A ‘Wish’ come true

Suzie Harrison

Three years ago, Katrina Tangen, who had graduated at the top of

her high school class, was enjoying her studies and life as a

sophomore at Harvard University.

That summer, Tangen volunteered to care for babies in a Nicaraguan

orphanage. When the summer was over, she returned home to Costa Mesa

with an illness the doctors still haven’t been able to diagnose.

Tangen, now 23, suffers from a mysterious ailment affecting her

autonomic nervous system, but the doctors don’t know its cause or how

to treat it. This once very active woman now has a hard time sitting

up, reading or other daily activities that most people take for

granted.

She remains disabled, unable to return to college, get a job or

live by herself.

“I thought I would go back in the fall and that I would find out

what was wrong,” she said. “I started seeing doctors, and it kept

getting worse. Getting dressed, putting on makeup, taking a shower or

walking around the block or going to the doctor -- I can do one of

these things, maybe two, but I can’t do all of those things in the

same day.”

Tired of a whole lot of bad news and a bad situation, Tangen and

her father, Ken Tangen, came up with a positive way to deal with the

situation and help with the ever-growing costs of her illness. They

decided to make a Christmas CD called “Katrina’s Christmas Wish” to

help raise funds.

Katrina said her faith, belief and God have helped her through

this. A cousin with a music background who had just completed a CD

inspired the idea.

“We always loved music and used to sing. We thought, ‘Why don’t we

do this as a fund-raiser,’” Ken said.

So, through contributions of money and time of producers and

musicians, their idea came to fruition.

With Ken performing most of the vocals and Katrina joining in on a

duet, they were able to produce the 10-song disc.

Katrina chose Christmas as the occasion because it’s her favorite

holiday. On the CD, there are some popular favorites such as “Silent

Night,” “White Christmas” and “Come All Ye Faithful,” as well as

songs written by her father.

“We really wanted to do something positive,” Ken said. “We’ve had

three years of not very positive. Going from doctor to doctor and

trying to adjust to the circumstances the way they were is passive.

We wanted to be on the offensive and do some good.”

“Katrina’s Christmas Wish” has just been released, and Ken and

Katrina will be performing some of the songs in a free Christmas

Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, in the Needham Chapel at

Vanguard University. It’s at 55 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. The CDs

will be available for purchase.

“We’re not asking people to just give us money,” Ken said. “We

made a CD we think is good and would like people to listen to it and

buy it if they like it.”

“Katrina is such a talented, young woman, whose world was turned

upside down because of a goodwill gesture,” family friend Suzette

Jordan said. “She’s just the sweetest person. I just want to do

something to help. I wish there was something we could do.”

Katrina remains hopeful, she says, through her support, beliefs

and faith.

“The realization that, even though I can’t do things, my purpose

-- it’s enough just to exist. It’s not a life I would choose, but

it’s OK.”

For more information, call Ken Tangen at (714) 545-4560 or e-mail

Ken@kentangen.com.