A Full Circle of Faith and Hope: Karen Rackley

Smiling woman in a blue top sits on a bench outdoors by flowers and a stone wall, radiating hope and joy.Sylvester, GA | September 10, 2026 – Nearly 20 years after first sharing her story at Worth County’s Love Lights a Tree ceremony, Karen Rackley will once again help light the tree—this time as part of Phoebe Worth’s Lights of Love celebration.

When Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, she never allowed fear to take hold. Instead, she leaned on her faith and chose to focus on hope. She is careful to point out that every cancer journey is different, and not everyone receives the outcome they pray for. But throughout her own experience, she believed God placed the right people in her life at exactly the right time.

Those people surrounded her from every direction. Her husband and children stood beside her through every step of treatment. Family, friends, and people throughout the community praying for her gave her strength. Her employer was understanding and flexible throughout her treatment, making it easier for her to focus on getting well.

Karen also credits her medical team at Phoebe, especially Dr. Jani, for providing exceptional care close to home. She underwent six months of chemotherapy followed by radiation treatments. Aside from losing her hair, she experienced very few side effects and never lost sight of the future.

Smiling woman in a blue shirt stands outside near flowers on a sunny day, radiating hope.“I always had hope,” she said. “I just listened to my doctors, stayed positive and took things one day at a time.”

That outlook was shaped long before her diagnosis. Karen often reflects on advice that her parents gave her throughout life: do the best you can with the resources that you have and keep moving forward, no matter what challenges you face.

Today, she sees those words through a different lens.

“Looking back almost 20 years later, I can see how everything worked together to prepare me for where I am today,” she said. “I certainly would never have chosen to have cancer, but it made me stronger. It prepared me for other challenges I would face later in life and showed me I could get through them.”

Now serving as executive director of the Worth County Economic Development Authority, Karen remains a strong believer in supporting her local community, including Phoebe Worth.

A woman strolls in faith along a garden path lined with pink flowers near a building with a covered entrance.“We have excellent healthcare right here at home,” she said. “People don’t always realize the quality of care that’s available close to them.”

Her message to others facing cancer is much the same as it was nearly two decades ago: trust your doctors, follow through with your treatment and follow-up care, lean on the people who love you, and never lose hope.

This year, as Karen helps light the Phoebe Worth Lights of Love tree, she celebrates not only nearly 20 years of survivorship, but also the faith, family, community, and compassionate care that carried her through one of life’s greatest challenges.

Please join us for Lights of Love Tree Lightening Ceremony at Phoebe Worth Medical Center on Monday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m.