Student overcame odds to find success in short life

Tyler Larson

This week we said goodbye to special person when we buried 19-year-old Tyler Larson, of Aurora. He was my sister, Judy's, grandson. Tyler was not well known outside the Aurora community, but in McCook he was recognized as the equipment manager for the first Aurora Championship football team, and Aurora's biggest fan.

In his 19 short years among us, Tyler touched a lot of lives. He was born with a rare disease, neurofibromatosis -- marked by dark spots on the skin and tumors under the skin, along the nerve fibers, in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. The disease left him with a learning disability and physical problems. Nothing came easy for Tyler, but for a long time these tumors were small and benign. School was difficult, but, with the help of his family and understanding teachers -- and an unbelievable outpouring of support from school friends, he functioned quite normally.

Tyler was blessed with a loving family. His folks, Mike and Nancy, took pains to make theirs a normal environment for Tyler and his younger brother, Riley. Tyler's grandmother, Judy made sure that Tyler took his share of Elderhostel and other trips with her. Tyler was not that interested in the concerts, and Broadway productions, which are Judy's passion, but the two of them also attended ball games, including New York Yankee games, and rafting trips. On one Elderhostel trip, Tyler and his grandmother even rappelled down the face of a mountain -- much to the delight of Tyler, and to the surprise of Judy's family (and I think Judy as well).

Tyler's motor skills were not good enough so that he could excel on the softball field, but he competed there. He was a Boy Scout, and he was active in Sunday School and youth activities in his church. He never complained and gave his best at all times.

For a number of years, Tyler worked as a carryout boy at a local grocery store. He was friendly and helpful, though he didn't talk a lot. But over the years he made a great number of friends, of all ages, who encouraged him in his endeavors. When summer came, Tyler joined a detassling team for a local seed corn company. He hated that work. He said that it was hot and steamy in the fields, and the cornstalks slapped his face, but he had told his boss that he would work, and he couldn't let him down. So he worked.

Tyler's folks, Mike and Nancy, live in the country, so it was a chore for Nancy to drive Tyler to town and back for work and school activities. Some said that Tyler would never get his driver's license. He vowed that he would. He did, and loved being able to relieve his mother of some of that chauffeuring -- for him and his little brother.

When Tyler entered high school, his dad said that Tyler could have gone either way -- a good kid, or a rebellious dropout. He credits Aurora's Coach Hubert with being the force that set Tyler on a positive path. Tyler, though of good size, was never going to help the team athletically, yet the coach must have seen something that told him that the boy could help the team, and at the same time help himself. He invited Tyler to become the team's equipment manager. That was a job Tyler could do -- and do well.

Tyler accepted the responsibility for the football team's equipment like he was guarding the gold at Fort Knox. He was always on time, and worked quietly and efficiently, seeing that everything was in place, at the time it was needed. He seemed to have a great sense of order, and over time was able to remind the coach of certain details that he might have overlooked. He became an integral part of the Aurora team.

When time came for the Junior Prom, Tyler was resigned to stay home. He didn't have much to do with girls, so had no date -- no one would go with him, he thought. But his cousin, Adriana, a popular athlete, singer/dancer AHS Senior, would not accept that notion. She and her girl friend insisted that Tyler would go to that prom, as their escort. They went, and had a wonderful time. Many girls, as well as boys, welcomed Tyler, and made him feel that he was a part of that scene.

Tyler's senior football season was surely the highlight of his life. For some years he and our son, Matt had bet on the Aurora/McCook game. For a long time Matt and McCook came out on top. Tyler always paid up (though Matt and Grandma, Judy saw to it that there were Sehnert Bakery rolls for the Aurora team.) But in 2008 Aurora finally prevailed, beating McCook, in McCook, en route to the state championship. Tyler was ecstatic, but curtailed his enthusiasm around Matt, not wanting to hurt his feelings -- telling him what a great team McCook had and wishing him luck in the future.

The Aurora team embraced Tyler as one of their own. When the seniors on the team were interviewed on television they made sure that Tyler was interviewed too. He was included in all the team pictures and received a game ball, with all the team signatures. Later, Tyler was elected by the student body to be Prom King, and presided at the dance with appropriate dignity and good grace (and a great deal of pride).

In the spring of 2009 Tyler had the first of his cancer operations. The tumor had wrapped itself around his sciatic nerve, and the only way to remove the cancer was to remove the sciatic nerve, which left him with a "drop foot," and forced him to wear a heavy brace. He moved a little slower, but he didn't quit.

After graduation, Tyler expressed his wish to enroll at Hastings Community College. The response he got from various sources was quite negative, suggesting that he should consider something less challenging. Instead of discouraging Tyler, it set his resolve. As he confided to his Dad, "I'm going to prove that I can make my way at the college!" And he did. School was difficult, but he worked hard, and the courses he was able to complete that first (and last) semester qualified him for a spot of the Dean's List.

Not only did he enroll in college, but on the strength of Coach Hubert's recommendation, Tyler was offered a spot on the Hastings College Football Team, as their Equipment Manager, a job he filled with efficiency and good grace.

Toward the end of his first semester, 2009, Tyler's cancer reappeared, this time attaching itself to the aorta, next to his heart, too close for surgery. Chemotherapy was implemented, but it was unsuccessful, and Tyler's cancer continued to grow. Tyler was forced to drop out of school, and eventually was placed in Hospice care at home.

Through Tyler's last illness, he had the support of the athletes and friends at AHS. People streamed to his home for brief visits. On the weekends, when his buddies came home from college there were poker games, which Tyler loved. Even after he was no longer able to participate in the games, he loved watching his friends play.

One of the Aurora coaches had played baseball at NU with Joba Chamberlin, the NY Yankees pitcher. He was able to arrange a private meeting with the Yankee star and Tyler and his family. This was the thrill of Tyler's young life. For 2½ hours Joba and his father told stories -- of Joba's early years, stories of NU and Yankee games and personalities. Tyler was presented with precious Yankee memorabilia, signed baseballs and caps, etc. Tyler was happy!

A Sunday viewing, from 4-7, before Monday's funeral, was planned at an Aurora church (which was offered to the family, since Tyler's country church was so small). It was quite a remarkable event. People filed past Tyler's coffin and on to the back of the church to pay their respects to Mike and Nancy.

From 3:45 until 7:30 the line never stopped. All segments of the Aurora community were represented, teachers, coaches, grocery customers, church members. Not only were the Aurora coaches present, but Hastings College coaches, Central College teachers, and Tyler's surgeon, from Omaha.

He will be remembered as a fellow who did his best, despite his handicaps. He lived his life without complaint. He was successful. He touched a lot of lives. We'll miss him.