About Sophie…

Sophie is a 17 year old senior at Althoff Catholic High School and a 2023 graduate of Queen of Peace grade school. She is the daughter of Tom and Jessica Ysursa, the younger sister to Drew & Dylan, and twin sister to Ben. Sophie was an active and healthy 13 year old who participated in volleyball, cheerleading, soccer, and swim team. What we thought was a sore left shoulder from sports overuse, turned out to be a tumor. Two weeks before the start of her 8th grade year on August 5th 2022, Sophie was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. Sophie endured 9 months of chemotherapy along with a limb salvage surgery to save her left arm. Sophie missed most of her 8th grade year spending nearly 25 days of the month in the hospital. She finished treatment and rang the bell in April of 2023. But just 5 months later Sophie relapsed with a spot in her lung and needed immediate surgery to remove it. Sophie took oral chemo for 2 years and stayed cancer free but relapsed again in November 2025, causing her to miss the rest of her junior year of high school. Sophie was able to start senior year in person and attends school as often as she can. Four years of fighting cancer while a teenager is unfair, but Sophie chooses to live life fully and will not be defined by her diagnosis. Sophie is the president of Althoff’s NHS, she is active in Model UN, Women in STEM, BASIC and Student Council. She is the boys’ varsity soccer team manager, she is a Sister Lenora Luechtefeld service award winner, she is a 2-time recipient of the Cardinal Glennon Guild Junior Board Young Philanthropist of the Year Award and most recently became Althoff’s Homecoming Queen. We love Sophie so much and appreciate everyone’s prayers and support during her cancer battle.