A Dollar for Tyler the Ty-Fighter

Image courtesy of David Robbins, gofundme organizer and Tyler’s father

Tyler Robbins urgently needs your help.

He is a 16-year-old young man with acute myeloid leukemia. While Tyler has responded extremely well to chemotherapy, it is important to note this is a cancer that can quickly spread. “AML is hard to treat because it’s an aggressive, quick-growing cancer. It requires intensive chemotherapy, which can doubly expose the body to infections…” 1 AML can go into remission with chemotherapy, but it has to potential to relapse and be fatal. We have our faith in God. We pray for the best outcome, but we also need to have this information about the risks Tyler faces to inform our prayers. We need to understand this because Tyler has had his challenges in recovery. The Linkedin community has stood with him and his family with our thoughts and prayers.

The fact that Tyler is young makes the possibility of a positive outcome much better.

It’s a stressful time for Tyler, his father, David, his wife and the entire family. Please continue to uphold and help them in any way you feel led.

I share some thoughts about how not to feel helpless because of the size of the need to help this family with rising medical expenses. I initially addressed it to members of the Linkedin community, but is applies to you too. You can share this fundraiser with your family, friends, colleagues, and on social media.

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. We can do that with small donations. If 35, 027 people donated $1 the $50,000 goal would be reached. Within the last few days alone about $1,000 more has been raised. What do you think about that David R. and Linkedin members? If you share this fundraiser with your professional network, family, friends, colleagues and on social media ,you can tell them $! is easy to manage on a tight budget. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. -Helen Keller That’s how you eat an elephant even if it weighs a couple of tons. Here is the link to the fundraiser. ” https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-tylers-fight-against-leukemia

“It is not the shilling I give you that counts, but the warmth that it carries with it from my hand.”—Miguel De Unamuno Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright, philosopher, professor of Greek and Classics, and later rector at the University of Salamanca.

Here is an excerpt from David’s update to the Linkedin community two days ago.

“…, Tyler entered the hospital with 40% leukemia cells. After his first chemotherapy treatment, the leukemic cells reduced to 10%, and the mass in his head was eradicated. Today, we learned that Tyler’s leukemia figure is now at 0.03%, signaling the success of the second chemotherapy treatment. This progress is so promising that the Oncology team plans to repeat the regimen for the third chemotherapy treatment in two weeks. We are elated by these results.

I beseech you to remain vigilant to this cause. Your prayers and well-wishes are being heard, and I believe they play a vital role in Tyler’s journey. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Next, we earnestly seek your support in establishing a connection with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. I implore you to repost this update. Your network differs from mine, and you never know when you might connect with someone who can aid us. While we have achieved success with your help thus far, we need to identify more potential donors.

Finally, I wish to express my profound gratitude for the gifts and support of the GoFundMe site. I stand in awe of the outpouring of support—prayers, positive thoughts, research assistance, books, cards, gift cards, and contributions to GoFundMe. The LinkedIn community is simply amazing.

With sincere thanks,

A Devoted Father”

The additional challenge is that the birth mother has been resistant in getting her and the siblings tested for a possible bone marrow match. I am not criticizing her or the siblings. You need to know what is happening as this story evolves. Pray that God will change their hearts. David is appealing to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin for them to be tested for a possible bone marrow match. Tyler was born into this particular group. Perhaps, Tyler’s struggle will bring these families together.

While Tyler is improving, he needs a bone marrow donor. Chemotherapy is giving Tyler and the doctors more time to get this brave young man well.

The escalating medical bills have been overwhelming. There are many people like Tyler who need a bone marrow donor. You can help these people by giving them that gift.

Here is the link for Health Resource Services & Services Administration in the United States, if you are interested in finding out how to be a donor.
https://bloodstemcell.hrsa.gov/

Let us pray for Tyler, his father, David, his wife, family, the birth mother and the siblings, that God would bring them comfort, peace and His sustaining strength. Please stand with them and everyone in situations like Tyler’s. We pray for God to continue the work He has been doing in using the doctors, specialists and nurses, who are helping Tyler. They need our prayers too.

I appeal to bloggers to share this story with your followers.

I pray for media outlets, reporters, community and national newspapers, and podcasters, to tell your audience about this courageous teenager. Think of how you could impact Tyler’s life, that of the families involved, and all with medical challenges.

God is there. The compassion of the Linkedin community is there. It is such a beautiful thing to see my fellow Linkedin members offer their support to David’s family.

It is not what you give that counts, but the spirit in which you give that does.

Open your hearts to this plucky young man and everyone who needs a donor.

Think of the lives God can use you to save, and the smiles you would give them and their families.

God be with you.

Dr. Kevin Osborne is the Vice-President for Student Affairs for St. James the Elder University. He is a doctor of theology candidate through SJTEU. He is s therapist, writer, poet, and singer. He helps people in their inner healing journey. Dr. Osborne lives in Timmins, northern Ontario, Canada, with his wife, Karen. She is the Registrar for SJTEU. Karen has a B.A. in Clinical Christian Counseling from St. James the Elder University. Karen is a writer, editor, and missionary of the heart.