 | | Contributed photo | | Tyler Smith is shown with his new baby brother, Cameron David Martin. Smith, a sophomore at Crook County High School, was diagnosed earlier this year with osteosarcoma. Since that time, he has gone in for surgery on his right leg, and was adopted by the Crook County High School Sparrow Club as their Sparrow. |
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Crook County High School students have pulled together for one of their own, a boy who is described as being quiet, likes riding ATVs and watching video games - and who has bone cancer.
Sophomore Tyler Smith has osteosarcoma in his right leg.
"I would say that as a student body, we're all pushing for him, and we're all going to do what we can for him and his family," said Sparrow Club President Joanna Knower. "Because I know that if it were us, we'd all want the student body pushing for us too."
Tyler's aunt, Jessica Smith, is also a sophomore and spoke of his interests and giving him encouragement.
"He loves video games," she said. "He loves to go out and ride ATVs and horses."
"You're doing good," Jessica said. "Keep going. It's been hard. We're a really, really close family and so it has been hard not to see each other constantly."
Seeking the help of doctors
Dana Martin, Tyler's mother, said that in April Tyler began commenting about how his right leg hurt, and "we thought it was growing pains." On Memorial Day weekend, his leg was in excruciating pain.
"We took him to the ER after Memorial Day weekend," Martin said. "And they couldn't find anything and they gave him crutches and put him in a brace."
In July, his parents took him to Dr. Beta Hamon because his leg was not healing. Hamon then had the family get Tyler a bone scan in Redmond.
"He had been complaining in general about pain in his right leg that was persistent and would not go away," Dana said.
After consulting with Dr. Michael McLean of the High Desert Health Care offices in Prineville, Tyler was rushed to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.
"It happened very quickly, honestly," said Teresa Riley, Smith's grandmother, of the doctors' decisions and consultation. "She reacted very quickly and so did Dr. McLean."
At the end of July, hospital staff performed a biopsy on his leg.
Since that time, Tyler has been going to the children's hospital for weekly chemotherapy treatments.
On Oct. 18, in an effort to get rid of the cancer and save Tyler's leg, doctors performed surgery, cutting below the knee.
"The tumor had wrapped itself around a bone and muscle," Riley said. Doctors cut into that material and removed it, removing bone, muscle and other tissue. They then replaced that with a donor's bone. "And apparently then they put a mesh around it and screwed it into place."
Additionally, hospital personnel took muscle from his right calf and wrapped that around the area, as well as a skin graft from his left hip.
Reaching out to help
"We're glad we went to the top of the hill and now we're on the downslope, and it's far from over," Riley emphasized.
On Thursday, Crook County High School held an assembly to help increase awareness of the Sparrow Club, and in particular, Tyler's plight.
A Sparrow Club is a group of young people, ages elementary through college-age, who do community service and fund-raising on behalf of their adopted Sparrow. A Sparrow is a child who has a compelling medical condition and one that also creates financial need for his or her family. In this case, that's Tyler.
The Sparrow Club is planning several fund-raisers to help provide money to Tyler's family in light of medical costs. They are planning a dance and other activities to raise money and awareness.
Money has been raised throughout the community, including at Bi-Mart, where Tyler's stepfather, David, works, and at Pioneer Memorial Hospital, where Martin is employed. Dana said Bi-Mart employees held a yard sale, raising $2,500. Martin, who works in purchasing as a buyer, said hospital employees raised another $3,300. Another $1,600 has been raised through community donations.
Riley and Dana were among those who attended the Thursday assembly, and Knower estimates that close to 1,000 students were also there. Tyler's grandfather, Bill Smith, was also in attendance.
"Dana and I were both very touched," Riley said. Sparrow Club founder Jeff Leland was also there to provide information about his own son, who had had a life-threatening disease. Students were attentive.
"They (the youth) asked her (Dana) to give an update on how Tyler was doing. It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop," Riley said.
Riley and Martin began weeping and looking around the gym, they could see that some students and staff were also touched by Tyler and his cancer.
"And at the end of it, they asked how many kids would like to get involved and donate money, and Dana and I were just overwhelmed at how many kids raised their hands," Riley said. "I would say 90 percent raised their hands."
"And after this - we don't know these kids - and they were giving us hugs...." Riley added. "I got to tell you...that after the assembly Dana and I cried."
Dana also said some youth were so affected by the presentation that they gave money out of their pockets.
Riley and the family are optimistic, including about Tyler's prognosis.
"It's good," Riley said. "So far it's good. They were able to save his leg, 'cause that was a big deal."
Martin said Tyler had an 80/20 percent rate that he would survive the cancer, but doctors were about 90 percent certain that they would have to remove the leg because of the cancer.
"Whatever the percentages, we haven't accepted it," said Riley. "We don't listen to that. It can change."
An outpouring of support
Over the course of this year, it has been a challenging set of circumstances for the family.
"Through all of this, we've told him that he can beat this and kick it," Riley said. "We try not to let him stay alone ever. He's related to so many people. He's got so much family and we love him and support him. When we thought that we couldn't handle it, he's held us up. He's been our strength."
To express their support for Tyler, Riley and others in the community have gone to Bogey's to shave their heads for Locks of Love. On Oct. 5, Riley was among those who went to the barbershop to have their hair cut off for Locks of Love for Tyler.
Crook County School Board member Sandy DeMaris was among those watching as Riley had her head shaved. She smiled and put her hand on Riley's shoulder.
"Woo doggie!" Riley said as the hair came off. Then she looked in the mirror and paused. "It'll grow."
Riley was profuse in her thanks to the students and community.
"We kind of feel that we've put Tyler in their (the students) hands now," Riley said. |
