Remembering Krysty.

***Krysty Bujakowska – Iowa Women’s Basketball’s Kid Captain – 2023-2024.***

Krysty Bujakowska, our 13-year-old sweet-heart from Coralville, passed away on November 21, 2024, after a brave, three-year-long battle vs. aggressive bone cancer. This page is a tribute to Krysty and her unstoppable, undeniable, and unending joy. Your courageous journey, Krysty, here on earth has ended, but your beautiful life and spirit lives on in all of us.

Before her cancer diagnosis, Krysty was healthy, enjoying gymnastics, bicycling, jumping on the trampoline, competing on a swim team, and playing grueling day-long chess tournaments, where she ranked among the top 100 girls under-13 in the United States.

When Krysty (age 10) began having leg pain in 2021, she pointed out a bump above her knee to her parents, Michal & Kate Bujakowska. Thinking it might be a sports-related injury, they took Krysty, first to her pediatrician, who then suggested an appointment with University of Iowa Sports Medicine. Sadly, when the tests came back (September 2021), the X-ray revealed osteosarcoma, a serious bone cancer in Krysty’s leg.

Even after her cancer diagnosis, seventh-grader, Krysty, found joy in theater, including the starring role as Jack in “Jack and the Giant Beanstalk” (see pic below) with the Young Footliters Youth Theatre in Coralville.

“You don’t expect to hear anything like that,” Michal says. So, the Bujakowska’s followed up with an MRI at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where Krysty began treatment, along with surgery in January 2022 to remove her femur and knee, replacing it with a titanium rod that could elongate as she grew.

Over that first year (2021-2022), Krysty was hospitalized for 100 days, along with another 100 days as an outpatient. Sadly, after she finished treatment in the summer of 2022, doctors found that the cancer had spread to her lungs and she underwent the first of four lung surgeries, with the final one occurring in July 2023.

It’s at that point, a bit of good news finally came Krysty’s way…

Krysty’s parents, Michal and Kate, say the news of being selected as the Kid Captain for October’s Crossover at Kinnick (2023) lifted Krysty’s spirits. “She’s very excited,” Kate says. “After all of this bad news, she got something really positive to stay with her forever and keep us going.” The honor is fitting, says her oncologist, David Dickens, MD, FAAP. “Despite all this, Krysty remains a positive and kind child who spreads joy wherever she goes,” Dickens says.

“We watched so many times from the hospital window,” Kate says, recalling fans waving during football games to young hospital patients. “She’s very excited to be on the other side and wave to all the kids.”

Krysty even made some good friends with the DePaul team from Chicago.

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark and University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Kid Captain Krysty Bujakowska before the Crossover at Kinnick game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com

Read more about Caitlin Clark and her Iowa experience.
October 15, 2023 – Setting Hawkeye Herstory!
The Caitlin Clark Effect.
Caitlin Clark From The Logo In Coralville.
The Bollers & The 2023-2024 Women’s Basketball Season.
2/2/25 – Caitlin Clark – Forever 22.

Since her debut appearance as Kid Captain in the October 15, 2023 Crossover at Kinnick, plus her role as the honorary Kid Captain for the Iowa Women’s Basketball Team throughout the exciting 2023-24 BB season, Krysty and her story has become one that more and more Hawkeye fans have become familiar with.

Over the last year, RayGun Shirts even produced a Hawkeye T-shirt to not only honor Krysty, but it also has helped in raising funds for the large medical costs associated with her cancer treatments.

On a personal note, it’s been our honor to get to know both Krysty and her amazing mom, Kate – who serves on the staff of the Coralville Community Food Pantry (CCFP). Our son, John Boller (below right), is the executive director of CCFP, and we’ve all been actively involved in supporting the entire Bujakowska family during this tough season.

Read more about CCFP and the Iowa WBB Connection:
Caitlin Clark From The Logo In Coralville.
2/2/25 – Caitlin Clark – Forever 22.
Remembering Krysty.
April 2025 – Hawkeye Women’s Basketball Returns To Coralville.

As the 2024-2025 basketball season kicked off, Krysty was there to help us all celebrate this new era in Iowa Women’s Basketball. Coach Jan Jensen – in her head coaching debut in Carver Hawkeye Arena – invited Krysty to be front-n-center with the team on October 30, 2024 – as the Hawkeyes played an exhibition game against Missouri Western.

The Iowa Hawkeyes take a photo with Krysty Bujakowska following an exhibition game against Missouri Western Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com

A special evening for all Hawkeye fans, indeed. And, on November 20, 2024, with Krysty and her family confined to a hospital room in Houston, Texas – with Krysty undergoing more experimental treatments – the Hawkeyes defeated Kansas in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 71-58. After the game, when interviewed by the Big Ten Network, Coach Jan closed with a special message – “Krysty, this win was for YOU!”

Sadly, our dear friend – Krysty Bujakowska – passed into eternity the next day – November 21, 2024. Gone, but never forgotten!

In honoring Krysty’s birthday – March 2nd – Krysty’s family asks you to donate blood during the week of her birthday! Blood is absolutely critical for all cancer patients – especially kids! Do it today!

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