A Montgomery County girl might be joining you for breakfast. Eight-year old Amanda Merrell has survived a rare form of cancer and is being honored with a spot on the Frosted Flakes box.

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Amanda was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at just 2 years old. After six rounds of chemotherapy, doctors at Children's National Medical Center in NW Washington amputated her left leg. Amanda then endured another eight rounds of chemo.

Her mother Suzanne says she's never faced such a daunting challenge.

"And that was, for a mom, was really hard and very difficult, to know that your child was going to lose her leg and you had no control," Suzanne Merrell said.
Amanda is now in remission. Despite the loss of her leg, she is quite active, running, jumping and playing soccer.

Her spirit, and her smile, landed her on the cover of a cereal box, an honor often reserved for olympic champions and other athletes.

Kellogg's, the maker of Frosted Flakes, teamed up with the Children's Miracle Network to create the special boxes. Amanda and three other child patients were selected to appear on the front of the boxes in hopes their stories inspire others.

For every box sold, Kellogg's donates a quarter to Children's Miracle Network. It hopes to raise up to $100,000.

Amanda's box was unveiled at the Bottom Dollar food store in Gaithersburg Friday. It will available at local Food Lion and Bloom stores as well.

As Amanda explained it, "so we can raise money for the Children's Hospital, so the children can get better."

And when the Merrells enjoy Amanda's favorite box of cereal, they know some of the money "goes back to the kids that Amanda shared hospital beds with, and who are still fighting for lives up there, too," Suzanne said.