Family in need as they say goodbye to son

Posted: Oct. 16, 2012

Tyler Fenninger of Mukwonago was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009. Now, it appears the journey may be coming to an end for the 20-year-old.

Tyler's cancer has been progressing steadily, and doctors have given him 10 to 18 weeks to live. In an effort to pay for hospice care, which will run $300 a day, and for final arrangements, the Fenninger family has started Tokens for Tyler.

The family has been circulating postcards with information about Tyler and how to donate. They are seeking help to provide their son with comfortable care for his final days, and funds to provide him a casket, funeral, burial plot, headstone, etc.

"Tyler's cancer is progressing steadily, and now he has only months left," said his mom, Christine Fenninger. "Due to this and for the need to raise funds quickly, I am going to be selling some of our personal property on Craig's List."

Any help would make a big difference to the family.

Tyler has faced many medical challenges as a result of being born with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder of chromosome 17 that affects one in 5,000 children. As a result, he faced developmental challenges growing up.

"He's always had something to deal with, some kind of crutch in place that the disease has required from him," explained his mom.

Fenninger fell down the stairs about 3 ½ years ago. His family rushed him to the hospital, where tests revealed a tumor in his brain, a rare type known as pleomorphic xanthochromic astrocytoma (PXA). He was rushed into surgery, the first of 16 he would undergo over the next few years.

Because the tumor is so close to the brain stem, doctors were never able to remove all of it. Additionally, the tumor cells grow back and take on the same appearance as healthy brain cells, making complete removal impossible.

"He's been rare from the beginning," Christine said of her son.

Over the course of his treatments, Tyler has had to relearn how to walk, talk, eat and essentially function three times.

"Tyler is amazing. I have never seen anyone fight like he has fought," Christine said. "Children have this incredible acceptance of what is happening to them that they don't allow it to consume them."

For someone who will never have the chance to live on his own an adult, Christine said that hospice will be Tyler's one chance to have a place of his own. He will be able to determine who comes and goes, and when.

"He's never going to be forgotten," said Christine. "I'm so proud of him. I'm thankful to be the one that was chosen to be his mother."

Pyramax Bank in Mukwonago is collecting donations for the Fenninger family. Stop at any location and tell the teller you'd like to make a donation to Tokens for Tyler.