More Reasons For Celebration At Pauley This Weekend
by insomniacslounge on Jan 25, 2010 6:14 PM PST
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PrintBumped. GO BRUINS. -N
There were certainly quite a few reasons for joy this weekend at Pauley. We saw a team come together and play with heart and trust in each other. We saw a coach adapt to his personnel and not allow what they cannot do interfere with what they can do. And on a personal note, I'm happy to report that the WSU game also marked the first pac-10 game that my son Tyler was able to attend this season:
As a quick background for those who aren't familiar: my seven year-old son Tyler has been battling cancer for almost three years now. His latest relapse necessitated a bone marrow transplant this past fall. Through it all, our family has been fortunate enough to be surrounded with an overwhelming amount of care and support, not least of which came from many within the Bruin family. Tyler is a diehard fan of all things UCLA and for months has been asking his doctor when he could attend some games again. Unfortunately, Tyler's had to deal with some lingering effects from the transplant which have limited him physically, however he started to show some noticeable improvement over the last few weeks and appears to have finally (fingers crossed) turned a corner on his road to recovery. As a result, at his last doctor's appointment, his doctor gleefully told him that he was no longer restricted from either crowds or activities. Of course, the first thing he wanted to do was go to a UCLA game!
Since it was a special occasion, I bought some front row baseline seats. This turned out to be a great decision because he was immediately visible to the adviser of the spirit squad, Mollie, and she was so excited to see him again that she gave him the royal treatment.
First, the cheer squad and Joe and Josie came over to visit. And then the dance team spent some time with Tyler:
Then the yell crew came by and asked Tyler if he'd lead an 8 clap:
Then once the game ended, Mollie took him out to sing the alma mater:
And then of course, it was time to dance!
They certainly made him feel like part of the UCLA family.
It was a day to celebrate, indeed.
Go Bruins!
P.S. If anyone from the yell crew, cheer squad, or dance team is reading this, thank you once again for putting a huge smile on Tyler's face and creating yet another great memory.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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It’s great to see Tyler up and on his feet again, and I also notice that he appears to have better dance moves than I do.
Thankfully, he did not inherit his old man's dancing ability
That’s all mom’s genetics at work there.
by insomniacslounge on Jan 25, 2010 6:26 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks for the update.
I was curious, but I was honestly scared to ask.
I’m so glad he’s doing better. This is awesome, awesome news.
by Seanny Rotten on Jan 26, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
Awesome!
I’m pretty sure the team showed up with their best game of the year because they knew Tyler was there. How could you not go 100% for him? Great news!
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 25, 2010 6:20 PM PST reply actions
AMAZING
Thanks Insomniac. This news is better than anything we will hear next two months (better than UCLA making an improbable run to the NCAA or CRN closing out like a mutha!).
Thanks again.
Just awesome
Best UCLA story I’ve read maybe ever.
Awesome
This is great news! It is also nice to see that your son had a wonderful time at the game.
Welcome back to the Den
It was amazing to see the pictures from the last time you posted, but these certainly topped those. I’m happy to see Tyler is doing so well and bring our team such good luck. It;s quite clear that the Bruins would have had a much tougher time if he had not been helping the Spirit Squad with the 8-clap.
Good Stuff
With that kind of treatment and company it is easy to see why he wants to keep going back for more! Hope he continues to improve.
He is a part of the UCLA family
Good luck to Tyler and may he continue his improvement. He looks like a wonderful son. He is part of the UCLA family. What a joy to see him having so much fun. Great write up. And, what a terrific family.
by Forever a Bruin on Jan 25, 2010 7:36 PM PST reply actions
Tyler is an amazing kid
and I hope that he becomes a fixture at these games very soon. He is more than welcome to hang with the Spirit Squad any time he wants too, game or not.
Oh, he's already asking me when he can go to another game
So I’m sure we’ll be going to at least one of the games in the Cal/Stanford series.
It was great to meet you Saturday, and I know that Tyler loves feeling like he’s one of the gang. Thank you for that.
On a sidenote: I don’t know if it’s something you guys already do, but Tyler really got a kick out of holding the “8 clap” sign. Perhaps that’s something you could do regularly w/ the kids sitting down in those baseline seats to get fans in those sections involved?
by insomniacslounge on Jan 25, 2010 8:30 PM PST up reply actions
We try occasionally
but I will definitely bring it up as a point of emphasis for the next game. Thanks
Go Tyler!
It’s so special when the Bruin family comes through like this. I am quite sure the entire cheer team was warmed by Tyler’s presence and energy.
Moments like this makes me such a proud Bruin. Love it.
Awesome!
from the student section I didn’t see him until the alma mater and dead rover, but it made the victory that much greater. Great story and may Tyler’s health continue to improve.
Also, if you are at the coming game, you are more than welcome to bring him over to the Den. I’m always in the front row with a pin-striped hat. He’s always welcome.
Best of luck! GO BRUINS!
GO BRUINS!!! CHEER LIKE CHAMPIONS!!!
Me, too.
I tried to explain this to my wife, and got a little choked up.
Often in my thoughts
I was hoping for good news regarding your son. Great to hear it!
*I* ran over George Tirebiter.
This is excatly why I'm a bruin.
I am very happy and pleased, that Tyler is on the road to recovery! I wish him nothing but great health for the rest of his life.
What makes this story so great and shows the common thread of being bruins. We are fans but we are a really a huge “FAMILY”. This is what makes me proud to be a Bruin.
WOO HOO!!!!!
That just made my WEEK.
Two Tyler’s to cheer for at Pauley! ROCK ON!!!
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Way to go Tyler!!
That is great news!
My thoughts and prayers are to you and your family and a road to complete recovery for Tyler!
My 8 year old cousin
has been fighting cancer since the age of seven, so it’s always uplifting to hear about kids overcoming something so difficult. A speedy recovery and total recovery to all.
It's both inspiring and heartbreaking to know how many brave kids there out there in this same battle
My best thoughts to your cousin. Feel free to email me (insomniacslounge@gmail.com) if you ever want to chat about anything.
by insomniacslounge on Jan 25, 2010 10:05 PM PST up reply actions
That picture of Tyler leading the 8 clap is PRICELESS
my continued prayers and well wishes go out to your family. Fight the good fight. I can’t wait until you put up a post telling us Tyler got admitted to the greatest university in the land.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
OUTSTANDING
Truly a brave little man you have, I wish your son and your family the best moving forward. Thanks for sharing that inspirational story with the bruin family, your son just put a smile on my face the rest of the night.
Tyler is the ultimate ladies man...
I never got to know any of the UCLA cheerleaders during my time at UCLA. Tyler’s the man!
More seriously, best wishes to Tyler and to your entire family. I take care of kids with cancers and the courage these kids have in facing their disease is awe inspiring . We as adults can really learn a lot of important lessons from these kids about courage, strength, endurance, and an appreciation/zest for life. Also important is the love and support that these patients receive from family (including the UCLA Bruin family in Tyler’s case) and friends which makes a huge difference in their battle with cancer. Anyways, go Tyler and go Bruins!
Go Bruins!
This made my day...
It is so great so see the joy on Tyler’s face. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is awesome
It’s so great to see Tyler right back where he belongs!
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Aaaand now I'm tearing up
I’ve been casually following the lounge (I’m a fellow insomniac) ever since I discovered it a year or two ago and I’m overjoyed to see Tyler having such a great time. What an unbelievable story!!
Thanks. He's an unbelievable kid.
As an aside, I’ve been contemplating opening the lounge back up now that things are starting to return to normal a bit. The place would need a lot of work as the layout lags far behind the standards of current blogs. But I’m still up at all hours of the night anyway; so I might as well be quasi-productive (tho my wife would debate whether blogging again would qualify as any form of “productive” other than possibly “counter”).
by insomniacslounge on Jan 26, 2010 12:25 AM PST up reply actions
Another vote for awesome
Really wonderful news on Tyler’s progress, and great to see that he had so much fun at the game.
He will likely be the only guy in his high school to not have to freak out when his parents bring out childhood pictures when his buddies come over ;)
formerly bruinhoo
Awesome for Tyler and nothing but good health to him!
by BlackandOldGold on Jan 26, 2010 2:06 AM PST reply actions
Nice Story!!
Love it!! Way to go, Tyler!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Jan 26, 2010 4:27 AM PST reply actions
Wondeful news
I can’t read about Tyler without getting tears in my eyes, but I desperately want to hear about how he is doing. This was a great report.
Go Tyler!
+1
What a chick magnet!
We’re all rooting for Tyler, and we’re all tearing up. Keep it up, little guy. We need you at the games!
UCLA just keeps giving me more reasons to believe
First all the football stuff, then the home bball sweep, and now this. Tyler is clearly our good luck charm. Please keep it coming.
Louisville, KY for UCLA class of '87
Terrific news and pictures!
Tyler’s already gone through more than most of us who have UCLA shirts older than he is. It’s great to hear that he’s doing better.
Perhaps someone could find an official (not personal) email through which we could contact Mollie and show our appreciation?
That is awesome
Thanks for sharing that with us Insomniac, made me smile how you could tell he was having the time of his life
Bangarang!
Great to see him doing well! With his health and with the ladies!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Wonderful!
I am so glad to hear that Tyler is doing better. He IS the Gutty Little Bruin!
I may work with the Waves, but I'm still a Bruin!
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