Tyler Foundation Information

Those are just a few ways to describe the volunteers that make up the Tyler Foundation. Our team manages every aspect of the organization. We work together to serve families whose children are undergoing treatment for epilepsy at Children's Hospital Boston and UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center. Our board of directors are responsible for ensuring excellent management of the organization. Board members are asked to make decisions in the areas of finance, organizational partnerships, community and corporate relations, requests made to the organization, fundraising efforts, and event planning. All board members are volunteers and many assist the organization based on their professional areas of expertise. We are proud to serve the families who need our assistance! Bridging the gap for fixed expenses including electricity bills, rent, and car insurance. The Tyler Foundation was first established in 2006 by Erik and Heather in honor of their son Tyler who was diagnosed with epilepsy at three weeks old. Seizures were a result of a brain malformation. Born with epilepsy, having over 20 grand-mal seizures a day, he underwent brain surgery at 15 months old. On October 19, 2005, he had a complete anatomical right hemispherectomy (they removed the right half of his brain) at Children's Hospital Boston. He was diagnosed post-surgery with hemimegalencephaly - which essentially means that one side of his brain, his right side, was larger than his left side. Since the surgery has hasn't had any seizures (knock on wood), giving him a whole new life to live. A few weeks after the brain surgery, Tyler developed Hydrocephalus, a condition resulting in a spinal fluid build-up in the right cranial cavity. A shunt had to be implanted in the right side of Tyler's skull to drain the fluid. It is something he will have to live with the rest of his life. He is currently receiveing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hippotherapy and accupuncture several times a week to help him regain the skills he needs. He ...