Support for Emily and Her Family During This Time

UPDATE: Our beloved Emily passed away. After putting up one hell of a fight, Emily passed on Saturday April 12th. She passed peacefully in the hospital surrounded by family and the wonderful nurses at UPMC.

All money donated will be put toward final expenses and the care of the children.

Thank you to everyone that donated. Your support has meant the world to all of us.

Update:

We want to thank everyone who has donated, shared, and offered support through this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness and generosity have meant the world to us.

Due to an unforeseen and extended hospital stay, Emily was unable to be discharged in time to pursue the integrative medicine treatments we had hoped for. Her condition has changed quickly, and she is now transitioning to end-of-life care.

Funds already donated will now be used to help cover the costs associated with hospice care, medical expenses not covered by insurance, and to support the needs of her children as we navigate this heartbreaking journey.

Thank you for standing with Emily and our family. Your continued support, in any form, brings comfort and relief during this time.

With so much love and gratitude for you all,

The Ryktarczyk, Savitski, and Stephens families.

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Hello friends, family, and strangers,

The Ryktarczyk, Savitski, and Stephens families are reaching out today on behalf of Emily and her two incredible children Emma and Connor.

Many kind folks donated 3 years ago when she was first diagnosed and we are forever appreciative of that. We are reaching out again as her situation has changed and not for the better.

Emily is a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and overall an incredible person. She is a single mother of a 16-year-old daughter, Emma, and an 8-year-old, Connor. During Emily's pregnancy with Connor, their father, Tommy, sadly passed away. We are united in our effort to support her journey toward integrative therapies that may offer her renewed hope and improved quality of life.

Emily was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in November of 2021. The cancer metastasized to her retina, brain, spine, pelvis, and eroded the bone and soft tissue in her upper right thigh requiring her to have a titanium rod inserted into her femur to prevent the bone from breaking. She as put on a targeted chemotherapy regimen for the past 3 years.

Since 2021 until October of 2024, she remained steady on a targeted oral chemotherapy. However, it stopped working, and the cancer began aggressively spreading to her skin and lymph nodes in addition to her lungs, brain, and bones. She has tried various chemo and immunotherapies since October of 2024, but after receiving her latest scans in March of 2025, the treatment plan she was on was not working. As of March 28th the last chemo treatment available is no longer an option as it may not work and could cause more harm than good.

With her current treatments no longer providing the relief we all hoped for and no alternatives left, we are exploring integrative therapies. These include options like mistletoe therapy, Vitamin C infusions, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which many patients have found supportive in improving quality of life and potentially enhancing overall treatment outcomes. These therapies will be in addition to her health care team's medical regimen of immune boosting infusions and possibly chemotherapy in the future as she regains strength.

The purpose of this campaign is to help cover the costs of these integrative therapies, as well as any additional expenses that arise along the way. This includes:

Treatment Costs: Funding for these integrative treatments is not fully covered by insurance (most are not covered at all), and any other complementary treatments recommended by her care team and integrated medicine doctor.

Travel and Accommodations: Support for travel to specialized treatment centers where these are available. Right now, the options are local, but there are a few potential options that, if available, would include some travel.

Additional Care Expenses: Covering out-of-pocket costs for consultations, supportive care, and any unforeseen expenses.

Every donation, big or small, will directly contribute to easing the financial burden as we navigate this challenging time. We believe in exploring every avenue to help Emily regain her strength and hope for a brighter future. Your support means the world to us. Even if you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser means the world to us.

Please note: This goal is an initial estimate, and as the situation evolves and costs become clearer, we may update the target.

Thank you for taking the time to read Emily's story, for sharing it with others, and for any help you can provide. Your kindness, thoughts, and encouragement make all the difference. Thank you in advance for your support. With much love ~Emily, Emma, Connor and the rest of the family!