SARATOGA SPRINGS — On June 18, 6-month-old Odette Schiess was a happy, smiling baby, with seemingly no health problems — just a rash on the lower halves of her legs.

As "over-protective parents," Stephanie and Ken Schiess decided to take Odette to the doctor. That day, the doctor took some blood, realizing Odette's rash was actually petechiae, or hemorrhaging.

"He recognized it right off the bat," Stephanie Schiess said.

Though the doctor recognized the bleeding in Odette's legs, Schiess said she never expected the call she received later that evening.

Odette had leukemia. She needed to go to Primary Children's Medical Center immediately for treatment, and a room would be waiting.

The next day began a whirlwind 27-day stay at the hospital for the infant, beginning with surgery for a central line to Odette's heart, where chemotherapy drugs would be administered. It was also the beginning of painful sores from Odette's mouth through her entire digestive system, caused by the drugs used to save her life. Not a day goes by that Odette doesn't vomit from the treatment, and she suffers from acid reflux constantly.

Her first birthday, Nov. 22, was spent in the hospital for the latest round of treatment.

"She didn't want her cupcake," Schiess said. "She just cried."

Despite the painful days, Schiess said Odette is a wonderful child who manages to make everyone smile. She waves to her nurses and gives hugs and kisses.

"She's a good, happy baby," Schiess said.

The last few months have been difficult, with one parent constantly with Odette during her trips to the hospital. Friends and neighbors have helped weed the family's lawn and helped watch the three other children, Brandt, 11, Kathleen, 8, and Josselyn, 3. Community members in Saratoga Springs are now trying to raise money for the family to help pay for their mountains of medical bills. Schiess said she does not know the latest charges from the hospital, but in her last discussions with the insurance company, more than $300,000 had amassed.

"I open the bills and I just laugh," she said. "What else can you do?"

Ketra Remund, a friend of the family in Saratoga Springs, said she and a friend have designed necklaces to raise money for Odette. Remund said the necklaces are orange, for leukemia, and pink, for other types of cancer. She got the idea from cancer bracelets she saw when her own mother was ill, Remund said.

Remund said the illness has been hard on the family, but she is amazed by their ability to stay positive through the experience. It was hard enough to watch her own mother suffer, she said, and it must be much more difficult to watch an infant in pain.

"I'm sure it's not easy to stay positive through all of that," she said.

Jennifer Turcsanski, also of Saratoga Springs, said she took photos of the necklaces to help sell them and decided she wanted to do something for the family as well. A professional photographer, Turcsanski said she will be holding a photo sessions and donating the proceeds to the Schiess family.

The Bobby Lawrence Karate Studio in Saratoga Springs donated its studio space for the Dec. 12 event, during which a "Glimpse of Santa" photo shoot will be offered. Children will be able to have their photos taken with Santa Claus, but with their parents dressed as Santa.

The back-to-back, 20-minute sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with all the proceeds from the $50 sessions going to the Schiess family.

Turcsanski said the community has been enthusiastic about the opportunity to help the family, and most slots have filled up. Because of the demand, the photo sessions may extend into the night, and portions of the proceeds from "Glimpses of Santa" shoots on other days during the month will also go to the family.

Although Turcsanski does not know the family, she said she wanted to help in their time of need with the talents she has. Many of the families who have signed up for photo shoots also do not know Odette, but many mothers have called in tears to schedule an appointment in order to help, she said.

"People are so generous around here and love to help," she said.

Schiess said people in the community have helped the family throughout the illness, donating money, bringing Thanksgiving dinner and taking her children under their wings. She said she is grateful and amazed at how much people are willing to help, even if they do not know the family.

"People have done really good to go out of their way to make sure things were going OK at our house," she said.

For more information on the two fundraisers, contact Ketra Remund at (801) 766-8449 or Jennifer Turcsanski at (801) 766-8407. A fund has also been set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Odette Schiess's name, and money can be donated by giving the teller Odette and her parents' names.

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