Huron grad 'a walking miracle'

HURON — She's got every right to be mad at the world. For the past year, a brain tumor has robbed Meg Krafty of the joys bestowed upon seniors during their final high school year. Most notably, she couldn't attend Friday night football games. The honors student didn't have a chance to further excel in the classroom. In fact, apart from one day this past school year, she didn't step foot inside Huron High School, opting instead for a virtual learning experience. And, maybe most importantly to any coming-of-age kid, hardly spent any quality time with friends. "The past school year was hard for me," said Krafty, who also stepped down from the track team, where she was a good shot put and discus thrower. "It sucks being a senior and not do the things you thought about doing for so many years." One of those watershed, coming-to-age moments she envisioned for quite some time revolved around graduation. Krafty knew she needed to begin her fifth round of chemotherapy treatments, dating back to 2023, just a few days after graduation. But she mustered up the strength and courage to participate in commencement activities. For those going through these treatments, which zap strength and can strain one's mental health, it's no small task. Big crowds also give Krafty anxiety. Though it's what she wanted more than anything else. When Krafty received her diploma on May 24 at Huron's football stadium, she received the loudest ovation from those in attendance cheering on 95 total graduates. It put a big smile on her face. "You have to stay optimistic. I was so grateful that I had the opportunity to graduate because, just before that, I didn't know if that was even going to be possible," she said. "I was so happy to see all of my friends. And I know, for whatever the circumstances, many people don't have the chance to graduate, but I did. That's what makes me happy." As of today, Krafty — who's continuing her chemotherapy treatments this summer to shrink the brain tumor — recently received some great news. "The blood supply going to the tumor is so small now," her mother, Jill Edwards, said. "That is really good news that many people with this don't get." What happened? Amid this past Labor Day weekend, Krafty — while working for the Jet Express dock on Kelleys Island — awaited an incoming ferry. Her boyfriend and fellow co-worker, Tommy Wilson, was on that ferry. As his ferry approached land, Wilson found Krafty lying unconscious on the dock. She experienced two seizures, prompting a medical helicopter to transport her to Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky. Krafty needed additional specialists for her condition, requiring a stay at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland. At the Cleveland facility, she underwent a series of tests before going home where she suffered a third seizure. In the following weeks, she continued to experience additional seizures. Upon returning to Rainbow, on Sept. 12, Krafty underwent brain surgery. Doctors discovered a tumor, diagnosing her with glioma, a type of brain tumor. "They took approximately 70% of the tumor away during surgery but did not do more as the tumor was right up against her central nervous system," Edwards said. "They did not want to jeopardize Megan's long-term health by possibly hitting her nervous system and causing her to be permanently paralyzed on the left-hand side of her body." Because of her age, good health, early diagnosis — and, maybe most importantly, her positive outlook — doctors, back then and to this day still, believe she's "got a great chance at beating this," Edwards said. "This type of cancer usually affects older men," Edwards said. "Due to the overall median age being so high, the life expectancy is usually 18 to 24 months. Megan's outlook, however, is much more positive than that." Krafty agreed to donate part of her tumor for medical research. "There are hundreds of different types of glioma," Edwards said. "The more research that is done, the better chances doctors have of finding cures faster." The decision came as an easy one for Krafty. "I just want to help where I can," Krafty said. Community comes together In late September, when Krafy left Rainbow and headed home to Huron, the community celebrated her in earnest. They threw her a hero's welcome. Local dignitaries, police officers, educators, friends and family members threw a parade in her honor. Lining Jim Campbell Boulevard, members of Huron High School's football team, marching band, volleyball players and others greeted Krafty while a passenger in her brother Nicholas' Corvette. This served as a homecoming since Krafty missed out on enjoying her own dance and related festivities. And, since she missed homecoming, this past fall, the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospitals — where Krafty also received medical treatment — put on a homecoming dance for her and all of the other patients. All of these tributes moved Krafty. "I'm beyond thankful for the amount of support I have behind me," Krafty wrote on her Instagram page to her followers back in the fall. "I want everyone to remember to take (it) one day at a time because your whole life could be flipped upside down in 2 seconds." Other fundraisers, such as a T-shirt drive amid a Huron High School football game and cookies sold by her cousin, Christina Edwards, raised money to help pay for her medical bills. Others checked in on Krafty, calling, texting, sending gifts and showing love to her. "Thank you for all the prayers and gifts. (I) could not have asked for anything more," she wrote on Instagram. People rallied around Krafty in droves not because of her condition but due to the many amazing characteristic traits she's displayed for several years, according to Mike Lemponen, Krafty's track coach and a teacher at Huron Schools. It's why she has so many friends and garnered universal respect from all those coming in contact with her, including teachers, community members, co-workers and adults, he said. Due to these factors, Lemponen came to one of the easiest coaching decisions of his career: He named Krafty as a captain for both her junior and senior seasons despite her not competing this past season. "She is one of the most selfless, caring and optimistic people I have ever met," Lemponen said. "She has a true attitude of servant leadership and has endless support of her teammates. Her smile and positivity is contagious to anyone around her, and I couldn't think of another person who has done a better job of looking adversity square in the face." Affectionately calling her "Captain Krafty," Lemponen said she "is one of my most favorite humans on this planet, and the impact she has had on others' lives couldn't possibly be measured." 'A walking miracle' Unlike most kids, Krafty truly loves to learn. Before her senior year, she was among the smartest in her class, ultimately desiring a career in pharmacy. Krafty got accepted into four colleges, including the University of Toledo and the University of Findlay, both offering prestigious curriculums for pharmacy. Toledo, in fact, wanted her in its honors program for pharmacy. "But I had to turn it down," Krafty said. Edwards explains how licensed drivers in Ohio can't get behind the wheel until they're seizure-free for at least six months. Furthermore, their family, which includes Krafty's dad, Richard Krafty, wants to take extra precautions in ensuring Krafty's well-being. "We just can't leave her alone right now. We don't want to," Edwards said. "She will be going to BGSU Firelands to get her basics out of the way, and then we'll see how everything goes from there." Again, Krafty isn't enraged about what's happening with her life. She instead views what's going on in a positive way. "I try to take pleasure in the simple things," Krafty said. "Walking up and down stairs in a nice, safe house with the people around me that I love is amazing. I still have my sight. I can still walk. My left side, which I thought might be paralyzed, is doing great. I'm happy." Krafty is truly an inspiration, Edwards said. "She amazing, and I'm so grateful for her," Edwards said. "She is always looking on the bright side of things, and that's going to serve her well in her life. By the grace of God, she is still with us, and she will be for a long time." Simply put, Edwards calls her daughter "a walking miracle." It's a term Krafty first became hesitant to accept but now embraces it. "This whole experience has made me realize how mature I am and how independent I am and that I can handle the most difficult situations in the right way and even help people with their situations," Krafty said. "I know there will always be people out there who have it worse than I do, and that's what makes me appreciate what I have that much more now."