This is really the inspirational story of my Father and my sons. I hope after reading their story you feel peace within.
Biggest Accomplishment? Raising two beautiful sons. Trever and Tyler. Both the spittin’ image of my Father, Deputy Charles Dobbertin, shot and killed in the line of duty before my sons were even born. The boys Dad (my ex Scott), left when Trever was eight years old in the hospital with a ruptured appendix and Tyler was a newborn. So it was us three Musketeers for a long time. We were VERY, VERY CLOSE.
Both boys were healthy, handsome, intelligent, full of manners, and had a love for life. Tyler played two seasons of football and two seasons of basketball every year since the first grade. On Labor Day 2002, Tyler had a scooter accident, and had a head injury and broke both ulna and both radius in both arms. One year later Tyler was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was born with it but the head injury caused it to grow (we think)... Tyler had his first brain surgery December 14, 2003. It was supposed to be ten hours long, but the surgeon came out after two hours. He said it was a stage two cancer, they only gave him a 20 percent chance.
We went on a Make a Wish Trip. We went to Disney World (not much fun because Tyler was in a wheel chair at the time) and we met Tracy McGrady who was with the NBA MAGIC at the time and playing against our good friend Eric Strickland (who taught Tyler basketball). When we got back home, Tyler had another MRI it revealed his tumor had grown a one eighth of an inch. The surgeon said, “You can do one of three things, 1) Do nothing and enjoy him for nine months, 2) Radiation and have him for five years with zero quality of life, 3) Another surgery.” I asked, “What makes you think the surgery will work this time?” (The last time the surgeon had to quit due to nerves being involved). He said, “I don’t know that it will work.” The tumor was located in the PONS (brain stem) REGION, which controls breathing and balance. The surgeon said there was an EXCELLENT chance Tyler would NOT be able to breathe on his own after surgery...
