Brittany "Britt" Saylor

1989 - 2018

Brittany "Britt" Saylor

Wisconsin Rapids - Brittany "Britt" Saylor, age 29, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI died Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at UW Hospital, Madison, WI.

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Fr. Dave Bruener will officiate. Visitation will be at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, WI on Monday from 4:00-8:00 PM and Tuesday at the Church from 10:00-11:00 AM. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery.

Britt was born in Wisconsin Rapids, WI at Riverview Hospital on July 7, 1989 to James "Chip" and Carolyn (Maleski) Saylor. Britt attended Woodside Elementary School, East Junior High School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 2007 alongside her twin brother Brent.

Britt was very proud to be the older twin and loved to say that she had a "little" brother even though he was taller and only 2 minutes younger. She fell in love with the sport of hockey as she watched Brent and his friends play youth hockey. She never missed a hockey game and loved staying in hotels for away tournaments where she had so many fun memories with all the other team families. These experiences formed her into an avid and lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins. She knew more hockey stats about the Pens than most and thoroughly enjoyed "chirping" her friends who were fans of other teams.

At sixteen months old Britt was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II (SMA). At the time she was diagnosed the medical knowledge base regarding SMA was limited and no long-term treatment options for patients existed. When she was four years old, Britt met Dr. Mary K. Schroth, a new pediatric pulmonologist at UW Madison Hospital & Clinics. The two developed a unique patient-doctor relationship that contributed to Dr. Schroth's decision to specialize in treatment of pediatric SMA patients.

As Britt transitioned to adult medical care, Dr. Schroth continued to advise Britts' adult physicians on the complexities of SMA treatment. In 2013, Britt successfully recovered from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) after a 78 day hospital stint. At the beginning of Britt's battle with ARDS, Dr. Schroth not only advised the physicians at UW Madison's TLC treating Britt, but made a point to let them know that Britt wasn't just any patient, she was the type of patient that could change a doctor's career.

Throughout Britt's life, Dr. Schroth, her adult physicians, therapists, nurses and the incredible UW Madison Hospital staff in the TLC and D6/5 created an atmosphere that brought comfort to Britt and instilled confidence in her care. The work that these wonderful people in the medical field did with respect to SMA treatment, contributed to advancements in research and treatment methods for SMA patients world-wide. Britt was driven with the desire to contribute to SMA research even though chances were she would not be able to personally benefit from the results. She traveled to Boston, MA to participate in a private research study that ultimately led to the first FDA approved drug treatment for SMA.

Britt never let her physical disability prevent her from living life to the fullest and she accomplished more in 29 years than some do in a full lifetime. Every summer growing up she attended a week-long summer camp in Green Lake, WI sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Summers at MDA camp allowed her to form lifelong friendships, gain independence and spend time with kids facing similar life challenges.

After high school, Britt attended UW-Milwaukee her freshman year and then transferred to UW-Whitewater to study geology/geography. While at UW-Whitewater she received a research grant to study volcanic rock formation in Mountain, WI and was a peer mentor in the geology department. As a testament to her unyielding can-do attitude, the highlight of her college career was being able to participate in the UW-Whitewater's first "Field Study on Wheels" to Yellowstone National Park (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxlrYMlUkq4) where she rode horses with cowboys, climbed down a mountain to traipse along the Lamar River Valley and tracked wolves with a mountain man.

Britt had a huge capacity to nurture and maintain true authentic friendships. Despite her disability, she always found a way to participate in social activities with those she cared about. She had a hilarious, wicked, dry sense of humor and she loved spending time with her many, many close friends and family. Some were friends who became caregivers, some were caregivers who became family, and she was deeply appreciative of all of them.

Britt is survived by her parents, James "Chip" and Carolyn Saylor of Wisconsin Rapids, her twin brother, Brent Saylor of Minneapolis, MN, her grandparents, Connie and Jim Saylor, Sr and Chester Maleski of Wisconsin Rapids, her uncle, Scott Saylor of Madison, WI and her aunt, Theresa (Tom) Pataky of Mundelein, IL and her feline furbabies Annabelle, Evelyn, Albert, Eleanor and Stanley. Britt was preceded in death by her grandmother Neoma "Omie" Maleski.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated in Britt's name to the South Wood County Humane Society or to CureSMA.org