Tyler's Story

Tyler arrived into the world on September 11th 2006. He was the first to make me a mother and over the years he shaped me to be the mom I am today. I knew Tyler was unique from the time he was two years old. He didn’t see the world the way we saw it. 

His world was so much bigger than just his immediate surroundings. By the time he was 5 years old he had been diagnosed with Autism and our world changed forever. 

From a very young age Tyler took on the weight of the world as his own and was determined to change it. He cared immensely about so many things and was always sending me texts or chatting me up about how to help others, even when he couldn't really help himself. 

As his mother I got a front row seat to the deeply emotional parts of him and wanted nothing more than to save him from the world. From the bullies, from the horrible stares of onlookers and the teachers and schools that didn't think he was good enough.

In the end, as much as I wanted to protect him, it didn't help me save him.

Tyler loved more deeply and felt more heartache than most of us will ever go through in our lives. While we will never know what it was that ultimately drove him to the decision to end his life, I know in my heart that after 15 years of putting me first, he decided to put himself first. 

He made a decision he can’t come back from. Now I have to face that decision every single day. A decision that I may never understand but have already forgiven. 

I love you Tyler, I always will.

Till we meet again...

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