Friends of the Wittmann Family
Donation protected
Erica Ouderkirk Wittman passed away on August 18. A rare form of leukemia and blood disorder that left her body incapable of producing blood required her to have blood transfusions weekly. This serious illness attacked her body for at least six years. Throughout the past two years, she fought nearly every day, but Erica would not always let you with her infectious smile.
The last three months were the hardest, with brief stretches of respite of the hospital. Erica displayed her strong spirit one last time when she met with the superintendent and then prepared her classroom for the upcoming year. Throughout the years she cared for her family and students before herself.
I had the privilege of meeting Erica when I did not know anyone at soccer tryouts our freshman year at Goshen High School. Everyday Erica introduced me to people...SWEET ERICA
We have created this GoFundMePage for important reasons. As you can imagine, there are numerous bills surrounding a serious illness. Not only health related costs, but also day to day living expenses, like utilities, home repairs, and new health care coverage for the family is needed. We are therefore rallying around the immediate family to help them in various ways.
SERVICES will be held Wednesday, August 28th from 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to share short comments, poems, and memories from 6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. LOCATION will be Cargian Funeral Home at 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY.
Erica, may all the lessons you bestowed upon your children and students remain in their minds as they embrace life.
Erica leaves behind her husband Craig, children Haven and Calan, as well as sister Dana Marie Gowdy.
MICHELLE ANDRYSHAK
Goshen High School Class of 1988
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Nov. 2018
Hoping to help a family that has faced more hurdles recently than anyone should have to.
Erica Wittmann has been battling a rare form of LGL leukemia, and also does not have the ability to make red blood cells. This has been going on for over 5 years, and the doctors are still scratching their heads for treatment, trying drug trials, a variety of risky drugs no longer in use anymore, and are now looking for a donor for a stem cell transplant, where she would be in the hospital for a month, and then two additional months with 24 hour care in Sloan & Kettering housing.
Her weekly routine involves going to see one of her doctors as well as getting two blood transfusions with intermittent trips to Washington D.C., Virginia, and plenty of trips to Sloan - Kettering in NYC. While somehow mustering up the strength to continue work as a teacher, the past couple of months have proved to be more difficult with ulcerative colitis robbing her of little energy she was persevering with occasionally keeping her in bed for 30 hours at a time. The doctors, and those that know her, are amazed that she still has found the ability to teach, which is her passion.
With daily life getting harder for work and her medical care to coincide, and Craig now home to help in that regard, we are looking for people that sympathize with how hard this family's life has become and are willing to help in whatever way they can.
Craig and Erica have also raised two amazing kids who have been weathering this storm along with them.
Let's come together for them through this venue (and any other ways you can) to provide some support.
This fund will go towards offsetting medical bills and associated expenses.
Anything and everything we can get to them is much appreciated.
- Friends of Erica and Craig Wittmann
The last three months were the hardest, with brief stretches of respite of the hospital. Erica displayed her strong spirit one last time when she met with the superintendent and then prepared her classroom for the upcoming year. Throughout the years she cared for her family and students before herself.
I had the privilege of meeting Erica when I did not know anyone at soccer tryouts our freshman year at Goshen High School. Everyday Erica introduced me to people...SWEET ERICA
We have created this GoFundMePage for important reasons. As you can imagine, there are numerous bills surrounding a serious illness. Not only health related costs, but also day to day living expenses, like utilities, home repairs, and new health care coverage for the family is needed. We are therefore rallying around the immediate family to help them in various ways.
SERVICES will be held Wednesday, August 28th from 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to share short comments, poems, and memories from 6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. LOCATION will be Cargian Funeral Home at 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY.
Erica, may all the lessons you bestowed upon your children and students remain in their minds as they embrace life.
Erica leaves behind her husband Craig, children Haven and Calan, as well as sister Dana Marie Gowdy.
MICHELLE ANDRYSHAK
Goshen High School Class of 1988
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Nov. 2018
Hoping to help a family that has faced more hurdles recently than anyone should have to.
Erica Wittmann has been battling a rare form of LGL leukemia, and also does not have the ability to make red blood cells. This has been going on for over 5 years, and the doctors are still scratching their heads for treatment, trying drug trials, a variety of risky drugs no longer in use anymore, and are now looking for a donor for a stem cell transplant, where she would be in the hospital for a month, and then two additional months with 24 hour care in Sloan & Kettering housing.
Her weekly routine involves going to see one of her doctors as well as getting two blood transfusions with intermittent trips to Washington D.C., Virginia, and plenty of trips to Sloan - Kettering in NYC. While somehow mustering up the strength to continue work as a teacher, the past couple of months have proved to be more difficult with ulcerative colitis robbing her of little energy she was persevering with occasionally keeping her in bed for 30 hours at a time. The doctors, and those that know her, are amazed that she still has found the ability to teach, which is her passion.
With daily life getting harder for work and her medical care to coincide, and Craig now home to help in that regard, we are looking for people that sympathize with how hard this family's life has become and are willing to help in whatever way they can.
Craig and Erica have also raised two amazing kids who have been weathering this storm along with them.
Let's come together for them through this venue (and any other ways you can) to provide some support.
This fund will go towards offsetting medical bills and associated expenses.
Anything and everything we can get to them is much appreciated.
- Friends of Erica and Craig Wittmann
Organizer
Erica Wittmann
Organizer
Mahopac, NY