1000-Lb. Sister Tammy Slaton shared a TikTok video to encourage fans after Cousin Katie’s death.
Bad news
Katie Slaton died on August 25, 2025, at the Linda White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana, after an eight-month battle with cancer.
Katie, who was the cousin of Tammy Slaton and Amy Slaton, was battling Stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma.
Her death was announced by Amanda Halterman on Instagram on August 26, describing her as “completely crushed heart and spirit.”
The message came as a shock to fans, as Katie had courageously supported her injured family.
Appeal for help
In January of this year, Tammy shared a GoFundMe campaign asking fans to donate small amounts.
“Even if it’s just a dollar,” Tammy wrote, “it would mean so much to my cousin.”
Tammy donated herself, and fans joined forces to send help to Katie’s medical cats.
The unity shows that the social media family grows bigger when reality stars make a heartfelt appeal.
Reactions on TikTok
Two days after the tragic news on August 26, Tammy uploaded a TikTok video in which she and her fiancé, Andrea Dalton, danced to Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” in the car.
The style was full of laughter and fun, as if emotions deserve a breath of air even amid pain.
Dalton made funny faces, flashed a “rock on” sign and Tammy got lost in the music.
In the video, Tammy expressed sweet relief by tagging Dalton in the caption.
Condolences
Amanda Halterman wrote for Katie, “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.”
She appealed for prayers for the family’s young children, Landon, Liam, Lily and Katie’s partner, Natalie Bailie.
She said grandparents and friends came to the cousin’s side to say their final goodbyes.
Memory Trip
Katie Slaton provided a pinch of support on several seasons of 1000-Lb.
Sisters—when Tammy returned from rehab, Katie was seen on set taking care of her.
During the show’s lighter parts, Katie’s laughter and compassionate, boundless demeanor seemed to keep everyone alive.
Today, Katie is no more, but her memories and her courage have created a unique place in reality TV.