The Laker

2nd bout of leukemia claims Land O’ Lakes Britney Bartle, 20

By Debbie Carson
Community News Staff Writer

Britney Bartle won her first battle with leukemia a year ago. In August, the then-19-year-old prepared to fight again.

“I fought the battle,” the bubbly teen said a few months ago. “Now I’m going to fight the war.”

On Dec. 20, the war was over.

“Britney put up a brave fight,” said family friend Debbie Moore.

Britney lay in her hospital bed. Her mother and family friends nearby. She was finally at peace and no longer in pain.

Less than two weeks ago, Britney’s lungs started to fill with fluid. She fought hard but couldn’t carry on.

Just days before, on Dec. 11, she celebrated her 20th birthday. She was on a ventilator, no longer able to breathe on her own. Britney was full of life and determined to kick her disease but it became too much.
In October, after spending nearly two months in the hospital, doctors found two bone marrow donors for Britney. She was supposed to have the transplant in November but an infection put the procedure on hold until Dec. 10. Her condition deteriorated. The transplant would have to wait.

Britney wanted to write a book about her experiences to help those who come after her. Though she had not started her first book, Britney said that she would get started on her second one, “Living Inside a Box 2.”  “That’s what it feels like,” Britney said in August, describing cancer and the rigorous treatments. She easily got infections.

Many people – especially those her age – don’t know how to relate.

Her book would have chronicled her treatments from start to finish, much like a journal would. Britney’s first book, called “Waiting. Living Inside a Box,” would have been more about what cancer patients go through and what they can expect. When she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 16, she couldn’t find any “normal” books on the topic – just medical texts, which didn’t do her any good. Britney wanted to go to college to study child psychology so that she could help children deal with what it means to have and fight cancer.

“What a light she shown,” Debbie said of Britney, who was like a big sister to Debbie’s children, 14-year-old Sean and 11-year-old Amy.“She was like a big little kid,” Debbie said. “She never lost that little kid spark.”  Britney didn’t allow her illness to get her down. Even when she was having her chemotherapy treatments, Britney played checkers with the other cancer kids. You couldn’t get her to sit still when there were kids around – Britney wanted to play.

“This kid lived her life,” Debbie said – especially during the seven or eight months that her cancer was in remission.

The Bartle family wishes to thank everyone who has helped them with their expense. The Bartles still need help, in particular with covering the funeral costs.

Arrangements had not been finalized as of press time, though Debbie said she expects services to be held sometime either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday after Christmas.

Funeral expenses are estimated at more than $6,000 – and that’s assuming that Britney can be buried next to her father at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, which would cut some of the normal funeral costs.

Britney leaves behind her mother, Linda, of Land O’ Lakes; her sisters, Bonnie, 27, and Brandy, 25, and a host of family friends including the Moores.

A celebration of Britney’s life will be held at Loyless Funeral Home on Friday, Dec.28, at 11 a.m. Friends and family will gather for two hours prior to the service. She will be laid to rest beside her father, Ken, who is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Anyone wishing to help may contact Loyless Funeral Home to donate to the Britney Bartle Funeral Fund, 5310 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, FL 34639, (813) 996-6610, www.loylesschapel.com.