A Vicksburg graduating senior is among Metro Christian Living magazine’s Top 20 Christian Leaders of the Future.

Katie Koestler, of St. Aloysius High School, was chosen from 97 applicants statewide in the first-ever contest sponsored by the Jackson-based magazine.

Katie, the daughter of Michael and Carla Koestler, submitted an essay answering seven questions about her faith. The essays were judged by five people with different backgrounds who all work with young adults.

Katie was excited when she heard the news. “I’ve always been involved in church,” said Katie, who is active in her youth group at Immanuel Baptist Church.

But the road was not always smooth.

A couple of years ago, Katie was gradually losing feeling in her left hand and couldn’t type. Concerned, her mother, Carla Koestler, took Katie to the doctor. She was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage, which altered her sight and motor skills.

“She took everything in very high spirit,” said Carla Koestler. “Her positive attitude is a reflection of her walk with Christ.”

Katie was out of school for nearly half the year in 2007, undergoing treatment and physical therapy. She spent a week at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson and the next five months visiting Good Samaritan Physical Therapy in Vicksburg.

Doctors didn’t expect her to make a full recovery or even be able to walk again. She was told she might never play basketball or softball again.

“You don’t realize it can affect you in a matter of seconds,” said Katie.

Determined to beat the odds, she pushed hard to learn the skills she’d lost. Nearly two years later, she has regained her strength and will graduate today from St. Aloysius and head to Mississippi College in the fall to study business.

“It never crossed my mind that I couldn’t do it,” Katie said. “What kept me going was not hearing that I couldn’t do it.”

Katie talked about her experience in her essay.

“You never know if you can touch a person’s life,” she said.

The Christian Leaders of the Future were honored in a reception April 2, and each student was featured in a special edition of the April issue of the magazine.

The contest is a “great opportunity (for students) to share their faith,” said Kari Arentson, contest coordinator and assistant editor of Metro Christian Living.

Arentson said the magazine plans to continue the contest and add a scholarship. The contest is open to Mississippi high school juniors and seniors who want to share stories about their faith .

Carla Koestler believes her daughter’s positive attitude and strength is what helped her overcome her illness.

“After going through that experience, you learn to appreciate everything God gave you, she said. “We’re trying to give God the glory for her being here.”

Katie volunteers at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, where she spent nearly two months. She has helped the hospital raise money for its annual radiothon and telethon.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com