We don’t always know it, but some people are angels in disguise. Within a certain Stillwater family, there is most definitely one angel disguised in each of their family members. The Hosek family’s Angel in disguise is Brittany Hosek. She now lives through Jennifer Hosek, her mom, Sara Hosek, her younger sister, and her little brother Hunter Hosek who she never got the chance to meet.

Brittany earned her wings 17 years ago at the age of five.  Brittany was born with a rare genetic disorder called Alagille Syndrome, also known as Alagille-Watson Syndrome (AWS).

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is pioneering research of Alagille Syndrome and they explain the disorder to be, “an ‘autosomal dominant inherited disorder’ associated with liver, heart, eye and skeletal abnormalities, as well as characteristic facial features.”

Alagille Syndrome is caused when there is a change to the gene called Jagged 1 located on chromosome 20 in a DNA sequence. It afflicts one out of every 100,000 live births.

Brittany was not the only one to have this genetic disorder. Sara (’13), also has the rare genetic disorder. Sara has dealt with complications from the disorder throughout her life mostly to her heart and brain, but Brittany must have hidden her heart in Sara for her to use and help her through the everyday struggles. Brittany’s heart helps Sara through many surgeries and cyberknife operations.

Sara was just starting to get a taste of independence, making memories with her best friend Taylor Smieja (’13). During the summer Jennifer’s boyfriend Gary has a cabin up north where Sara always wants to go on “Gator Rides” (all-terrain vehicle). Sara loves to speed through the woods yelling “Faster, Faster!” as Boy, Gary’s English Cocker Spaniel, dashes after her like a deer in the tall grass.

When she turned 18, Sara started going to play Bingo at the Knights of Columbus hall on Greeley Street to get one-on-one time with her Grandparents Joan and Delmar. Sara loves bingo and assured me, “I always win on pull tabs.”

“Lately she’s gotten progressively worse,” said Jennifer. Sara now requires 24-hour care, that Jennifer had been providing by leaving work, until now when she needs to return to work. Denise and Taylor Smieja planned a Benefit at the Knights of Columbus Hall, called “Bingo for Sara.”

The Stillwater community came together to provide overwhelming support for the Hosek family. Donna Wood, a volunteer at the benefit said, “The benefit went very, very well. There were at least 500 people there!”

Denise and Donna expressed, “A HUGE thank you to the community for the love and support extended to the Hosek family during this very difficult time.”

“Courage and Strength.” Those are words that describe Jennifer Hosek. Brittany was Jennifer’s first child of three. Brittany uses the courage that she had to help Jennifer get through life. “Brittany was very, very, very strong,” Corrina Pierce said, Brittany’s best friend and cousin.

Jennifer needs to support her family with her job at Andersen Windows and provide the love and support that her kids need, all with a heavy heart. Brittany knew all that her mother has to do so she gave Jennifer her strength to help her to be able to do it all.

With so many struggles and hardship in one family, there is a lot of tension that builds up. Brittany knows the stress trapped in the family must be relieved, so she gave Hunter her ability to brighten anyone’s day. Corrina said, “ Even though Brittany was in so much pain all she wanted was for everyone to be happy, she’s such a jokester.” No matter what mood his mom or sister is in, he can always get a laugh out of them especially when they need it the most.

Brittany is a child that has gone too soon. She is gone, but not forgotten, she lives on through the lives of her family.