Caryn Wilson, 19, ‘never gave up, never gave in’

By Mike Caputo

Caryn Wilson, a dedicated and motivated 19-year-old student in Rider’s College of Continuing Studies, lost a courageous three-year battle with cancer on Aug. 19.

Wilson was diagnosed with cranial spinal cancer at the age of 16. According to her father, Curt Wilson, Caryn was only expected to live four to six months upon initial diagnosis of the disease.

But, against the expectations of the doctors, a weakened and wheelchair-stricken Caryn managed to graduate with her high school class at Lawrence High School (LHS) in 2005.

“There were times we would be sitting in the parking lot in the car with a bucket and she would be throwing up,” said Carmen Wilson, Caryn’s mother. “And then she wanted to go to school. She didn’t want to come home – she just wiped up and went. In my situation, I would have wanted to be taken home. But not Caryn. She wanted to be in school.”

Although Caryn never wanted special treatment, her medical situation made it a necessity, and the LHS students were extremely receptive to her needs, said the Wilsons.

In fact, Caryn was not only liked at her high school; she was adored. In her senior year at LHS, Caryn was voted prom queen. And at graduation, Caryn was given a standing ovation at the Commencement Ceremonies held in Sovereign Bank Arena in June of 2005.

“Some of the doctors even questioned why she continued to go to high school,” said Curt. “Not only did she go to high school, she graduated.”

Caryn envisioned becoming a marine biologist someday, said the Wilsons. Although she was unable to achieve her ultimate dream, the Make-A-Wish Foundation provided her with an opportunity to get a taste of what marine biology was really like. In July of 2004, Caryn swam with dolphins in Hawaii.

At Rider, with the assistance of her parents, Caryn was able to attend college part-time in the mornings. Carmen Wilson claimed Rider was accommodating from the beginning, especially in her first class at the University, Dr. Stephen Allen’s music class.

“The students were all welcoming to her,” said Carmen. “I took the notes for Caryn and helped her with her class work. It was a great experience. She enjoyed his class quite a bit.”

Caryn was so confident and driven that she would make it through college that she had her academic track already mapped out in her mind. Caryn even once mentioned to her mother that she wanted to get a math lesson “out of the way,” said Carmen Wilson.

“She never gave up, she never gave in,” said Curt. “She was very, very focused on what she wanted to do.”

Caryn’s first college experience went so well that she decided to enroll in two classes during the 2006 spring semester, said Carmen Wilson. Unfortunately for Caryn, things began to take a turn for the worst in March of 2006. She began to lose her sight and hearing as a result of a growth in her brain tumors.

But Caryn didn’t give in. A switch in chemotherapy eventually restored her vision and hearing to full capacity. Although the condition forced Caryn to drop her art class, she was able to finish out her sociology course.

Ironically, Caryn’s parents noted that the past summer was their eldest daughter’s best months in years since she was diagnosed. Her tumors had shrunk in half, and she had more strength than she had in awhile.

According to The Times of Trenton, Caryn Wilson is survived by her parents, Curtis Carmen Federici Wilson; her sister, Carissa Wilson, all of Lawrenceville; her maternal grandparents Joseph (Peepa) and Carmen (Meema) Federici of Bridgewater; her uncle Eric, aunt Dawn and cousins Tim and Alicia Wilson all of Heartland, WI; her aunt and godmother Pam Wilson of Pacifica, CA; her aunt Arlene Varchi of Hillsborough; her cousins Mimi Varchi of Bear, DE and Demi and Scott Little of Belle Mead; and her 102-year-old great-great-aunt Albertina Frank of Bridgewater. Caryn was predeceased by her paternal grandmother Patricia Wilson and her uncle and godfather Joseph Victor Federici.

Contributions in Caryn’s name can be sent to Faith Development Center, Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; the Make a Wish Foundation of New Jersey, 1034 Salem Road, Union, NJ 07083; or to The Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

See a tribute to Caryn Wilson compiled by her family.

See a video clip of the standing ovation Caryn received at her high school
graduation.