the ideals of our nation—a realm of fairness, freedom, and inclusion. I trust she will strive for the common good.”

Current national polls suggest a tight race between Harris and Trump, with the election just six weeks away. However, in deep red Mississippi, Harris faces significant challenges; no Democratic presidential candidate has won the state since Jimmy Carter narrowly defeated Republican Gerald Ford in 1976.

If Trump wins again, Crews expressed concern for the future of the country, stating, “I believe he is terrible. He has already caused substantial damage. If he were re-elected, I would worry about the further harm he could inflict.”

Initially, Crews was anxious about facing negative reactions to her Facebook message. However, she has only received positive feedback, including a response from their friend Presley who forwarded the message to Harris’ vice-presidential running mate, Tim Walz. “I’m at a loss for words to describe my feelings,” he replied.

On Tuesday evening, during a campaign event at a French restaurant in Minneapolis, Walz shared Crews’ message with supporters. “It’s been on my mind all day,” he shared.

Crews’ aspiration is to be alive on Election Night, eager to witness the results and hopefully celebrate Harris’ victory. However, if circumstances dictate otherwise, she finds comfort in knowing that she performed her duty by voting one last time.

This act stands as her legacy, a final gift to her children, grandchildren, and her country.