Looking at student Sophia Basil, anyone might assume she is a typical 2025 graduate.
Watching her in the halls and classrooms at Columbus Bishop Ready High School, someone might see a beautiful young lady quietly working on an English essay, or maybe a witty teenager smiling with her friends as they head off to lunch.
Such activities are normal and part of a student’s everyday life. For Basil, such events are a blessing that she does not take for granted.
Many might not expect that Basil endured much emotionally, physically and academically. For a time, her family was concerned that she might not complete high school or plan for a career. Nonetheless, Basil beat the odds and rose to the occasion, showing what is possible with hard work and faith in God.
Basil started having seizures in third grade. As years passed, the seizures intensified and drew closer in frequency, which affected her mentally, physically and academically.
When Basil was ready to transition to high school, there were concerns of what day-to-day life might look like and how she would navigate high school with medical needs. Basil needed an individual by her side at all times to assist in case of an emergency.
After what could be considered a rollercoaster of doctor appointments, second opinions and medical testing, Basil was a candidate for brain surgery that could potentially alter her quality of life.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, surgery was delayed multiple times. At the conclusion of her sophomore year, Basil had her much anticipated surgery.
“We all knew that brain surgery was going to come with a lot of risk, but it also gave us hope that it would change my life for the better,” she said.
“Everyone at Ready was so supportive and caring throughout the entire process. The day before my surgery, the staff gave me a basket filled with a few of my favorite things, and hats, since I had to shave my head. It was really sweet and very encouraging knowing I had so much support.”
A long-term effect of surgery was loss of peripheral and lower vision. It was a risk Basil was willing to take to gain independence and prevent frequent seizures. After considerable hard work, she returned to school, enjoying day-to-day life as a Silver Knight.
“Sophia has come so far,” school guidance counselor Jennifer Gramlich said. “With the support of her parents, she advocated for herself medically and academically. She’s been thrown a lot of challenges and each one she has overcome with a smile on her face. I’m so incredibly proud of her and can’t wait to see her continue to achieve her goals.”
Next school year, Basil plans to attend Columbus State Community College and study to become a patient care assistant (PCA). Her goal is to work at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, having been a patient there.
“A lot of times, when you ask someone how they are or how they are feeling, they will tell you ‘fine’ even though you know deep down they are feeling something different. I want to be able to have my patients know I can relate, and it’s OK to say how they really feel,” she said.
During the past four years, Basil spent time with Bishop Ready school nurse Jessica Pfeiffer.
“I can absolutely see Sophia as a PCA at Children’s one day,” Pfeiffer said. “She’s compassionate and will do wonderful(ly). As a mom, if I had the ability to pick a PCA for my child in that situation, it would be Sophia.”