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Brittany Zipter Sunrise: 11/25/1991 Sunset: 9/2/2003 
Brittany's Path of Courage
August 2001 Brittany was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) of her left humerus. She began aggressive chemotherapy to hopefully shrink the tumor and save her arm. Unfortunately that was not the case. On November 9, 2001 her left arm and shoulder were amputated. She quickly resumed chemo through June of 2002. She spent close to 3 weeks of every month in the hospital,enduring severe mouth sores, pneumonia, staph infections, extreme fatigue, daily nausea and bone pain. Through all this Brittany remained positive, strong and determined to beat this monster.
October 2002 after meeting President Bush to heighten childhood cancer awareness (her wish from the Children's Dream Fund), it was discovered she had traveled through Washington with a broken neck. She barely mentioned any pain. Unfortunately after further testing a tumor on her spine was discovered to be the cause of the fracture. Tumors in her lungs were also present. So after just finishing a year of intense in house chemo she apparently had no response. The search again was on around the world to find any new treatment that might offer hope. She began another difficult 6-month regiment, which seem to clear her lungs but did not stop the tumor on the spine from returning. March 2003 after the spinal tumor grew back, Brittany was paralyzed from the waist down. As devastated as we were and afraid she would lose her spirit and will, she remained positive, had the tumor removed and took more chemo and radiation. This started a chain of events that lead to a total of three surgeries in less that a month. This took a huge toll on Brittany, she became very ill. She was on a feeding tube, developed staph infection, new tumors in her lungs and was quickly declining. At this point we were told she might have about a month if we stop chemo and let her recuperate since chemo had never stopped the progression of disease. So many times she faced pneumonia, infections, been on respirators, surgeries she was never expected to make through, but she always did. Her Doctors gave us no hope, but she was persistent and we followed our hearts and her lead and she took every horrible drug you could imagine, both conventional and alternative and never complained.
Yet we had to face the reality that she was growing very weak. Brian and I knew if we went against the doctors and insisted that her new chemo Regiment begin right away, in the condition she was in, as soon as her counts went down we would have lost her. So after two years of constantly pursuing new treatment, we as a family realized the treatment had truly become her kill and chose to give her the summer without chemo making her sick and wearing her down, she would resume treatment if possible when we returned home. If she wasn’t given the opportunity to get a little stronger, eat on her own, and feel better. We were going to definitely lose her in a couple of weeks. She needed to enjoy life again as a reminder of what she was fighting for. So enjoy we did, we went to Orlando to all the Disney parks she always loved. Brittany grew stronger and happier with each passing day. A couple of weeks later we went to the mountains in Virginia, then to NY to visit family. She began to eat on her own and we truly feel we as a family had made the best choice, even knowing this could be her last few weeks, at least we had them. So as bittersweet as it was, we enjoyed her, she laughed and played and filled our hearts with beautiful memories that we will cherish forever.
By the time we left NY, Brittany was paralyzed again from yet another tumor in her neck. We were crushed, we tried to sooth her, saying the cause might be the radiation she just finished, since she knew there was a chance that might happen, but she was smart and I’m sure she didn’t buy that for a minute. We returned home on Tuesday evening 7/29/03 and Wednesday we admitted her to the hospital, her lungs were collapsed from tumors, she was not expected to make it through the night. In typical Brittany fashion she rebounded her lungs unexplainably re-inflated and gave us another precious five weeks with her. She insisted on taking the chemo we had talked about be starting when we got home. Her doctors anticipated she would soon become unconscious due to the tumors in her lungs limiting her oxygen and the amount of painkillers and anesthethsia she was on to help control the pain. But they were wrong, her pain kept her alert. We sought out pain teams and specialist to assist in keeping her comfortable. Since her pain stemmed from her central nervous system this was no easy task. Her level of pain in her last weeks seem to increase hourly at times, so we never slept, you couldn’t risk missing a chance to press her pain button in fear she would wake up crying in pain. It was such a nightmare to watch our beautiful little girl suffer so needlessly; the anguish we felt is unspeakable.
But Brittany hated the hospital and pleaded to stay home, so as frightening as it was to be home and lose her at home, we felt we owed her that. She had traveled this journey on her own terms, so her passing should be the same. She wasn’t afraid to die; she said she knew God would take care of her. She only hoped she would not be in pain, and as much as we tried, we could never completely stop her pain and that will torture me the rest of my days.
In the end we were thankful for the time we had with her after she passed away. I held her for several hours, bathe and dressed her, and for the first time in two years I did not feel guilty because she was in physical pain and I was not. As time passed a beautiful smile emerged on her face, as she saw Heaven. As family came to see her they all commented on her smile. That gave us such peace that finally our baby was not in pain, even though I knew our pain had only just begun.
Our family is grateful beyond words to the wonderful people of Northdale, the Gramatica brothers, the Children's Cancer center, Steve and Sharin Yerrid, The Children's Dream Fund, Jerry Wunsch Foundation Camp Good Days, Trans World, The Rough Riders, Claywell Elementary and countless other friends and family. Their support and encouragement has made such a difference. All who continue to be here for us as we attempt to rebuild our shattered lives, mend our broken hearts and get me through my Chemo, will hold a special place in our hearts forever.
As always thanks for checking on us and signing the guest book. Love, Patty, Brian, Christopher, Stephen & Angel Brittany
Keep Brittany’s Dream Alive
As you know, Brittany was determined to raise awareness of Childhood Cancer. Her dream was to one day really make a difference in the funding given and respect for the disease. I bet you didn’t know more children in our country die each year from cancer than Asthma, AIDS, Diabetes and Cystic Fibrosis combined. Doesn’t that just amaze and appall you? I know it floored us. Thank God we have made such tremendous strides in treating Leukemia, the most common form of Childhood Cancer, but there is much to do. How little is known is scary especially in treating less common cancers like the one Brittany had.
It seems all to easy to turn away if you are fortunate and you child is not stricken with cancer, it's unbearable to watch or even think about. But you wonderful brave people have done just that, you have seen the horror and didn’t turn away, instead you embraced us and we so thank you. Your love, prayers and encouragement mean more than we could ever express.
After seeing what Brittany and so many other precious children go through we have been asked many times were we would like to see donation go in memory of Brittany.I have listed below a few suggestions that are very worthy of your donations,they are all local, non-profit organizations. To us that is important you can see the benefit of you donation in your community. I know our family will continue to support them on a regular basis. On their behalf we thank you in advance for anything you can do to help, either now or in the future.
The Children’s Cancer Center - www.childrenscancercenter.org
Check out this website, your can purchase holiday cards and calendars. This center was and continues to be our lifeline. Some of their many services are peer support for parents, big buddies for siblings of patients, Teen Group for patients, and bereavement groups. We are so fortunate to have this center; no other area we are aware of has one of its kind. The staff is incredable, they go above and beyond to help. So please consider supporting this center it is truly an asset to our community.
Address: 4901 West Cypress Street
Tampa, Florida 33607
Tel: (813) 367-5437
The Sarcoma Program at Moffitt Cancer Center – One of Brittany’s most trusted doctors runs the Sarcoma Program at Moffitt. He is a dedicated Physician and an all around wonderful person. He goes above and beyond for his patients, especially the kids he sees at All Childrens Hospital since Moffittt no longer sees children. He and Brittany’s Neurosurgeon Dr.Vrionis willingness to perform difficult surgeries in the late stages of her disease gave us several months of time with Brittany. They treated her as an individual and respected that she wanted to still fight. For that we are forever grateful. Dr. Letson is determine to find better treatments for her disease (Osteosarcoma) and is responsible for many new studies. You can donate by mailing a check below, be sure to mention in memory of Brittany.
Moffitt Cancer Center
Attention: Sarcoma Program
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, Florida 33612
You can donate on line also @ https://www.moffitt.usf.edu/foundation/gifts.htm. After you put in your info, please choice research than in the box that says, “Other please indicate”, type in Sarcoma program.
The Children’s Dream Fund- http://www.childrensdreamfund.org
They are responsible for Brittany meeting President Bush, Joanne our dream coordinator worked close to a year trying make this to happen. It was truly Brittany’s dream come true, a private meeting and extensive White House tour with many correspondents and calls from the President and Mrs. Bush since that meeting. The job they do for these kids is exceptional.
The Jerry Wunsch Foundation - The former Buccaneer now playing for the Seattle Seahawks and several other NFL players send and join several children with cancer on a journey to Wisconsin in February for an opportunity to see and play in the snow. This was the first and only time Brittany saw snow and she loved it. She went skiing, tobogganing, rode a snowmobile and went to Lambo Field. What a great group of people to give of their time to be with these kids, the precious memories made on these trips are priceless. The foundations office is located at The Children’s Cancer Center @
4901 West Cypress Street
Tampa, Florida 33607
Tel: (813) 367-5437
Journal
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:20 AM CST It’s been to long since we left an entry, but life is so hectic. We are getting ready to take Stephen to the Mayo clinic the end of February, still having a lot of problems since the accident. They want to do another surgery, so we want to explore all our options. It is so scary that one second everything is fine, and then the next total chaos. All because a 17 year old girl who had a suspended license was should not have been in a car driving.
On to the good news, Christopher and his wife Holly are going to have a baby, and it’s going to be a girl. He said they are going to name her Elizabeth Brittany Zipter. How bitter sweet, she will grow up with her aunt’s name and never know her. I know Brittany would be very happy to have a niece named after her; in fact she would expect nothing less knowing here. We are so excited, but he is still stationed up in Alaska, so we don’t get to see them that often. Patty is going to try to be up there right after she is born, which is supposed to be the last day of May.
I guess that’s all for now
Brian
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