Halloween Spooktacular!

What an awesome Halloween was had by us all this past weekend! Tyler got into the activities full force, starting on Thursday and not ending until late Saturday night.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the season, especially to Shaughn for all his creative energy and imagination.

The Halloween Maze raised over $2000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and with the help of Ric Peterson over the airwaves, we hopefully have raised much awareness for an extremely worthy cause.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of things, click Ric Peterson's video of the evening below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT4BCakiipg

Vote for Team Tyler at CJAD!

Last Thursday, Tyler had his port removed via a small procedure that required day surgery. He was doing extremely well following the whole ordeal, and even mentioned that he didn't cry all day. I asked him if he was very brave, and he said that he was.


Shaughn is putting the finishing touches on his spectacular Halloween display outside the Wallis' household. Mark has spearheaded a ballot for Ric Peterson to broadcast from their house on Halloween night. In order to do so, Team Tyler must obtain the most votes. To enter your vote to support our fundrasing efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, email ric.peterson@cjad.com and tell him that you vote for Team Tyler.

To check out some pictures of Shaughn's masterpiece, go to http://picasaweb.google.ca/shaughnbradley/Halloween2008#

Thank you for all your support and we are looking forward to seeing you for the most awesomeHalloween tunnel ever! Visit Tyler this Friday at 1 Honfleur and show your support!

Saturday Evening Is Fast Approaching

Saturday evening is fast approaching and we welcome those who still wish to join us to walk for Team Tyler. Just follow the links below. Our team has surpassed its goal, and the donations continue to trickle in. Way to go Team Tyler!

A date has been set for the end of October for Tyler to have his port removed. We are fearful of this relatively small procedure, but hope this is yet another step towards a healthy future.

Shaughn has already begun setting up the Halloween festivities outside the Wallis' household. I will post more on that at a later date. However, mark your calendars to come share in the Halloween treats to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was awesome last year, and Shaughn vows to blow everyone away with this year's creativity.

Keep those prayers coming.

Go Team Tyler!

Go Team Tyler!

This past Friday's fundraiser for Team Tyler was a successful and fun evening. Thanks to Scotyz for supplying the delicious lasagna and for the relaxing atmosphere, Team Tyler raised over one thousand dollars! Thank you to everyone who attended and for your generosity.

Tyler is now in grade one and seems to be very popular with his classmates. Heh as already been invited to a birthday party and for a playdate. We tease himthat he already has a girlfriend! He is now resuming his academic duties with a smile on his face, although he still must return to the Children's for regular checkups.

We are focused on fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and hope to surpass last year's amount raised. We welcome all those who wish to join Team Tyler, and to those who simply wish to contribute to our cause.

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Portrait of a Brave Hero

Portrait of a Happy, Healthy Boy

Time to Celebrate

It is with great pleasure that I write this update to inform everyone that the Wallis clan spent an amazing 8 days in Orlando, visiting the Walt Disney World parks and waterslides. Tyler, Bethany and Hailey were given the chance to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth" escorted by Mark and Darla as well as the Kerr family, who proved to be expert guides at navigating the whole adventure.

This trip marked Tyler and Bethany's first anniversary of Tyler's new lease on life, his bone marrow transplant. A special dinner event was organized in celebration of this miracle. Tyler's birthday was also observed at the tail-end of the trip, and was welcomed home to cake and presents!

Once again this year, we will be partaking in the "Light the Night" walk in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Montreal. We hope to raise money and awareness for this cause as others may be stricken with this disease, and our fear of a relapse is never far from our minds.

Team Tyler has organized a spaghetti supper at Scottyz on Taschereau (3979) in St. Hubert on Friday, September 5th at 6:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased through email, phone or at the door for 15 dollars. Door prizes will be drawn.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation to Team Tyler, you may do so either by contacting one of our team members, or by internet at www.lightthenight.org . Click on search for a team,the last icon on the left, then put TEAM TYLER in the space for team name. Follow the directions from there.

If you are interested in walking with Team Tyler on Saturday, September 27th at 5 pm, you can simply register online at the Light the Night website above, or contact one of us. We will be glad to have your support.

As summer is winding down, we are thankful for the uneventful days that have passed us by. We are still healing, but when we think about this time last year, and the uncertainty of Tyler's health and compare these memories to his present state, we are very blessed. He is growing taller by the day, eating us out of house and home, and looking forward to his return to school. Although he has to have his port removed at some point, we pray that the rest of the summer remains as calm.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We hope you can join us on September 5th and 27th!

July 19th Update

Tyler's summer has been advancing at a quick pace. We often take a step and reflect upon the events that were taking place this time last year. As I squeezed Tyler in a tight bear hug the other day, I told him that this year, on his birthday, I will be able to hug and kiss him as much as I want...and maybe even tie his socks together! He is looking very healthy and seems to have overcome his last infection. He still visits the Children's a few times a week for tests and checkups. There is also a date set to have his port removed from his body.

I find it humorous to report that Tyler had a hearing test this week, due to concerns from his teachers as well as his parents, that he seems to 'miss' some of what is being said. Needless to say, he passed his hearing tests with flying colours and I contend that perhaps his hearing is indeed selective...

Tonight, the Wallis clan has headed down to their trailer in the states (AKA the Golden Falcon) for a long overdue evening getaway. Hopefully Bethany, Tyler, Mark and Darla will be able to enjoy some family time, and be able to simply unwind a bit.

One day at a time. We are thankful for our blessings. Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!

June 21st Update

Tyler has been at the Children's for two nights, receiving antibiotic treatments for a nasty infection in his port. It was a scary day yesterday as we awaited results from blood tests to pinpoint exactly what was going on in Tyler's system. Tyler will now be staying at the hospital for at least 5 days, being released on day passes but returning in the evening to sleep at the hospital and receiving the care that he needs to combat this infection. Although his body is showing signs of fighting the difficulties, he needs help to completely eradicate it from his system.

Unfortunately, the Wallis, Roach, and two other families were scheduled to leave for a week's vacation in New York State today. Tyler and Mark will be staying behind, hoping to visit for a day on one of Tyler's day passes.

Please pray for Tyler's strength. We are very thankful for his diagnosis, but feel very sad that he is not able to vacation...

June 19th Update

Two evenings ago, Darla noticed that Tyler was running a high fever and called the Children's to decide how to proceed. They were asked to go run some tests and hopefully come up with the source of his fever. After an evening of tests, followed by a full day at the hospital yesterday, Dr. Mitchell called the Wallis' today and asked that Tyler be admitted in order to be administered antibiotics to ward off a skin infection that may be associated with his port. At approximately 9 AM this morning, Darla and Tyler (with Mark meeting them) hurried up to the Children's so Tyler could receive the care that he needs.

We are holding our breath that these procedures are minor, and that Tyler can enjoy the beginning of his much earned summer vacation.

May 30th Update

Tyler has been having a busy time simply being a little boy. He has regained most of his motor control, but still has some difficulty moving around. With this being said, everytime he looses his balance or trips, he gets back onto his feet and continuous his task. He truly is a real little boy.

I had the pleasure of seeing Tyler's doctor, Dr. Mitchell, a few weeks ago. This was the first time I had been in both of their presence following Tyler's transplant. I was overcome with emotion and realized that this man represented so much to us. Although part of a team of doctors working with Tyler's case, Dr. Mitchell represents such a powerful force in keeping Tyler alive and (almost) healthy. I realize that everyone in this world was born at the hands of a doctor, but this man earnestly was a driving force behind Tyler living. How can you ever place a value on what this man has done for us?

Tyler visited the Children's on Monday and was given a pass to remain hospital free until the end of June. We arevery thankful to have obtained such results. I joke with Tyler that when he has hospital tests, that he needs to make sure he studies. On Monday evening, he stared at me blankly as I told him, "You must have studied hard for your tests today as you did really well on them!

CTV was welcomed into the Wallis household this morning to do a short segment on Bethany and Tyler. It is supposed to air this evening at 6 pm. Following his interview, Tyler had a visit from his masseuse for his routine massage. He really enjoys relaxing at the hands of his masseuse.

Keep those prayers coming as we still have a long road to recovery...

April 19th Update

I have been extremely reluctant to sit down and record my thoughts on the daily events of Tyler's life. Although we have much to be thankful for, the shadow that is now in place over our hearts limits our emotions. We are all struggling to get through our lives since the loss of our Aden, and as anyone who has been through tragedy knows, the world continues to turn, life continues to progress, regardless of what one individual family is experiencing. Tyler has returned to school full-time. He very clearly stated that he was not looking forward to having to return to school and was slated to gradually increase his hours over the course of a few weeks. However, his transition has proven to be an easy one. The first day of his return, he chose to extend his school day by a few hours, and ended up returning full-time his first week back. Mme. Annie (his teacher) has been an invaluable person in his life. We cannot thank her enough for her dedication to the teaching profession. She goes beyond the call of duty, sending a package home the weekend before Tyler's return to school, with pictures of his classmates, and an explanation of what was being covered in class this term. Thank you, Mme. Annie.

Tyler has been going for his routine tests, and things seem to be remaining on course. His body was fighting a cold during his last round of blood tests, and therefore he showed a low white-blood cell count. He will be returning to the hospital this week, to make sure that things have returned to their "normal" state following his cold.

The Wallis Family hit the radio-waves last Friday sharing their experiences for the Children's Hospital Radiothon. We are extremely proud of their ability to recount their fearful experiences. Tyler and Bethany definately stole the show! I hope their efforts encouraged many to donate to this wonderful cause.

My family and I would like to thank everyone who has made us meals, sent cards and donations, and who have shown us support throughout the last few weeks. Your love and concern has kept us moving at a time when we would have simply shutdown. Please pray for Tyler,as well as the rest of us, to help us find the strength to deal with this terrible tragedy.

Aden

I simply cannot put into words my feelings or express myself accurately about the events that unfolded as I wrote my last blog entry. Our dear son, cousin, nephew, brother, grandson, buddy, Aden, died suddenly on Sunday night. As this is such a shock to us all, I can honestly say that I have not yet come to terms with my great loss. My love for my sisters' children is as great as the love I feel for my own.

On Saturday, there will be a brief visitation at Collins, Clarke and MacGillivary Funeral Home at 307 Riverside in St. Lambert, from 2 pm to 5 pm.

On Monday, there will be a memorial service at the Centre Romeo-V. Patenaude at 135 Haendel in Candiac at 11 am.

Donations may be made to the Tyler Wallis Fund through the Montreal Children's Hospital. We request that no flowers be sent.

Thank you for all your prayers and support at this horrific time.

March 16th Update

This week marks the first anniversary of Tyler's diagnosis. It seems hard to fathom that just last year, my heart was shattered. The realities of life seemed to sneak up on all of us, and damaged our ignorance towards the attrocities of illness. I pass the Children's Hospital at least once a week, and I secretly say a prayer in thanks of Tyler's health. Today, when I passed it, I vividly remembered how I felt one year ago on the 13th. I remember visiting Tyler the first day he was admitted to the hospital. I attempted to keep a brave face when I saw him for the first time. Unfortunately, I cannot honestly say that I contained my emotions, and I specifically recall his frail little body curled in a ball on his hospital bed, his colour and his boyish energy drained completely. I remember the fear and agony I felt seeing him there and realizing how close we were to losing him and the powerlessness that we all felt in this whole situation.

I realize that we do not, in any way, have any control over what our future brings. I can however be extremely thankful for Tyler's health. I am thankful for all the technology and machines that have aided in diagnosing and battling Tyler's cancer. I am thankful for each and every employee of the Children's Hospital who may have simply placed a smile on his face, and that of Darla and Mark. I am thankful to the parents, children and employees of St. Lawrence Elementary School who helped in any capacity that they could to make the Wallis' life a bit easier, or who simply asked how we were doing. I am especially thankful to all those who prayed for healing for our little man.

In sharing our memories of this past year with my family, I realized that although it has only been a year, all this seems like so long ago. When we were in the thick of it, it seemed to last an eternity. Now that things have settled a bit, it seems as though things took place ages ago. When I pick up my son from the Wallis' house everyday, I am usually greeted by Tyler at the door. Before he became ill, Tyler and Bethany used to greet us at the door by running down the hall screaming. I can remember yearning to hear Tyler's laugh and squeals. I now take a moment everyday to appreciate this, and many other finer things that I might have taken for granted. Please continue to pray for his healing.

February 23rd Update

It is hard to believe that this time last year, my family's life was forever shaken. Tyler is now recovering so well, that small glimpses of his illness can only be caught if you really look for them. He is still on his feeding tube at night, but his appetite, energy, and boyish ways have return to their pre-Leukemia level.

When I look back on things, and reflect on all that we have been through, I feel that this test has made us all stronger people. We have drawn comfort from each other, and are now even more thankful for the little things that life has to offer. To simply be able to go to the mall, or a restaurant, is now an activity that we no longer take for granted. The freedom from the confines of the hospital, to a more relaxed outlook on Tyler's recovery. The daily stress of worrying about the extremes of Tyler's illness, has now become a shadow of our day, yet this worry will never truly subside. We have been made more aware that illness can happen at any point, and to take everyday as it comes.

Tyler has experience the loss of his first tooth. He was very excited to call and tell me all about his loss and to inform me that he wanted the Tooth Fairy to leave him some cash but to leave his tooth. When I suggested that he should perhaps leave her a note, he interjected that he intended on writing her an email at www.toothfairy.com!

Tyler has been asked to be the poster boy for the "Walk the Night" fundraiser in September for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. As our team came in first place for fundraising with Tyler at its helm, I am sure that the Society has made a great choice in representing this worthy cause.

This evening, Tyler and Mark have gone to the Bell Center to witness Tyler's first Canadien's game. Tyler received these tickets from Randy Tieman and was hoping to see him at the game. He suggested that perhaps he could call me in the midst of this event, to give me an update on things. I have yet to hear from him, as I am sure that he is mesmerized by his grandiose surroundings.

A trip to Mexico is in the works for the Wallis and Roach families. Nanny is also planning to join them on this much needed vacation. Clearly, a restful week is much deserved.

Please continue to pray for health for Tyler. We are aware that relapses are very common, but hope that we can dodge some bullets along Tyler's journey. We have come a long way in the last year, and are especially thankful for all of you who joined us on this extremely agonizing nightmare.

Tyler has been given a month off from hospital visits, but is still in need of attending occupational therapist appointments. His hair has grown back, dark and curly. Glenna and I have started to call him our Armenian nephew, as his hair and skin colour resembles that of an Armenian. His sense of humour, although never quieted, has come back to us in full effect, with his silly laugh, and awesome dancing skills. Christmas was fantastic with lots of gifts, but the best gift of all was having Tyler and Bethany's smiles, laughter and excitement surround all of us. We have so much to be thankful for. Poppa has now returned to Florida, but Tyler (and the entire family) was very pleased to have his hugs and kisses during the holidays. The Wallis' spent a few days in Plattsburgh, following the doctors' permission to allow Tyler in the swimming pool, and even in restaurants. I am certain that I have never seen any other child so happy in my entire life than on the day the doctors made this announcement. Tyler walked through my doors exclaiming, 'I CAN EAT IN A RESTAURANT!'. We will never take the small things in life for granted, that's for sure.

Please continue to pray for my family, and our healing as there are still obstacles ahead. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We wish you all a very happy new year.