‘A tough climb’ Survivor of life threatening illness among the Burchell graduates who overcame tremendous odds (copy)

WASILLA — Burchell High School and Twindly Bridge Charter were parts of the last wave of Valley seniors to graduate this year, with each school celebrating on Friday.

“No doubt life will have its challenges but each of you, (in) the class of 2019, are resilient,” Burchell principal Jason Marvel said.

Burchell student speaker Clara Wilson said that she came to Burchell last year not believing that she would be able to graduate. Wilson said that she came in as a senior with 10 credits.

“…Everyone walking today is here because of the hope and academic tenacity they have displayed to get to this point in their lives,” Wilson said.

Wilson thanked the Burchell staff for helping her learn to believe in herself, giving her regular does of hope.

“I took charge of my academics by not giving up even when I had a mountain to climb to get to this point. It was a tough climb but here I am along with my fellow Burchell graduates who have faced many challenges to get here as well,” Wilson said.

Each graduate had numerous ups and down, trials and tribulations to get to this point. Burchell graduate Kevin Kostelyk certainly had his fair share. He walked down the aisle and received his diploma, two years after he nearly lost his life.

“It feels pretty good. Finally done. I can move on with my life,” Kostelyk said.

Kostelyk said that he got a case of mono that turned into a rare infection that spread all over his body, shutting down his organs. He said that he was medevacked to Seattle, Washington, and put into a medical coma.

“I had all kinds of tubes. I was hooked up to like eight different IV machines,” Kostelyk said.

Kostelyk said that before they departed, his parents were told to say their goodbyes just in case.

“They didn’t think I was going to make it to Seattle,” he said.

Kostelyk said the infection eventually reached his brain and he had a series of strokes, about 17 in the matter of two weeks. He said after he had a stroke, his left eye stopped working and had to wear an eye patch for about half a year before regaining function.

“As soon as I got to Seattle (my mom told me), several of the best doctors in Seattle were working on me immediately trying to figure out what was going on. What they found out, it was this really rare disease that Mat-Su didn’t even know about,” he said.

Only about 10 percent of Kostelyk’s body was working while machines kept him alive. They flushed antibiotics through him and he was in the hospital for over a month. He was highly medicated and weakened and recalled this time through a haze. He said that he was delirious and in constant fear and dread.

“When I was out, I would wake up scared, just not knowing where I was because everything I saw was double vision. I wasn’t able to know what was going on. I didn’t know I was sick. I didn’t know I was dying,” he said.

He said that he still gets sad thinking about it even though he’s told this story hundreds of times by now. He said that he remembers the first time he woke up. He was restrained to the bed because he was trying to pull out his tubes while he was unconscious.

“I almost killed myself because I had been pulling it out and it was choking me and I didn’t even realize it. So one of the nurses had to get a knife and pop the balloon that was in my lungs. She had saved my life,” Kostelyk said.

Kostelyk doesn’t remember much, but he does remember being scared the whole time. He said that he remembers getting sad because his mom was crying and he didn’t even know what was going on.

“I was not even myself… I guess I thought someone was trying to kidnap me in the hospital,” Kostelyk said.

Kostelyk said that he tried to escape during his delirium and had to be restrained by several doctors so he didn’t die from yanking his tubes out. He said that he doesn’t remember doing it. He has some recollections washing around his brain, fragments of memories.

“It’s like a bad dream now when I remember stuff,” Kostelyk said.

The experiences rattled Kostelyk inside and out. He said that his body is still recuperating but does feel a lot better. He gained back the 40 pounds he lost. He said that he still sees double at certain angles but has his whole vision back. He said that he gets winded easier now and that frustrates him because he liked to work out before all of this. He said that slowly but surely, he’s gaining his strength back.

“For the most part, I’ve been better. It was a scary time though,” Kostelyk said.

He survived this close call but lost a year of school in the process. He was supposed to graduate last year but due to his ailment and eventual recovery. He still has to get checkups on a regular basis.

“I’m blessed. I’m just glad that I’m still here and was able to go school with my fellow classmates and finish and be able to walk with them,” Kostelyk said.

He said that his doctor told him going back to school would be too much stress for his brain and he needed to recuperate for a year. During that time, he got a warehouse job in Anchorage. He said that while he was in the hospital, the school sent him a big poster signed with many names along with numerous letters and flowers.

Kostelyk hit the books when he was finally able to get back to school. He busily worked to catch back up and pulled through in the end.

“I came back this year and I finished it all,” Kostelyk said.

Kostelyk plans to attend AVTEC, and Alaskan vocational school and study to become an engineer. He said that he likes working with his hands and will probably work on the slope when he’s done with AVTEC.

He said one of the biggest takeaways from this whole near death experience is the value of time. He said that he doesn’t want to waste any from here on out.

“You never know when stuff is gonna’ happen… But now that I’m better I want to get out there and actually live my life. It was almost taken away from me but I got it back,” Kostelyk said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com