‘The best it could have been:’
Warren sophomore Boothby tackles challenges with a smile
Photos provided Sophie Boothby jumps during a recent dance competition.
Sophie Boothby arrives at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the early morning hours of March 11.
The Warren High School cheerleading squad supports Sophie Boothby during the “Smiles for Sophie” campaign.
Sophie Boothby cheers on the Warren Warriors after her brain surgery from her hospital bed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Photos provided Sophie Boothby jumps during a recent dance competition.
Sophie Boothby arrives at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the early morning hours of March 11.
The Warren High School cheerleading squad supports Sophie Boothby during the “Smiles for Sophie” campaign.
Sophie Boothby cheers on the Warren Warriors after her brain surgery from her hospital bed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
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VINCENT -- Warren High School sophomore Sophie Boothby is facing cancer treatment for a rare brain tumor with a smile.
Before March 10, Boothby had a full and active life.
She was a member of the Marietta Dance Academy, a member of the cheerleading squad, and a member of the A Cappella Choir, Treble Choir and Handbell Choir.
Her mom Christy said her daughter had a full day prior to being hospitalized.
"She got up, worked an eight hour shift at Glenwood Retirement Community. She went to a two-and-a-half hour dance practice, got ice cream with her friends after, then did homework and watched the Oscars with us," she said.
After the Oscars, Boothby told her mom the room was spinning, she couldn't see out of her left eye and was losing vision in her right.
"We took her to the ER," mom Christy said. "They did a CT scan and found a brain tumor. She was life-flighted to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus," she said.
The tumor in Boothby's brain is a rare type called an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Yet, she knew Nationwide was where she was supposed to be.
"Whenever this whole thing happened, if I was negative about it, it would make it worse. I was in the best place I could be for them to help me," she said.
Boothby said her case has turned out better than her doctors initially predicted.
"They thought they would get 60% of the tumor from my surgery but they got 95%. They thought they would have to do three surgeries, but they did one. They thought it would take 12-16 hours to do, but it took six. It was the best it could have been," she said.
Boothby has also noticed her vision has significantly improved.
"When I was admitted into Children's, they asked me to read a chart on the wall and I couldn't see it at all. Now it's 20/25," she said.
Boothby will undergo radiation treatment five days a week at the James Cancer Center for six weeks starting May 13. Boothby said she was nervous.
"I'm nervous about it because I've always hated being sick. But I am ready to go in and get it done," she said.
Back home, multiple communities rallied behind Boothby and her family. Classmate Abby Hoyt designed a shirt named "Smiles for Sophie" and sold them to community members. The drive raised over $4,000, which was donated to Nationwide.
She also served as Junior Grand Marshal for the Washington County Relay for Life scheduled Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre.
"It was overwhelming to know so many people care," Boothby said.
Despite the life changing diagnosis, Sophie is still maintaining parts of a normal life, like going to school.
"I do my schoolwork online from home now," she said. "My teachers trust me to get my school work done."
Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com