October 8, 2009, my 18-year-old son Tyler had an MRI for what we thought was nerve impingement from a vertebral compresson fracture. Little did we know that this was the start of a very scary journey for our family. Our family doctor called to let us know he saw a suspicous area on the MRI indicative of some sort of cancerous growth. We were urgently set up the next morning for a CAT scan of Ty's back. From Monday to Thursday, Tyler's pain went from tolerable to debilitating. The PET scan results were called to us Thursday afternoon with the news that there was a softball sized tumor in his left lung and many spots along his spine. We quickly discovered Tyler had inoperable, incurable synovial cell sarcoma which was stage IV and widespread affecting his spine, femurs, pelvis, lungs. He was brought home on hospice after a month's stay in the hospital where he lived the rest of his life filled with determination and strength which will continue to inspire all those who knew him and who will know him as his story is told and passed along. He peacefully passed from this world to heaven on February 14, 2010.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylershipman
This blog is written by his mom after his death as our family attempts to learn to live without him here. My hope is that along the way my journey may help a fellow traveler.
Daneele Shipman
dshipman@loretel.net
