By Mitch Olsen

Ten lacrosse teams dot the field while fans and family members watch from the stands on a muggy Maryland fall day. Each head coach stands with an honorary team captain at his side. The captain standing next to BYU's head coach, Jason Lamb, looks nothing like a typical lacrosse player. He is young, skinny and visibly happy. Other honorary captains have similar fragile bodies, little or no hair and signs of too much experience for someone their age.

"I am now going to tell you a story," says the announcer.

As he tells the story the crowd becomes more docile. Silent tears run down the cheeks of some, while others who were previously using their handkerchiefs to wipe sweat from their foreheads now use them to blow their nose and wipe their eyes. One face in the crowd is extremely red, but it is hidden well between its owner's legs so that no attention is drawn to it.

"We would like to honor Tyler Wilson, a freshman at Brigham Young University," says the announcer as he finishes the story.

Tyler, who once resembled the fragile, experienced bodies standing next to each coach stands up and runs to the stage with his head held high. Jaws drop as he takes the stage. The once-sitting members of the crowd simultaneously rise to their feet, and Tyler's teammates look at each other in awe. None of them had heard his story before, and that is the way Tyler liked it.

"It was not the spotlight that mattered," said Tyler in his conventionally humble way. "It was that I was able to stand up and accept the award and show the kids that I was able to overcome it. It was amazing."

After the awards ceremony the kids flocked to Tyler. Some asked for his autograph, while others asked him questions. One little boy approached him and asked if he was going to make it. Tyler responded that they were both fighting the same fight and the he was going to be fine.

Eleven years ago Tyler was that little boy.

When he was seven years old, chronic stomach pain plagued him for close to six months. Doctors diagnosed him with Cat Scratch Disease, a sickness that comes from being bitten or scratched by a cat and causes swelling in the lymph nodes, fever, fatigue and loss of appetite. Soon after, he was acting like a normal second grader until one of his friends pushed him into a bookshelf. That was the last occasion Tyler would be able to act like a second grader for a long time.

An inflamed lymph node was found under Tyler's arm and his parents took him to the hospital to be checked again.

"After admitting him to Primary Children's Medical Center it took them ten days to diagnose what he had," said Jeff Wilson, Tyler's father. "By the time he was diagnosed they thought he only had ten days to live."

Tyler was diagnosed with stage IV, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that makes up part of the immune system. As Non-Hodgkin's disease progresses it compromises the body's ability to fight infection, leaving its victim unusually susceptible to everyday illness, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site. Tyler's cancer had progressed to such an advanced stage that he began chemotherapy the same day he was diagnosed.

"His first question was, 'does this mean that I am going to die?'," Jeff said. "It took us a few hours to settle down and then they told us that is was a fifty-fifty chance that he was going to live."

For the next six months Tyler went through intensive chemotherapy each week. His body became weak, but his spirits remained strong with the support of family and friends. During one of the more difficult times, Tyler's grandpa brought him a framed picture that Tyler has to this day. The picture was of a bird with a frog in its mouth. The frog's legs are hanging out of the bird's mouth, but his hands are wrapped around the bird's neck attempting to strangle it. Below the caption reads, "Don't ever give up!"

Tyler has carried that theme with him in school, lacrosse and life. Because of a treatment used to kill any cancer that might be found in his central nervous system, school has not always been easy. This treatment has increased survival rates, but it has also had a negative effect on short-term memory, processing and organizing thoughts and ideas.

"If you have to memorize something once, I have to memorize it twice," Tyler said. "I can do it, it just takes me about twice as long and I have to work twice as hard."

After missing the majority of second grade, and with a new learning challenge, Tyler realized that graduating with his class would require hard work and determination. After long hours of studying and dedication, he graduated last year from Timpview High School with his former second grade classmates.

Not only did he graduate, but he also excelled in his one true love: lacrosse. His leadership and inspiration helped his teammates reach higher levels of performance and his work ethic was contagious. During his senior year he was elected to be captain, won the state championship, was the team MVP-Attack and was named to the All-State first team.

"He found opportunities to take the game on his shoulders and carry the team to the next level," said Rob Shaw, his high school lacrosse coach. "It was amazing for me to watch him progress. We talked a lot about building your teammates and lifting those around you and he really took that to heart. One of the great things about Tyler is that he is one of those people that can lift your spirits."

Lifting others is something that he has done since he was diagnosed. Tyler never whined, complained or asked "why me." He kept a smile on his face during the difficult times and leaned on others when times got tough.

When he returned to school he was greeted by a group of his friends who had shaved their heads so that Tyler would not feel out of place.

"He played the role model for our group of friends," said Tyson Ficklin, a long time friend and part of the bald crew. "He is very dedicated and taught us to stay strong in what you love."

Tyler's love has always been lacrosse. He made Tyson practice everyday with him until he finally told him that he did not want to play anymore. His love has now carried him to the BYU lacrosse team where he has fulfilled a lifetime dream of playing for the Cougars.

"Even now when I am stressed from school it's a nice place to get away from everything, just playing with the guys and having fun," Tyler said.

Tyler has been cancer free for eleven years; he is 5'10" and weighs 165 lbs. He plans to turn his mission papers in on January and fulfill his next dream.

Hodgkin's Disease

Risk Factors:

Age: People between the ages of 15 and 40, as well as those older than 55, are most at risk of Hodgkin's disease.

Family history: Anyone with a brother or a sister who has the disease faces an increased risk of developing Hodgkin's, though this may be due to similar environmental exposures rather than genetic factors.

Sex: Males are slightly more likely to develop Hodgkin's.

Past Epstein-Barr infection: People who have had illnesses caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, such as infectious mononucleosis, are more likely to develop Hodgkin's disease than people who haven't had a past Epstein-Barr infection.

Compromised immune system: Having a compromised immune system, such as from HIV/AIDS or from having an organ transplant requiring medications to suppress your immune response, also appears to put you at a greater risk of Hodgkin's disease.

Stages of Hodgkins Disease:

Stage I: The cancer is limited to one lymph node region or a single organ.

Stage II: In this stage, the cancer is in two different lymph nodes, but is limited to a section of the body either above or below the diaphragm.

Stage III: When the cancer moves to lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm, but hasn't spread from the lymph nodes to other organs, it's considered stage III.

Stage IV: This is the most advanced stage of Hodgkin's disease. Stage IV Hodgkin's disease affects not only the lymph nodes but also other parts of your body, such as the bone marrow or your liver.

Courtesy of Mayo Clinic

Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Jan 2008