Sailing Around the World for Tyler

Hi everyone, June 15, 2013. Worst day of my life. June 15, 2013. Everything changed. ... Fast forward to this day, June 15, 2018. Your little brother then was 4 Tyler, turning 5 the very next day. He’s going to be turning 10 tomorrow. I know in my heart and soul you will be with him on his birthday and cheering him on from Heaven. Cause that’s exactly who you were. Brayden’s biggest cheerleader. Double digits for Brayden. A milestone which was never meant to be for you. I can not imagine how Brayden feels now trying to be the best he can be yet this dark cloud always hanging around. We try to stay as positive as we can - believe me it’s exhausting and we try our best. And extremely confusing!!! The world will never give you a break tho Brayden. Unfortunately that’s just how it goes. We seem to have lost the compassion for siblings that have lost their best friends. It’s so apparent to me that going forward this is another new normal we must face as parents. I thank my lucky stars for friends that we have made along this grief journey. Some of these friends have no clue tho we had another child. The mask must be so good by now. For those that dig past the waves at the rink or ball diamonds know now we have another shining light in our lives and he now lives forever in our heart. Thank you Tyler for sending us those earth angels. We miss you Tyler. God only knows why you had to be taken before you had a real chance to grow and experience childhood. Mama

Today is your 11th Birthday Tyler This picture of you was taken when we were at Wascana Park and your expression says it all to me. Cute and so full of mischief to me I’m finding this Birthday hard my son Soon you will be gone longer than when you were alive and well that the expression gone too soon glares back at me when I look in the mirror. And it hurts more than words can say. ... You were my Christmas gift in 2006. This year - man Tyler what would you have you asked for? Would you have been like mom, I don’t need much? Or would we be investing more into your sports? The thing is I will never know and it eats at me every day I’m watching Brayden flourish and that is such a gift. I can only imagine that you would have been Brayden’s biggest cheerleader and he would be yours too. We miss you little man. Till we meet again Mama

Hi everyone, I don't post here as often as I used to. Life seems to keep moving forward as much as I want it to stay still. ... 4 years ago today we watched our Tyler take his last breath. 4 years ago today I watched my lil hero fight as hard as he could. They say time heals. Hmmmm not sure about that but time has certainly taught me several things since his death. It doesn't stand still and people keep moving on. Special ones stop the time and sit with you on thee hardest day of the year, and every day there after. As I sit her now looking at this picture I see a beautiful boy at that time who had no idea what was going to happen to him and how quickly his life would be taken. I imagine the young boy that would be at the park today playing catch with his little brother and the laugher I'm sure I would hear for miles. Life to us has dealt a very hard and difficult hand. Dealing with child loss, well it's unfathomable. But we deal, we don't ask for pity but compassion. We keep focusing on Brayden as we truly feel Tyler would want us to keep going on and living the best life as possible. But he was sooo young and was unable to articulate that. He was such a special kid that made you laugh when you wanted to punish him. Always mischievous. Tyler, Mama has always told you she would speak your name and always when she can tell people how bravely you fought cancer. You fought something no kid should ever had to go through. I miss you every single second of the day. I just want you back Love Mama

Hi everyone, I don't post a lot on this page anymore but today is Tyler's 10th birthday so here I go. This picture was when he was maybe 2 years old. I love his smile here and that is what he was best known for. ... I believe the hardest thing about today is just knowing we once had this beautiful boy that made each day so incredibly special and that has been taken away. All we have left is memories and that I am grateful for but I want more time. I'm feeling awfully selfish when I say I just want him back yet he was deal the shitty hand and had to endure the most awful, ugly disease in my eyes. He didn't deserve to suffer. Imagine looking at your child and having to say goodbye and learn to live without them. It's a feeling like no other. Trust me. Love your kids and be present in their lives. Tomorrow will be a new day and another day without my son. Hard yet somehow we get by and smile and take each day as it comes. I'm not sure how else to live my life by just try to live each day for him. He made me a mom and that gift is priceless. Good night and take care. Love you Tyler . Happy Birthday Kelly

Hi everyone, June 15, 2013. Worst day of my life. June 15, 2013. Everything changed. ... Fast forward to this day, June 15, 2018. Your little brother then was 4 Tyler, turning 5 the very next day. He’s going to be turning 10 tomorrow. I know in my heart and soul you will be with him on his birthday and cheering him on from Heaven. Cause that’s exactly who you were. Brayden’s biggest cheerleader. Double digits for Brayden. A milestone which was never meant to be for you. I can not imagine how Brayden feels now trying to be the best he can be yet this dark cloud always hanging around. We try to stay as positive as we can - believe me it’s exhausting and we try our best. And extremely confusing!!! The world will never give you a break tho Brayden. Unfortunately that’s just how it goes. We seem to have lost the compassion for siblings that have lost their best friends. It’s so apparent to me that going forward this is another new normal we must face as parents. I thank my lucky stars for friends that we have made along this grief journey. Some of these friends have no clue tho we had another child. The mask must be so good by now. For those that dig past the waves at the rink or ball diamonds know now we have another shining light in our lives and he now lives forever in our heart. Thank you Tyler for sending us those earth angels. We miss you Tyler. God only knows why you had to be taken before you had a real chance to grow and experience childhood. Mama

Today is your 11th Birthday Tyler This picture of you was taken when we were at Wascana Park and your expression says it all to me. Cute and so full of mischief to me I’m finding this Birthday hard my son Soon you will be gone longer than when you were alive and well that the expression gone too soon glares back at me when I look in the mirror. And it hurts more than words can say. ... You were my Christmas gift in 2006. This year - man Tyler what would you have you asked for? Would you have been like mom, I don’t need much? Or would we be investing more into your sports? The thing is I will never know and it eats at me every day I’m watching Brayden flourish and that is such a gift. I can only imagine that you would have been Brayden’s biggest cheerleader and he would be yours too. We miss you little man. Till we meet again Mama

Hi everyone, I don't post here as often as I used to. Life seems to keep moving forward as much as I want it to stay still. ... 4 years ago today we watched our Tyler take his last breath. 4 years ago today I watched my lil hero fight as hard as he could. They say time heals. Hmmmm not sure about that but time has certainly taught me several things since his death. It doesn't stand still and people keep moving on. Special ones stop the time and sit with you on thee hardest day of the year, and every day there after. As I sit her now looking at this picture I see a beautiful boy at that time who had no idea what was going to happen to him and how quickly his life would be taken. I imagine the young boy that would be at the park today playing catch with his little brother and the laugher I'm sure I would hear for miles. Life to us has dealt a very hard and difficult hand. Dealing with child loss, well it's unfathomable. But we deal, we don't ask for pity but compassion. We keep focusing on Brayden as we truly feel Tyler would want us to keep going on and living the best life as possible. But he was sooo young and was unable to articulate that. He was such a special kid that made you laugh when you wanted to punish him. Always mischievous. Tyler, Mama has always told you she would speak your name and always when she can tell people how bravely you fought cancer. You fought something no kid should ever had to go through. I miss you every single second of the day. I just want you back Love Mama

Hi everyone, I don't post a lot on this page anymore but today is Tyler's 10th birthday so here I go. This picture was when he was maybe 2 years old. I love his smile here and that is what he was best known for. ... I believe the hardest thing about today is just knowing we once had this beautiful boy that made each day so incredibly special and that has been taken away. All we have left is memories and that I am grateful for but I want more time. I'm feeling awfully selfish when I say I just want him back yet he was deal the shitty hand and had to endure the most awful, ugly disease in my eyes. He didn't deserve to suffer. Imagine looking at your child and having to say goodbye and learn to live without them. It's a feeling like no other. Trust me. Love your kids and be present in their lives. Tomorrow will be a new day and another day without my son. Hard yet somehow we get by and smile and take each day as it comes. I'm not sure how else to live my life by just try to live each day for him. He made me a mom and that gift is priceless. Good night and take care. Love you Tyler . Happy Birthday Kelly

Today marks International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Happens to be the same month four years ago Tyler was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumour with 0%, yes 0 %chance of surviving. I don't think James nor I could have EVER predicted this life altering illness that one of our children would be diagnosed with. Now there is always hope we were told by his oncologist. All we had was hope because his tumour, DIPG is the most deadly tumour that children can get becau...se it is mostly inoperable. Can't cut it out, well hope 28 radiation treatments will be enough to zap it to give us time. Time ran out 9 months and 4 days later. Now I'm not about to start a pity party here. I just would like the world to be aware that children get cancer too. It could be your son or daughter. It could be your niece or nephew. My hope that in my life time DIPG will have more treatments and we see children surviving longer than a year with this diagnosis. It is my hope that we all stop and help out when we can when hear of families struggling with sick kids. Life is so damn short and I for one will never forget the love and support Tyler received through his cancer journey. Please just be aware. Kelly