Support for the Monoski Family

One of our lifetime Lycoming County community members…a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, long-time dedicated teacher in the Montgomery Area School District, and life resident of South Williamsport….Brittney Monoski, has been facing the tragic and shocking news of a diagnosis of stage 3 rectal cancer.  The stage 3 diagnosis means that the tumor has grown through her rectal wall and is in her lymph nodes. 

 

Brittney is only 44 years old, and married to another well-known and loved lifetime Lycoming County community member, Ryan Monoski.  They have three children, Parker, 16; Rylee, 14; and Preston, 11.  She has taught 7th grade Language Arts in the Montgomery Area School District for 20 years.  She is not done being a wife and mother,  She is not done being the caring teacher who has affected literally thousands of lives.  She is not finished living her life.  Cancer robbed her of her own mother 18 years ago.  She does not want history repeat itself.   You can help.  You can be a part of Brittney’s journey for her cure.

 

Brittney’s journey to a cure is a long one.  It consists of the following hurdles:

·         6 weeks of chemo and radiation to shrink the tumor

·         A rest period of 8-12 weeks for building strength and allowing her body to be strong enough for surgery.

·         Surgery for a low anterior resection with placement of an ostomy bag.  In this surgery, the portion of her rectum with cancer is completely removed and reattached.  For reattachment, the large intestine must be loosened from higher in her abdominal cavity so that it can be pulled down for the reattachment.  The ostomy bag will hopefully be temporary so that her new rectum can heal. 

·         6 weeks recovery from surgery.

·         6 months of chemo.  12 rounds of a cocktail of 3 different chemotherapy drugs given once every 2 weeks 

·         Closing of the ostomy.

·         Recovery from the closing of the ostomy while relearning how to go to the bathroom with her new, shorter rectum. 

·         Rehabilitation and physical therapy to bring her body back to the point of being strong, able-bodied, and healthy. 

 

This devastation takes a toll not only on Brittney, but her immediate family as well.  She is limited in how much she can work over the next year to year and a half.  She cannot do the regular tasks that all of us take for granted and do with ease. 

 

There are monetary demands on the family that consist of the following:

·         Co-pays for medical care

·         Medical bills that are out of network

·         Cost of medical equipment related to her colostomy/ileostomy

·         Travel and lodging costs

·         Income loss due to absence from employment during her treatments and recovery

 

There will be a Fundraising event held at CrossFit Tried & True located in Montoursville, Pa on the first weekend in May. The exact date and time will be announced soon.  There will be workouts to participate in, and other fundraising efforts all throughout the day. We encourage all friends, family, and members of the community to come out and show support for all.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our campaign for Brittney.  If you have any questions for Brittney or about the campaign, please let us know.  We will be happy to answer your questions. Your donation will assist Brittney and her family in so many ways.  For any of you who have unfortunately been affected by cancer in the past, you know that it not only hurts a family financially, but also emotionally.  The donation that you generously give will bring peace of mind to her family as she continues through her treatments.  Brittney’s philosophy of education has always been that it takes a village to raise a child.  We believe that it also takes a village to help a victim through the horrors of cancer.  Join us in helping Brittney in her fight.