Spunky girl adopted while fighting cancer dies

BY JENNIFER BARRIOS

jennifer.barrios@newsday.com

8:37 PM EDT, April 3, 2008

When the cancer fought, Krista Ruthanne fought back.

But last week, the 8-year-old girl — who was adopted last year in a bedside ceremony after her birth parents neglected to treat her advancing disease — lost the battle.

Her adoptive parents are left to remember a bright, caring girl who worked until the end to help others in need.

She was born Krista Ann Loscalzo, but took the name Krista Ruthanne after her new grandmother.

Even while sick, she learned to ice skate and ride a horse. She swam and rode on the back of a tandem bicycle driven by her brother.

Krista raised money for charity — especially for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, her favorite. She was puzzled when people offered to pray for her.

“You don’t need to pray for me,” she’d say, instead offering the name of a friend also stricken with cancer. Pray for her, Krista would say.

During her last hospital stay, Krista made frozen drinks at Stony Brook University Medical Center and sold them out of her hospital room to raise money for St. Jude’s. She called them “Krista’s Vacation Drinks.” She raised $240.

Two days later, on March 27, Krista died. She was surrounded by her large adoptive family. Her death came just over a year after she was adopted by parents Cheryl and Dave.

Cheryl said she met Krista in 2004, after Krista had been removed from her Mastic Beach home by a Family Court decision. Cheryl was at Stony Brook with one of her four sons, who was recovering from a procedure. Cheryl always saw the little brown-haired girl playing in the playroom, always alone.

When she found out Krista’s story, Cheryl said, she immediately began proceedings to become a foster parent and take Krista into her Port Jefferson Station home.

“I just needed to take her home and take care of her,” said Cheryl, who does not want her last name released. “I could not imagine any child going through anything alone.”

In March 2007, Cheryl and Dave formally adopted Krista in a bedside ceremony at Stony Brook. Krista was too ill to come to court, so Judge David Freundlich came to her. The two later walked the hospital corridors in celebration, hand in hand.

As Krista spent more time in and out of the hospital, she began volunteering. She sold calendars and candles for cancer charities. She raised more than $400 from a motorcycle club, the Patriot Guard Riders.

“She was so unselfish,” Cheryl said. “Because of the love she had, she was able to put her past behind her and move on and touch other people’s lives.”

Last Sunday, the motorcyclists accompanied the hearse carrying Krista’s body from the funeral parlor in Setauket to Patchogue Baptist Church for the service.

Cheryl said Krista’s faith in God sustained her until the end.

“The doctors said, ‘Krista, the chemo’s not doing what it’s supposed to do, we need to change meds, we need to add meds,’” Cheryl recalled. “We were always honest. But her faith was amazing. She would say to us, ‘You just gotta believe, Mom. You just gotta believe.’”

Tonight at 7 p.m., the Tarrytown Elementary School in Port Jefferson Station — Krista’s former school — is holding a tribute to Krista. It had been planned as a prom-themed fundraiser for Krista’s medical bills when Krista was alive.

“Krista had always wanted to go to a prom,” Principal April Victor said. “We decided to continue and have the prom in honor of her. We felt it was something she would like. It will be fit for a princess.”

Victor said daffodils were planted at the school in memory of the dynamic, witty second-grader.

“I just remember her spunky spirit,” Victor said. “No matter what, she was always thinking of others before herself. Even in her last days.”