Tyler was a charismatic young man with a quick wit and an easygoing attitude. If you didn't know him personally, he was probably a lot like any twelve or thirteen year old fun-loving kid you might know!
Tyler was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on June 6, 2006. He had surgery to remove the tumor at Children's Hospital in Seattle. In July of 2006 he and his mom Connie traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for treatment at St. Jude. They spent almost seven months in the good hands of the staff there while his dad Steve and his sister Jessica held down the fort in Olympia. Between treatments Tyler and Connie stayed with nearby family members Kathy and Lee where they acquired a southern drawl and a penchant for fried foods! In March of 2007 Tyler returned for a follow-up and learned that the cancer had spread.
Tyler ultimately lost his battle with cancer on May 6, 2007. Tyler's Entourage runners hit the streets of Spokane for Bloomsday on that same date to raise even more awareness for Tyler and St. Jude!
At KMPS we were lucky enough to get know Tyler and his family during our 2007 KMPS St. Jude Radiothon. Below are some pictures and audio of Tyler and his family from our radiothon, as well as more information about the wonderful work that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is doing to find a cure for childhood cancer.
