Warminster Girl Loses Cancer Fight

After a courageous fight against acute myeloid leukemia that took her across the country, 19-year-old Raechel Ruch of Warminster died Sunday surrounded by her family at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Intelligencer reports.

Raechel was diagnosed in 2011 with leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Stephanie, around Thanksgiving that same year. The procedure appeared to work initially, allowing Raechel to return to school at William Tennent a few months later.

However, at the end of the year, her doctors told Raechel and her family that the cancer had relapsed and became more aggressive, giving her three to six months left. After calling several doctors, her parents found out about an experimental treatment at the University of Washington's Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Raechel and her mother, Minde, spent four months living in Seattle waiting and hoping that one of her many test results would indicate Raechel as a good candidate for the procedure, but that day never came. A few weeks ago, doctors determined that Raechel's cancer had spread to her brain and spinal cord. She returned to the East Coast and stayed at CHOP.

A private service was held by Raechel's family, but the Intelligencer says that a celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Ruch Fund Business Checking Account” at any Wells Fargo Bank.