Hillsborough 2-Year-Old Battling Rare Pediatric Cancer, Community Rallying Support

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough family's lives have been turned upside down after learning their daughter Adelyn was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer one month before her second birthday.

Adelyn Kotarsky was diagnosed in mid-February. This was one month after her brother was born. She began chemotherapy on March 5, the day of her second birthday, her mother, Rebecca Kotarsky, told Patch.

"She has done four rounds of chemotherapy so far. Whenever she does chemotherapy, she has to be physically in the hospital for five days; she cannot leave because of the nature of her treatment, and she's so young," said Kotarsky.

Adelyn has had surgery, a port placed in her chest, multiple scans, and repeated blood work since the diagnosis.

As a result, Kotarsky said Adelyn is "significantly immunocompromised."

"Meaning, since this diagnosis, no one has been at my house, unless you're babysitting my son. We're on Fort Knox lockdown, because I don't want her to catch anything. If she catches something, she's at risk of getting a heart infection," said Kotarsky.

Adelyn has also undergone several MRIs and CTs, and for all of those procedures, she has to be sedated.

"She has constant appointments with her doctors, where they monitor her blood work before chemo, during chemo," said Kotarsky. "After we have medications at home, we give her. It's like a whole pharmacy here, and injections we have to give her."

The family’s routines have changed as treatment continues.

Kotarsky said one parent stays with Adelyn during hospital admissions while the other cares for their newborn son.

Adelyn's father, a Woodbridge police officer, is on family leave to avoid the risk of bringing home an illness.

With the family all being home together, Kotarsky said there have "been some little gems hidden in here, but I would trade all that in a second not to be in this position. It's the stress. It is just unbearable."

At the same time, she said Adelyn has handled the treatment with unusual strength.

Kotarsky said that if someone were to meet Adelyn, they wouldn't even know she was going through all of her treatments, aside from her hair loss.

"If an adult were going through this, her doctor said they'd be so sick, but children are very resilient," said Kotarsky.

Doctors told the family that Adelyn will be immunocompromised for at least 12 months and will remain under medical care for several years.

Kotarsky said there has been some spreading to local lymph nodes in the pelvis and abdomen, though more testing is needed to determine whether those nodes are cancerous.

The family has been working with the nonprofit organization Steps Together and also launched a fundraising campaign to help cover household bills, travel, parking, diapers, meals, and any medical costs that insurance does not pay.

"Her mom, dad, and new baby brother want her healthy. We love her and are amazed by her bravery," according to the family's fundraising T-shirt page.

The community has also rallied behind the family to help with the Hillsborough PBA, Ritas and Mariana's Pizzeria hosting a fundraiser this past Tuesday.

For more information or to donate, visit customink.com/fundraising/adelyns-army-3-5.

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