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  • Sam (left) and Ethan Rittmiller pose next to the cookbook compiled by staff and students at Monroe Elementary to benefit Ethan’s pending heart transplant. In the background are Monroe Principal Al Lawrence and sister Barb Kaus, who is president of Carlson Craft and donated all printing costs for the cookbook. John Cross

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September 2, 2010

Cookbook to raise money for youngster's transplant

Younger brother draws the cover

By Tanner Kent Free Press Staff Writer

NORTH MANKATO — Nothing says love and support like illustrating your brother’s cookbook.

Sam Rittmiller is the young artist behind the images — including the cover — of a cookbook compiled by students and staff at Monroe Elementary to benefit fourth-grader Ethan Rittmiller’s pending heart transplant.

While Ethan is a few years Sam’s senior, the younger brother wanted badly to contribute to the effort. So, after brainstorming with his brother on design ideas, Sam drew a likeness of the two for the cover — one wearing a Monroe Mustangs T-shirt and the other wearing a Donate Life shirt (which promotes the cause of organ donation).

“I’m the tall one,” Sam said.

“I thought I was the tall one,” Ethan returned.

Either way, the cookbook contains hundreds of recipes submitted by staff and students at Monroe and Garfield elementaries. Entries include Principal Al Lawrence’s favorite — sweet potato pie — as well as a recipe for cake and frosting that is unique to Monroe and was submitted by the school’s kitchen staff.

During the summer, Carlson Craft donated all the printing costs so that “every cent” will go to the Rittmiller family.

“Community means a lot to us,” said Barb Kaus, president of Carlson Craft.

Earlier this year, 9-year-old Ethan Rittmiller was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a rare and potentially fatal condition in which the walls of the heart are too rigid to allow it to fill adequately with blood. Ethan was placed in the second priority tier to receive a heart and, since the diagnosis, the Rittmiller family has been awaiting word from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester that a transplant is available.

When that word comes, the Rittmiller family will spend four months in Rochester and likely spend upward of $500,000 on medical costs.

The cookbook can be purchased for $15 at Garfield and Monroe Elementaries in North Mankato as well as the gift shop at Carlson Craft.

Anyone wishing to donate further to Ethan’s transplant fund can visit www.CotaForEthanR.com. Donations are being routed through Children Organ Transplant Association, a registered nonprofit designed for such a purpose.

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