It would be easy to look at Katie Thurston and think that her life has always been smooth sailing.
Sure, we have seen her succumb to stress, burst into tears, and even break down.
Despite these signs of a blessed life, however, things aren’t always as sparkly as they appear.
Even before appearing on “The Bachelor,” Thurston endured a difficult childhood full of financial woes.
Apparently, Thurston’s family faced such serious financial troubles that their Christmases were scarce.
He would then promise Thurston that Santa Claus would find them no matter what.
Although Thurston’s past was certainly not easy, her story of perseverance resonated with viewers across America.
Even date was moved by these Christmas memories, as he had also grown up with serious financial constraints.
Tragically, however, the dad who raised Thurston died in 2012.
However, she also admitted that their dynamic was complicated.
This question had clearly weighed on Thurston’s mind for quite some time.
This was not the only time that Thurston spoke publicly about sexual assault.
On August 12, she updated her fans about the status of her crime report via her Instagram stories.
“And officially, that chapter is closed for good” (viaUs Weekly).
Unfortunately, what could have been an opportunity to create friendships and connections quickly went downhill.
According to Thurston, there was a lot of toxicity and bullying between the contestants on James' season.
However, in some ways, her kindness backfired.
As Thurston and Moynes got to know each other off-set, they realized that their personalities were incompatible.
For Thurston, this was a tough pill to swallow.
Some viewers disliked the way that she handled her breakup with contestant Greg Grippo.
Others were unhappy to find out just how quickly Thurston moved on from her engagement with Moynes.
It did not take long for the r/bachelor subreddit to fill up with negative posts about Thurston.
The reality star also began to receive hateful messages on her social media.
At one point, she got so many DMs criticizing her hair thatThurston had to block followers on Instagram.
Unfortunately, all this negativity began to weigh on Thurston, and before long, she found herself struggling.
In a now-deleted Instagram post,Katie Thurston told fans how “The Bachelorette” impacted her mental health.
“I thought I knew what to expect [in going on the show].
I thought I was strong enough to handle the negativity.
But they say time heals everything,” she wrote.
As harmful as her online experiences were, Thurston eventually developed strategies to help cope with the cyber-bullying.
“I was quick to block the hate.
And I don’t mean mentally.
I mean in the most literal sense.
Unfollow accounts that encouraged it.
Limit my screen time usage with a password only [her then-boyfriend] John knew.
Anything I could do to bring myself out of a dark place,” she explained.
Then, a shocking discovery threw a wrench into everything that Thurston held dear.
She found a lump in her breast.
Even though she knew that this mass was abnormal, Thurston tried not to worry too much about it.
“I thought, ‘It’s PMS.
It’s from working out,'” she added.
Eventually, though, Thurston made the decision to seek a medical evaluation.
Next step, which was a mammogram.
After getting the mammogram, they wanted me to do a biopsy," Thurston explained.
Tragically, though, the former reality star did not receive good news.
For the 34-year-old, this tragic diagnosis came as a total shock.
The official diagnosis was stage three triple positive ductal carcinoma.
As she would later tellGMA’s Cover Story, this news left her feeling “devastated.”
No longer would comedy shows or wedding dress fittings be her biggest priority.
Instead, she would have to focus primarily on her cancer treatments.
We thought we’d be trying for a baby.
And, instead, we know that this year’s really dedicated to just treatment and getting better."
“You’re on, like, survival mode.
Like, you don’t have a choice.
You show up, or you die.
And, I hate to say it that way,” Thurston lamented in the same interview.
“But, you just, every day you have an appointment.
Every day you show up.
You don’t have a choice.”
On March 24, 2025, Thurston shared a health update on her Boobie Broadcast Instagram channel.
The former reality TV star went on to clarify, “This would put me at stage four.”
As upsetting as this news certainly was, Thurston tried her best to stay positive.
Even so, the cumulation of so many medical procedures took their toll on her body.
In pain," she wrote on her channel.
Thurston’s then-fiance, Jeff Arcuris, told her that he wanted to marry her ASAP.
I’ll get married to you tomorrow.’
We flew our parents in from Michigan and Washington State."
They tied the knot on March 22, 2025.
For Thurston, Arcuris' decision to push up their wedding was a sign of true love.
He is proving that he’s here to stay.
He shows up every day and he does it in ways that just continue to surprise."
For Arcuris, it was an easy choice.
