Crystal Wolshin, a 16-year-old honor student at Kapa‘a High School, flew to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. on Monday, Nov. 29 with the hope of making this Christmas season the best she will ever have for herself and her
Crystal Wolshin, a 16-year-old honor student at Kapa‘a High School, flew to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. on Monday, Nov. 29 with the hope of making this Christmas season the best she will ever have for herself and her family.
She will go through four to five days of testing before she goes through neurosurgery to remove or retard a tumor found in her brain.
The growth has occurred in the part of the brain where tumorous growth was initially removed on April 14, 2003.
A successful surgery at Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu resulted in the removal of 80 percent of the tumor. Because the remaining 20 percent was of an unknown quality, medical experts recommended no surgery or treatment be done at that time, due to possible risks to Wolshin’s life.
The strategy worked until October 29, when tests revealed new tumorous growth.
Wolshin’s mother, Rhonda Borntrager, accompanied her daughter to Mayo Clinic for what friends described as a “life-saving surgery” for Wolshin.
Borntrager believes in the power of prayer, and will be asking Kauaians to pray for her daughter as she goes through surgery, which could occur next week, said Lorraine Whitman, a friend of the family.
“The mother believes prayer is going to help,” Wichman said.
Wolshin’s fight to stay alive has served as an inspiration for many, encouraging them to persevere in the face of life’s stiff challenges, Wichman said.
Wolshin had been undergoing regular checkups on O‘ahu since her first surgery. Things looked promising.
With her health regained, Wolshin excelled in her studies. She serves as president of the National Honor Society at her school this year and as a senior representative for the school’s Student Council. She has a 3.89 cumulative grade point average.
Wolshin is a member of the Underground Church Club and is an active member of the Kapa‘a Missionary Church.
Wolshin, who prides herself on being intelligent, inquisitive and mentally disciplined, aspires to become an attorney one day.
Wolshin has applied to various colleges and hopes to secure grants and scholarships to support schooling costs.
Her future dreams came up against a wall on Oct. 29, when a magnetic resonance imaging scan showed new tumor growth in the brain where growth been removed before.
On July 24, Wolshin suffered what was described as a “tonic-clonic” seizure, and has had as many as 10 “focal motor” seizures daily, Dr. Michon Morita said in communications with Dr. Geri Young, a Kaua‘i pediatrician who has cared for Wolshin.
Dr. Morita, a specialist in neurological surgery at Queen’s Medical Center, used an “intraoperative image-guided surgery system” to remove 80 percent of the tumor last year.
The surgery that will be done will require Wolshin to be awake during it, Wichman said.
She said it was her understanding “that there is a high risk that the condition could paralyze her (Wolshin), or kill her if she is not awake.”
“They (treating physicians) are going to ask her questions constantly while she is awake,” Wichman said.
Wichman said Wolshin recognizes the “grave state of her condition” but feels optimistic about the surgery results.
Wichman said Wolshin is optimistic about beating the tumor due to her youth and strength. Wichman said Wolshin is determined to survive, and quoted her as saying “I want to live my life.”
Wolshin said her condition has been a defining point in her life. While it has buffeted her, it has not taken away her will to live, Wolshin wrote in a personal statement that was released.
“The experience has made me a more positive thinker, brought me closer to God, and allowed me to make new friends,” she wrote.
She said her faith in God has only strengthened since she first became aware of her condition.
“Before I discovered my condition, God wasn’t really a part of life,” she wrote. “Now that I have God in my life, I live my life according to his word. I have more faith now than ever that I will heal.”
Wolshin said she was impressed by the medical facilities and resources at the Mayo Clinic when she visited it previously.
A fundraiser was held last August to help Wolshin defray her medical costs from her first surgery.
Those wanting to make donations to offset medical and travel costs for her and her family for the second surgery can make deposits in the “Funds for Crystal” account at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
For more information on Wolshin’s surgery, please contact Wichman at 651-7866, Cindy Seeley at 822-1410, Lehua Ornellas at 245-8841, Jennifer Ridelo at 822-2125 or Dorothy Nakazawa at 651-1428.
