Meet Tyler
Tyler’s medical journey has been marked by extraordinary courage from the very beginning. By the time he was just six months old, he had already endured three open-heart surgeries, each one a testament to his fighting spirit and the incredible care surrounding him. For years, Tyler continued to battle the complications of his congenital heart condition, facing challenges that most could never imagine.
In September 2022, at just 14 years old, Tyler was listed for a heart transplant—a daunting milestone, yet one he approached with the same quiet determination he had carried since infancy. After a long stretch of waiting and hoping, Tyler received the gift of a new heart on December 12, 2024, a day his family will remember forever.
Following the transplant, Tyler faced another unexpected hurdle. His donor heart was Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) positive, which led to a reactivation of the virus and the development of PTLD/Lymphoma within his lungs, a serious and frightening complication. But once again, Tyler showed just how strong he is. He underwent two rounds of chemotherapy and immunoglobulin treatments, rallying through each step with remarkable grit.
Recently, Tyler’s PET scan showed his lungs are clear, with just a small area that will be monitored with future imaging. As of today, he has completed treatment and will continue to be closely followed as he moves forward in his healing journey.
Through every surgery, every setback, and every victory, Tyler has proven himself to be one incredibly resilient young man. His story is one of perseverance, hope, and the power of the human spirit—and it continues to inspire everyone who has the privilege of walking beside him.