Help Merryn Rositzke kick Cancers ASS!!!
Donation protected
This is not something I thought I would ever have to do but here I am... In the beginning of June 2019 my youngest daughter who is 15 was complaining of leg pain. My legs always hurt as a teenager with growing pains its nothing, but we took her to the Dr. for an xray. Nothings broke but were going to do an MRI just to be sure. MRI results come in mid June she has two tumors one looks suspicious. Next they biopsy the suspicious looking one. June 28th the morning my oldest daughter graduation we go to get the results of the biopsy. Merryn has high grade Ostersarcoma a somewhat rare form of bone cancer on the bottom of her right femur. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/osteosarcoma/about/what-is-osteosarcoma.html
After this we headed over to Albany Medical to talk to the pediatric oncologist. Treatment is chemo for two cycles each cycle is about five weeks long. Treatment at Albany she would of been an in patient for 3-4 days per treatment. After two cycles of this then she needs to have limb saving surgery which in her case unfortunately means she will be getting a fake knee. Then its back to chemo many more cycles for about a year. We chose to get a second opinion at Sloan Kettering in NYC https://www.mskcc.org/ . We chose to persue treatment at Sloan Kettering because its the best around. As of today 7/11 she has had more scans looking for whether it has spread her lungs look good there is a spot on top of femur that "lit" up but they do not think its anything. She's had her "port" put in (chemo entry point) and they've also biopsy the other tumor just to be sure. Today is her first day of chemo 7/11 it goes from 8am to 6pm Thursday to Sunday. Come home Sunday hopefully (shes been down there a week) goto appointments on Thursday and Sunday of next week then start chemo again on or around 7/25.
This cycle will go on for a year so obviously the expenses are going to add up for travel, lodging, co-pays, co-insurance and eventually not being able to work because of this. Merryns mother is Kerrie Rositzke she's worked for many years at Taconic Central School District and I work for CSX. Fortunately Kerrie being a teacher she can cover this until school starts but then there is going to be a lot of wage losses after this.
In ending I know mine and Kerrie's friends and family will help us through this. Anything anyone else can help will be greatly appreciated. Even if you can't or do not want to donate anything that is fine but if you could share this on any social media especially Columbia County people. Kerrie is not on any social media so that would help out tremendously.

07/12 This is so overwhelming yesterday as I wrote this I was crying which I hadn’t in weeks we have to be strong and fight this. Today here I am crying again because of the overwhelming support and compassion that all of you have shown. Kerrie and I and of course Merryn appreciate all your support. Thank you.
Update Merryns chemo yesterday went almost 12 hours. She was up all night only wanted to eat lettuce and carrots and a little rice. Very nauseous which is all expected. Just hard to see my baby suffering. Thank you again.
After this we headed over to Albany Medical to talk to the pediatric oncologist. Treatment is chemo for two cycles each cycle is about five weeks long. Treatment at Albany she would of been an in patient for 3-4 days per treatment. After two cycles of this then she needs to have limb saving surgery which in her case unfortunately means she will be getting a fake knee. Then its back to chemo many more cycles for about a year. We chose to get a second opinion at Sloan Kettering in NYC https://www.mskcc.org/ . We chose to persue treatment at Sloan Kettering because its the best around. As of today 7/11 she has had more scans looking for whether it has spread her lungs look good there is a spot on top of femur that "lit" up but they do not think its anything. She's had her "port" put in (chemo entry point) and they've also biopsy the other tumor just to be sure. Today is her first day of chemo 7/11 it goes from 8am to 6pm Thursday to Sunday. Come home Sunday hopefully (shes been down there a week) goto appointments on Thursday and Sunday of next week then start chemo again on or around 7/25.
This cycle will go on for a year so obviously the expenses are going to add up for travel, lodging, co-pays, co-insurance and eventually not being able to work because of this. Merryns mother is Kerrie Rositzke she's worked for many years at Taconic Central School District and I work for CSX. Fortunately Kerrie being a teacher she can cover this until school starts but then there is going to be a lot of wage losses after this.
In ending I know mine and Kerrie's friends and family will help us through this. Anything anyone else can help will be greatly appreciated. Even if you can't or do not want to donate anything that is fine but if you could share this on any social media especially Columbia County people. Kerrie is not on any social media so that would help out tremendously.
07/12 This is so overwhelming yesterday as I wrote this I was crying which I hadn’t in weeks we have to be strong and fight this. Today here I am crying again because of the overwhelming support and compassion that all of you have shown. Kerrie and I and of course Merryn appreciate all your support. Thank you.
Update Merryns chemo yesterday went almost 12 hours. She was up all night only wanted to eat lettuce and carrots and a little rice. Very nauseous which is all expected. Just hard to see my baby suffering. Thank you again.
Organizer
William Rositzke
Organizer
Catskill, NY