A friend in need

Several years ago, okay, more like 16 years ago, I went with Marco to his mission reunion. While we were there, Marco pointed out one of his former companions and told me, "That's Tyler, the guy I told you about."

Tyler had been one of Marco's favorite companions. A terrific singer and entertainer, Marco had told me how Tyler had given impromptu performances on the streets of Italy and had even attempted to juggle fire once. 

I looked to where Marco pointed and was surprised to recognize the woman sitting next to him. It was my old neighbor, a girl I'd grown up with in Fruit Heights.

Note: when you attend a mission reunion with your boyfriend, the last person you expect to see there is a former neighbor.

We walked over to where Tyler and Rebecca sat and I was shocked to find out they had gotten married. So yes, in case you thought you'd read that wrong: my neighbor married Marco's missionary companion and that is totally random and crazy!

So why am I telling you this story? Keep reading, the drama is coming.

Since moving to Davis County, I've run into Tyler and Rebecca a few times at one of our favorite restaurants in Farmington (one of Tyler's favorite things is taking his wife out on weekly dates). During one of our visits, T&R told me about their awesome and incredible plan: they were going to rent their house out on AirBnB and take their four kids to Italy to live there this summer. As soon as they left, and Tyler started posting to his blog, I started following along. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow a family's adventures as they travel throughout a delicious country?

Then, a few weeks ago, Rebecca posted on her Instagram account (yes, I just admitted to following Tyler's blog and Rebecca's Instagram. C'mon, they're living in Italy for two months with their kids! Social media stalking is mandatory) that Tyler had been rushed to the E.R. It turns out he'd been suffering from daily migraines and they had gotten worse.

The CAT scan showed a mass in his brain. Tyler was in so much pain that he couldn't fly home. So some family came and took their kids back to Utah while Rebecca stayed with Tyler in Italy. Emergency brain surgery happened and then today the doctors told Rebecca that the pathology report had come back showing Tyler has stage 4 brain cancer.

Tyler, Rebecca, and their family. Image from the youcaring site.

Not something you want to hear when you're supposed to be making family memories in Italy. Also, kind of scary to have happen to you, or your loved one, when you're in a foreign country.

Tyler needs chemo, radiation, and physical therapy now and he needs to get back to the USA as soon as possible. He can't sit up so he needs some kind of medivac to travel. Medivacs are expensive, so an account has been set up to help their family. And no, they don't have travel insurance.

I hope things turn out for them. Why is it that hard things always happen to amazing people?