She passed away from a debilitating disease, but not before she helped improve the lives of special needs children. Now there are plans in the works to honor the legacy of Katie York.

Katie loved kids and she loved to swim. She found a way to do both as a special needs aquatics instructor at the Wilson Family Y. Katherine Peutz, whose son Joseph is autistic, says Katie's unconditional love reached him in a way nothing else could.

“You expect a mother to feel that way, but to see that in a therapist, someone working with children, it's priceless, just priceless,” she said.

The Augusta Christian School grad died in May from the effects of viral encephalitis, a brain disorder marked by seizures. Her mom Melrose says Katie never let it stop her from helping the kids she loved.

“There were days she could barely make it, but she was determined and that's why she was able to accomplish so much,” Katie's mother said.

Now Katie's friends and family are honoring that work by building the Kathyrn M. York Adapted Aquatics Center. The state of the art facility will feature a specialized salt-water swimming pool designed for people with special needs. Katie's supervisor Claudia Collins says, it is a dream they prayed would come true.

“I didn't think it was going to be this way, but I think Katie kind of knew. It's strange because every day she gave the most she could give everybody,” Collins said.

Through donations, Katie's friends and family have raised $620,000 of the $1.5 million needed to build the handicap accessible facility.

The group is also selling blue reminder bands labeled Katie's Courage. It's not just to raise more money but to keep Katie's legacy alive.

For a young woman who lived a short time many say what she gave will last a lifetime.

“It was an incredible blessing not to have just found this program but especially Katie,” Peutz said.

Organizers hope to have the facility open by next year.