Stem cell transplant for Tyler!

Tyler is getting a stem cell transplant! Many of you know Tyler personally and at least a little about his journey with Crohn’s disease. But for those who don’t know Tyler’s story, I (his wife) wanted to share a little about his life, disease process, necessary treatments, and what led to the need for a transplant and the choice to utilize a Gofundme.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It involves inappropriate activation and deactivation of the intestinal mucosal lymphatic system. Crohn’s is an incurable, life-long disease that consists of chronic stages of remission and exacerbation of symptoms. The symptoms of Crohn’s exacerbation include extreme GI pain and cramping, nausea, fever, body aches, chills, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, intestinal bleeding, and dehydration. Treatments for Crohn’s are limited and can be vastly expensive. The approved medications have detrimental and potentially fatal side effects when used for long-term periods. A colostomy bag is the only surgical option for these patients, and it is an option usually reserved for the most advanced stages of the disease. The best hope for achieving the highest quality of life in this population depends on how much time a person spends in the remission of symptoms. This stem cell transplant is one of the few treatments available to hopefully help put Tyler into a period of remission with the least amount of adverse side effects.

Tyler was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 14. Achieving a diagnosis was tedious trial and error, starting at age 12. During this time, he endured several failed treatment plans and dietary changes that caused him to miss school, lose tremendous weight, and become dangerously ill. After his diagnosis, Tyler spent the duration of his childhood and adolescence experimenting with different medical professionals to achieve even small periods of remission.

Throughout his life, he has used steroids, anti-rheumatic drugs, and anti-cancer medications more than any 29-year-old should have to control his disease. He has experienced periods of extreme exacerbation with little to no relief while maintaining a full-time job and pursuing an education.

In July of 2021, Tyler experienced a severe flare-up when the anti-cancer drug and immunosuppressant Methotrexate began to make him violently ill. This medication is the second most extreme treatment available to Crohn’s patients besides biologics. He has been unable to reach remission for over a year since stopping the medication. At this point, revisiting many of the other drugs would either not be helpful or would cause even more negative side effects on top of his exacerbations.

While Tyler has done a fantastic job of attempting to manage his Crohn’s with diet, regular IV therapy, and naturopathic modalities, his flare-up continues to worsen. According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, patients who have had Crohn’s for over eight years have a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Studies have also shown that chronic infection and inflammation without remission raise the likelihood of the mutation of a healthy cell into a tumor cell. Without remission, Tyler is faced with utilizing his only two other options, biologics or surgery.

Tyler will be going to the Stem Cell Institute in Panama at the beginning of September for his first treatment. The hope with this treatment is that it will retrain Tyler’s immune system not to attack his cells in the GI tract and promote healing for the damage already accrued in his body over the years of exacerbations. The total treatment cost is approximately $25,000 and is NOT a cure. The usual duration of benefit with this treatment is 3-5 years, so this will not be a one-time treatment if it proves to be beneficial in improving his quality of life.

As Tyler’s wife, I can only hope that this treatment will bring significant improvements to his health. I love my husband and want to be able to spend as much time as possible with my best friend on this planet. I want him to enjoy spending time with our five-month-old son without excruciating pain and limitations. I want Tyler to be able to watch Elliott grow up and start a life of his own. I am grateful in advance for those taking the time to read about his story and share it with others.