LOVE, KATIE

She sees life in flowers. Each stem is a story. Each new bloom is an opportunity So, you might say that when Katie Ford and husband, Tom, moved to Lake Bluff in 2001, they were nothing more than a seed packet—a pair of hopeful perennials, destined to take roots in the community and grow. And that’s exactly what they did, eventually moving to Lake Forest where they raised four children and embedded themselves into daily life in our community. Like any flower, or living thing, the passing years and decades brought a chorus of joy and loss, laughter and struggle. Before the pandemic, when mental health became a crisis throughout the nation, Katie bravely stepped into the local spotlight via social media to share her own personal struggles with OCD. Her mission was to let others know they were not alone. She wanted them to know there was help available. Then a miracle happened. It worked. Her message quickly resonated and the door to healing was opened. “All of us have mental health and people should not fear it or be in denial, because if they do, it is really hard to get better,” explains Katie, who found her own comfort through the quiet art of arranging flowers, which quickly became a local business via flowersbykatieford.com. “I think our community has come a long way in this area over the past several years and if I contributed at all, I would certainly feel good about that.” As spring fades into summer and gardens come back to life, Katie and Tom will be saying farewell to the community they have nurtured and that has nurtured them, planting new roots in Bluffton, South Carolina. As with all good-byes, it is both bitter and sweet. “I will always remember the remarkable people,” she reflects. “Tom, our children, and I felt embraced from day one. During the good times and tough times, people always rallied to support one another. Through the loss of a brother and struggles with mental illness, the support was unwavering.” Her final words resonate like a big bouquet of forget-me-nots. “I love you, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities, Thank you for being so wonderful to the Ford family.” To which, we’d like to say, thank you, Katie Ford, for bringing our community hope, which is forever in bloom.