Byrne resolves to return to U.D.

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Tuesday, January 2, 2007 (3 years, 2 months ago)
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Krystal Byrne has her sights set on returning to the University of Dayton in the fall to continue her education.OTTOVILLE— Krystal Byrne, 21, was a freshman at the University of Dayton when Biphenotypic Leukemia put her studies on hold in 2005. After a successful blood transplant later that year, her cancer is a thing of the past.

Her New Year’s resolution is to return to the university but to do so, she must overcome obstacles created by the radiation treatment she underwent.

Chemotherapy wiped out Byrne’s digestive and immune systems. She also faces heart- and kidney-related issues.

“My immune system’s stronger; I actually have one now but it’s weak. I can’t eat any meat yet and I’m restricted to 2,000 milligrams of salt per day and 26 ounces of fluid because my heart’s not pumping as strong as it should. Too much fluid would flood my lungs,” she said.

Byrne says her heart cannot yet handle a normal flow of bodily fluids and kidney failure ended an attempt to resume college studies last August after just two weeks on the Dayton campus.

She goes to an area hospital three times per week for dialysis to have waste products removed from her blood. This replaces the functions her kidneys cannot presently perform. Dialysis can take place at home with the aid of a tube placed in the stomach, which Byrne has. However, it does not function properly and doctors will perform surgery this month to address the issue.

“Down the road, she hopes to get a kidney transplant,” said her mother, Jayne Byrne.

For now, Byrne spends much of her time at home cooking and doing arts and crafts. She has created a cookbook, dabbles with origami, crochets and spends time with the family’s newest member.

Rick Byrne confesses to having “always said there would never be a dog in the house.” However, when his daughter got sick, he promised her a puppy when she got well enough to take care of it. Though her parents do most of the caring for “Sammy,” the 4-month old Bichon-mix gives Byrne a lot of company.

The “rest of the story” behind the new addition is that when Rick promised Krystal a puppy, she drew up a contract and had her father sign it. She took it with her to every hospital she was admitted to from Columbus to Cleveland. Nurses laminated it to prevent the document from being “doctored” by their patient’s father, should he have ever chosen to alter it.

“Sammy” is not the only family member who keeps Byrne’s spirit up.

“I would have lost my mind by now if not for my family. When I have bad days, my brother Josh makes me smile. He lightens my mood whenever I think I won’t see the light again. He’ll just come in my room and say silly things to take my mind off of being sick,” she said.

Byrne and her brother have become much closer through the ordeal and she has also spent a lot of time bonding with her father, who used all his vacation days in order to take his beloved daughter to the hospital.

Co-workers at Eaton Corporation in Van Wert have donated their vacation days in support of a family which cites community support as a key undergirding along their journey thus far.

“Everybody has kept tabs on her. She still gets cards and notes,” Rick said.

“We appreciate it very much,” Jayne added.

Giving to others has also helped the family stay upbeat.

The only thing Byrne wanted for Christmas was stuffed animals and blankets. However, they were never intended to be for her.

Byrne and her best friend from college, Mollie Schrank, recently dressed up as elves and took the gifts to sick children at St. Rita’s Medical Center.

As for the more recent holiday, what she wants for 2007 is to be able to go back to college.

“Right now, Krystal’s goal is to get to August and return to the University of Dayton. It’s all she talks about,” said her father.

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