Tyler Family Support
March 13, 2022
Tonight, Danielle peacefully went to meet Jesus. There is no more pain or suffering — she is fully restored.
Since May 2019, she bravely fought inflammatory breast cancer that returned as stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. It later mutated to a very rare triple-negative cancer. While in ICU, doctors identified another likely form of cancer in her body, as well.
On February 6, 2022, Dani unexpectedly suffered a massive stroke, preceded/followed by at least seven additional strokes.
After brain surgery, blood thinners, numerous therapies and every other medical intervention possible, there was nothing more the medical team could do.
She withstood more than five surgeries, including open heart surgery, and she endured seemingly endless chemo and radiation. Her body was tired. She was a fighter and did everything possible to combat disease progression. She was forever optimistic and never gave up hope — she lived every second of her life to the fullest.
Our prayers and support now shift to her family, Stephen, Jake and Cody. You may briefly continue to donate here, which will cover final medical bills, hospice care and immediate (and transitional) needs they may have.
We have set up a separate, memorial Go Fund Me account that will remain open and ongoing. It’s dedicated to Dani’s two sweet boys Jake (12) and Cody (8) and will serve as a college fund, trust account or provide for any future needs they have.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the boys’ future fund or contribute to the Manda Strong Foundation, which supports young moms battling cancer in DFW and was dear to Dani’s heart.
Links to both are here:
www.gofundme.com/f/jake-cody-future-fund
https://mandastrong.com
- shared from Stephen -
3/11- 11:00am This information is very hard to share. Dani has declined over the last few days. She has stopped taking medication regularly and has not eaten much in days. She is very tired and weak. Sleeping most of the day. We have made the decision to move her to an inpatient hospice facility where they will help manage her pain and confusion and keep her comfortable. This was an extremely difficult decision, but feel this is what is best for her at this time. Please pray for her and our family. Pray that she rests comfortably, peacefully and without pain. Pray especially our boys. I have talked with them about hospice and the likely outcome. It is going to be hard for them. Pray that God surrounds them with everything and everyone they need. That he gives them strength and peace in their hearts and minds. Pray that I will have the strength and patience to guide them through it. That I will find the words and actions needed to comfort them. Thank you for your prayers, love and support through all the trails we have faced over the last few years
Feb 18, 2022
Please pray today. Dani is hanging on, but it is really hard without the ability to communicate. The decisions we have to make today are all impossible scenarios, and we feel like the only hope is that God is bigger than the daunting choices. Pray for clarity and peace for Stephen. Pray for strength for Danielle.
I showed her the Go Fund Me a couple days ago and shared how generous you all have been. She was so grateful.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Heather
February 15, 2022
Updates seem almost too time sensitive to even have a second to share. At this point, things are moment by moment, and care plan and expectations are constantly changing. Each doctor has relatively differing thoughts, based on their specific practice area: critical care, neurology, oncology, cardiology, physical therapy and speech therapy (speaking and swallowing). We have learned to rely on Dani's longtime care team, who have a good understanding of the holistic situation. Stephen is also great at pointing out that the only one who knows the exact timeline is God --- so, we rest in that. Please continue to pray.
As for a tangible way you can help, we are hoping to raise an additional $1,000 today to cover an immediate need.
Thank you for your support.
"Love y'all," as Dani would say,
Heather
February 13, 2022
Dani remains in the critical care ICU, after suffering a second stroke overnight Wednesday. She sleeps most of the day, which is good for brain recovery. However, doctors want to see her more alert during daytime hours. She will have about four hours each day (typically at night), where she is awake and able to form some complete thoughts. She’s told everyone that she loves them, let us know when something hurts, smiled at Stephen and done lots (and lots) of hand holding. It’s an important weekend, so please keep the prayers coming. Stephen will provide more updates in the coming week on the Facebook group. Please limit texts to him. Thank you for your continues prayers!
February 8, 2022
On Sunday, Danielle suffered a stroke cause by a blood clot in her brain. Stephen rushed her to the hospital, and doctors did emergency brain surgery to remove the clot around 1am. The procedure went well, but she still has swelling and continued bleeding in her brain, which doctors say needs to resolve naturally. It could take three to four more days to subside. Hopefully, the bleeding and swelling will reduce naturally — as medical interventions to stop the bleeding could raise the potential for additional complications.
Dani is able to communicate some but is still mixing words. She is sleeping for most of the day. But is able to wake and be alert during therapy. Stephen says he knows, by gestures, that her head hurts. Speech pathology is coming in each day, trying to get her to talk or answer questions. She knows a handful of words but cannot use them in the correct context. Stephen said he can tell she gets frustrated. But at the same time, you can also hear the thankfulness in her voice when he guesses her needs correctly. “Yes!” she’ll proclaim. (Stephen truly is doing a tremendous job … the love and patience he has for her is awe-inspiring) Today, she was able to eat for the first time in two days. These are small signs of progress.
But the doctors keep emphasizing that the road to recovery will be very long. After the immediate and most critical medical milestones are reached, she’ll likely be moved to a long-term care facility, where she’ll stay for in-patient treatment. They’ll focus on helping her regain all that was lost during the stroke.
At this point in time, all cancer treatment must stop. Dr. T said her body has to completely heal from the stroke before they can talk next steps in fighting disease progression.
Stephen plans to call their school administration office, but he’s unsure what the next steps will be. Dani is not eligible for family medical leave act or long-term disability, because she has not been teaching at that district for at least a year.
With so many variables and endless questions … the only things we know for sure are that they need prayers and financial support. Income will be affected dramatically, from hospital bills and surgeries to long-term care and potential loss of income. If you, or those you know, have asked how to help, please donate to this official Go Fund Me. All proceeds go directly to the Tyler family.
At this time, meals, errands or other deliveries are too hard to navigate for them. While each request is so sincere, the most productive way you can support the Tyler Family is through direct donations.
Love to all and thank you for your ongoing prayers,
Heather
October 8, 2021
It's been two years and five months since Danielle's initial diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Since that life-changing moment in May 2019, she had a double mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy and many different treatment plans. For a short window, the cancer was in remission.
In April 2021, scans showed that it had returned and spread to lymph nodes and areas outside of the breast tissue. Danielle’s diagnosis was changed to metastatic breast cancer.
When the same cancer is found in new areas of the body, it is called metastasis. Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer, cannot be cured. Treatment prolongs life and fights each new, affected area in a race to keep cancer from continuing to spread. While doctors say it's impossible to outlive this type of cancer, there can absolutely be periods of time where the treatments are effective and disease progression slows or temporarily stops.
In July, scans found that cancer had spread to bones but was thankfully eradicated by oral chemo meds. But just two months later, it was detected again.
Last week, Dani felt a little unwell and had some mild difficulty breathing. What started as an easy trip to urgent care, quickly turned into hospital ICUs and more surgeries. Doctors discovered that the same cancer (although with different, mutated receptors) was now in her heart, causing an accumulation of fluid. The fluid on her heart, and later discovered on her lungs, was drained. At the time of posting this, Dani is in ICU and prepping to be moved to Sarah Cannon Cancer Hospital to begin aggressive chemo as soon as possible.
May 23, 2021
Danielle posted this on her page, and she said it better than I ever could. The gratefulness they feel for your love and support is immeasurable. Thank you.
“Today is the 2-year anniversary of the day I sat in a doctor’s office and heard the words, “I am confident you have breast cancer.” I don’t know if I officially qualify as a survivor at the moment, but it feels right to say I have SURVIVED the last 2 years: 20 weeks of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation, 5 surgeries, and more medicines than I can count. I still question and wonder why this is our story, but I don’t need to know the answer to tell you of God’s faithfulness through it all. So many of you have been His hands and feet through the last 2 years. The immediate outpouring of love from our SH family in Longview, all of you who sat with Stephen in the waiting room there through my first surgery, all of you who blessed us with food and the packing of our house, all of you who blessed us with help moving from Longview and those who helped us move home, those of you who blessed us with food through the thick of chemo, my mom who moved to Texas for 4 months to get me through chemo and football season all at the same time, the chemo care packages, my pink sisters and their unceasing support and advice, my Manda Strong family, my incredible team of doctors and nurses, all of you who blessed us financially to allow me to stay home for a year and fight, and all of you who prayed for us time and time again. This journey has been bigger than just me and just my family and while I could focus on the hard parts...more than anything I am thankful. I am thankful for 2 years and pray for many more. More than anything I am looking forward to a summer with my boys where I am not in chemo and not recovering from major surgery.”
April 2021
Here we are again, friends. It's an ask we never wanted to make, but we know that it takes a team to beat any opponent. So, let's rally. Danielle’s cancer has returned, and it is metastatic.
Just as you did in 2019, please help ease the financial burden of another extensive round of cancer treatment by making any contribution that you are able. The Tyler's insurance plan started over in September, meaning all medical interventions will be an immediate expense until their out-of-pocket max is met. Additionally, the unexpected loss of income and the financial uncertainty of the future is weighing on their minds. Together, we can give Stephen and Danielle one fewer thing to worry about in the days and months to come.
Most importantly, continue to pray for Stephen, Danielle their two boys, Jake and Cody.
**Request - please read**
Comments here are read and appreciated. But please refrain from texting or direct messaging Danielle and Stephen. The family is taking this time to focus on each other and would appreciate space to process as just the four of them. If you need a way to share your private well wishes, prayers or words of encouragement, please email your note to Tyler Family Support at TFSmessages@ (mail server with a G).com. Every word will be saved and shared with them, as they are ready.
For updates, you may request to be added to their Facebook support group. That is the most up-to-date source of info. Dani/Stephen post there as soon as possible after procedures/surgeries/treatments or if there are new or changing details. Again, we respectfully ask that you not directly contact them for updates or to check-in. Love to all and thank you, again.
July 2, 2019 Update
Today marks Day 15, since we have started chemo. It’s a milestone day where this journey becomes a fight. It’s a day that many have shared is tough—a time when the physical signs of chemotherapy start to appear.
The past two weeks have been full of praises, for which we are very thankful. But, it has also been a time of realities. It’s been a realization that she really does have cancer. It’s about knowing the toughest days are beginning and every day that follows is filled with unpredictability.
Updates:
Danielle had her second round of AC chemo today, Monday, July 2. Since the last update, she has been to the ER three times, for a heart rate issue during surgery, a blood clot near the PIC line and, most recently, severe anemia. She is on a low dose of blood thinners now and had IV iron and a blood transfusion. Despite these hurdles, the doctors were pleased with how her body handled the first round of chemo, overall.
Stephen and Jake both celebrated their birthdays. This wasn’t the birthday they were anticipating this year, and it was marked with a bit of a dark cloud. Please consider donating to this fund in honor of their birthdays and write a special note of encouragement to them on the page.
Praises:
The biggest, most significant praise of all—the cancer has not spread! Just before she started her first round of chemo, the CT results came in and showed that cancer was not found anywhere else in her body!
The Manda Strong foundation, a non-profit in Collin County that supports mothers battling cancer, selected Danielle as one of their new moms. This incredible organization is rallying behind Danielle, providing support and memory-making opportunities for their family.
Donna, Danielle’s mom who lives in Chicago, was approved for FMLA and PTO and will be able stay with them for the entire football season, July 29 through November 8. Through the help of friends, they were able to get a room set up for her at their new house.
The visible inflammation has begun to decrease. This could be a sign that the treatment is beginning to take effect. We are holding onto this hope.
Danielle has been surrounded with the best nurses and most caring and attentive doctors.
Prayer requests:
Pray that her iron levels increase, as well as her energy levels.
At the same time, pray that she continues to listen to her body and rest when she needs to. She is so used to being active and involved. It’s a hard to make this adjustment to the new normal.
Pray that Danielle’s strength and faithfulness during this process is met with healing—full and complete recovery.
How to help:
[meal train removed]
Please continue to donate. Every dollar is so incredibly useful for them and will ease the financial burden of this devastating diagnosis.
Thank you for your support. The selfless donations and encouraging comments have meant so much to the Tylers. Please continue to share this page with friends and family.
UPDATES
Stephen, Danielle, Jake and Cody are completely relocated to Allen, Texas. They are so thankful for the help of friends and family (both in Longview and DFW), who made the move so much easier on them.
Danielle is feeling relatively well, given the circumstances. The disease came on incredibly quickly without many symptoms. Her energy level is a bit down, and she is sore and uncomfortable. We know the toughest days are ahead and are thankful that she has this two-week period to enjoy her boys and spend time making new memories.
Danielle’s amazing mom, Donna, has been approved for FMLA and will be able to come and stay with them for an extended period of time. Dates are not confirmed yet, but this is a huge praise.
DATES
Wig consultation: Monday, June 10
Port surgery: Thursday, June 12
Chemotherapy: Monday, June 17
TREATMENT PLAN
The plan is for Danielle to undergo 20 treatments through the course of five months. She will do a minimum of two types of aggressive chemotherapy, followed by a period of immune system recovery. Then, she will have a double mastectomy and a full hysterectomy. Radiation is still a possibility in the future, as well.
They received the full pathology report from the biopsy, which confirmed the diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). It has been classified as lobular and is growing at a medium rate. While this is not the news we were hoping, the report showed three positives. The cancer is receptive to two types of hormones, meaning there are more treatment options. This, along with the fact that she does not carry the cancer gene (Her2), gives us hope that the cancer has not spread and will respond to therapy.
No swelling is externally visible in the lymph nodes. However, they are waiting for insurance to approve a PET scan. The scan will identify if the cancer has spread and determine its stage.
PRAYER REQUESTS
• Sustainment during football season, August through November.
• Peace for the Jake and Cody, as they deal with monumental life changes—a new school, new home and new reality of mommy not feeling so great.
• Strength for Stephen, as he starts a new job at Plano West, as well as the ability to balance work with care for Dani.
HOW TO HELP
Donate, in any way possible:
The stress of hospital bills is already starting to mount. The biopsy surgery cost them $4,000 out-of-pocket. The second surgery (for the port) will be another $4,000. Total costs this early in the process are almost 10K.
Their insurance is through the school and restarts in September, meaning a whole new set of deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, the entire family will be on Stephen’s plan, resulting in a substantial increase in monthly premiums.
May 2019
Original diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer