Victoria Marsh Osteosarcoma Research Fund
Victoria was 13 years old, a competitive swimmer and in 7th grade when she complained of ankle pain early in December 2014. Our family was not prepared to hear the words “your daughter has cancer” just a few days later. We quickly learned that Victoria was one of only a few kids known to have both Down syndrome and Osteosarcoma. To complicate things even more, Victoria’s cancer had metastasized to her lungs. Two weeks later, after many tests, scans, X-rays and second opinions, Victoria began her inpatient treatment that would last roughly 9 months, with her getting to go home for about a week every 2-3 weeks. During this time she received various chemotherapy drugs, countless blood and platelet transfusions, a left below the knee amputation, a long battle with C-Diff, and two thoracotomies. We withdrew her from school as she could not be around many people due to her compromised immune system.
She received her “fancy foot” in the spring of 2015 and was walking independently on it by the summer. Over the next year she had two more thoracotomies. However, all this did not stop her from continuing to swim when she could. She had the amazing opportunity to learn to surf in California in the spring of 2016. In the fall, Victoria excitedly entered high school where she immediately became a manager of the volleyball team, co-treasurer of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a Best Buddies member and a varsity member of the swim team. Victoria learned to snow ski in February 2017. All along, Victoria has been fighting lung mets that
just keep appearing. She has participated in an immunotherapy trial, has had Cyberknife and is currently taking oral chemotherapy medicine to attack the nodules.
Osteosarcoma is just plain ugly. The reality is we will fight this disease forever. We just don’t know how long forever will be for our kids. Selfishly we all want forever to be, well forever....years and years from now. But without research specifically designed to target osteosarcoma, the reality, unfortunately for too many families, is that this “forever” isn’t far enough in the future.
Victoria created a poster during her first chemotherapy admission. This poster immediately became “her statement” - Let’s Kill the Cancer!
The Mission of M.I.B. Agents is to Make It Better for children with osteosarcoma, bone cancer. With love and hope, M.I.B. Agents:
- Pairs a child in treatment with a survivor of their same cancer including through MiB Gamer Agents.
- Provides items of comfort and entertainment (iPads, iTunes Cards, Noise Cancelling Headphones) for their treatment and recovery
- Arranges end-of-life experiences and/or comfort for the child when options for treatment have been exhausted and they are on home hospice care.
- Raises funds and awareness to increase research for better treatments and outcomes for those with osteosarcoma, including through the first osteosarcoma conference FACTOR and through our annual $100,000 funding initiative, OutSmarting Osteosarcoma.
M.I.B. Agents makes it better by helping to increase the quality of comfort and life for kids with osteosarcoma with the help of our community of dedicated and passionate Agents.
We are committed to Making it Better for adolescents and young adults with bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Our dedicated team pays no salaries, so your donation has a profound and direct effect on our missions.
A receipt will be provided for your taxes. If you prefer to mail a check:
Payable To:
MIB Agents (please include Victoria in the memo line)
PO Box 858
Barnard, VT 05031
Thank you for using your powers for good to Make It Better for kids with osteosarcoma.
FED ID #81-1109906