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2023 Tour Local Event Honorees for Tyler
The Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver Disease, Inc.
Cade’s Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2003 by Scott and Jennifer Alpard for the purpose of supporting and funding the various programs that will make a difference in the lives of children with liver disease. Our mission is to find a cure for pediatric liver disease through the support of research and education.
When Cade was first diagnosed with biliary atresia, we knew he would eventually require a liver transplant. We didn’t think he would need one this soon, but we are thankful he received a healthy liver and now can get back to being a normal, happy, active child.
During the rollercoaster of a year one of the most difficult parts was how helpless and frustrated we felt. The most difficult thing a parent can do is put the life of their child in someone else’s hands. Obviously, this is what was required for Cade to receive the wonderful and compassionate care that everyone at Texas Children’s Hospital provided (in spite of his occasionally demanding and frustrated parents).
During this ordeal, we decided we had to do something that would allow us to feel like we were involved or at least making some kind of difference. We met numerous families and got to know other brave, courageous, and beautiful children that had received a liver transplant or who had some type of liver disease. We felt that we could and should do something to make a difference in the lives of not only these children, and their families, but in the lives of others in the years to come.
In addition, we learned no other organization existed that was solely focused on finding cures for these devastating illnesses. As a result, we created a Foundation, in Cade’s name, focused on pediatric liver disease. It is with a great amount of pride and appreciation that we use Cade’s name for this worthwhile endeavor.
As Title Honoree, The Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver Disease, Inc will be recognized at each local event along the 2023 Lone Star Circle of Life route.
Christopher David Gaylord – Organ Donor
“Christopher was always a giving person willing to help anyone that was in need. He was quiet and shy when you first met him, but once you connected with him, you had a friend for life. Chris was never afraid of work and was always willing to put in the hours to get what he wanted.
When he took his driver’s ed course in high school I can still remember how proud he was to sign up as an organ donor at the age of 16. He had a love for hunting and fishing, was an avid gun and knife collector, and had the ultimate passion for riding motorcycles.
Christopher was only 29 in August 2020 when he was involved in a car accident outside Tyler, Texas. When we were given the information that he would not survive it wasn’t even a hesitation to ask for the next steps on how to proceed with organ donation. That time frame was most surreal to take in all this new information regarding organ donation in the primary role as a mother but also as a Registered Nurse.
I soon realized that the best way I could honor Christopher and keep his memory alive for me would be to promote organ donation as much as possible. I became a volunteer with UT Southwest Transplant Alliance to have that connection to promote and educate as many individuals as possible about the benefits of organ donation, as well as be able to offer that additional experience or insight that only another donor mom could provide.
Because my son is no longer physically here with me does not mean he no longer exists. I have been blessed with the ability to connect with two of Christopher’s recipients; one gentleman that received his heart and another that received his liver. It is a blessing that these individuals share their lives with us, and always honor Chris at the same time.
Christopher was able to donate the following: his heart (59M), lungs (26M), liver (53M), left kidney (35M), right kidney (38F), corneas (11F), tissues and muscles; he was also accepted into a willed body program after organ donation to be part of a spinal study for students in premed and physical therapy programs.”
~ Michelle Rayburn, Christopher’s mother
Phil Wyszynski – Heart and Kidney Recipient
August 26, 2019, I woke around 5am, like I do most days to go to the gym, feeling that something was not right and knowing it had to do with my heart. I woke my wife and told her ‘I think I need to go to the ER’. The hospital was over an hour away and I called my cardiologist who is also a close friend to meet us there. The last memory I have was in the ER as I was being rushed to the cath lab. That I made it to the hospital was the first of many miracles we would see.
It was determined that I needed advanced therapies to live and Life Flight was called to transfer me to UT Southwestern hospital in Dallas. A prayer chain was started and the miracles began happening. The large helicopter was landing (nearby) to refuel carrying a full nursing team, and a bed and OR suddenly became available at UTSW. To date, I am the fastest transfer in UTSW history.
The next three months were terrifying, not just for me but for my wife and family. After weeks on ECMO I was implanted with a left ventricular assist device to keep me alive while I waited for a new heart.
My heart weakened and I was admitted to the hospital June 30, 2022. My wife and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in ICU. There is no better example of ‘in sickness and health’ and I love her more than is even possible. After 61 days of hoping and praying I received the precious gift of a heart and kidney. What a gift from God!
One last note about my journey; one night I dreamt I was talking to dead people and thought perhaps I was dead. I could see to my right a brilliant light and a few people in a line and to my left I saw a tunnel that was black and green and had thousands of bodies, bloodied and squeezed together like sardines. I realized that these were the gates to heaven and hell. To this day those images are still in my mind. If you don’t know Jesus and ask for forgiveness for your sin and ask him into your life to be your savior, it’s not too late. The decision you make today will be for ETERNITY. Miracles are still happening!
Bill Martin – Platelet Donor
During critical shortages, surgeries and medical treatments can get postponed until much-needed blood components become available. It’s a life-threatening reality for patients in need and their families and friends, one that Carter BloodCare donor Bill Martin knows painfully well.
He recalled a close college friend and work colleague who experienced a heart attack in his early 40s and another in his 50s. “It shocked all of his friends. Of the group, he was the best physically in-shape person we knew,” Bill said. “He played on outdoor/indoor soccer teams and several softball teams, and did other physical activities. He had kept his high school gymnastic physique into his early 60s.” After analyzing and monitoring his health throughout the years, doctors ordered a heart procedure to hopefully prevent future heart attacks.
“In July 2022, he celebrated his 64th birthday in the hospital, awaiting platelets that delayed his originally planned operation,” Bill said. “Unfortunately, three days after his birthday, he died in the hospital, still waiting for his platelets.” A consistent whole blood donor since retirement who’d made the switch to donating platelets, Bill recognized he could make a difference for others in critical need.
When he switched from donating whole blood, Bill’s first experience with the apheresis process for platelets went so well that he safely upped his donation from one unit per session to two. He took up Carter BloodCare’s Platelet Challenge of six donations every quarter, maxing out the individual platelet donations per year at 24. “My goal is two units of platelets each donation,” he said. “Of the 13 donations achieved so far, 12 of 13 have been two units. If I hit 48 units, it is six gallons of platelets per year.”
John Spiller Stem Cell Transplant Recipient
“In 2020, I was diagnosed with Mantle cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I spent eight months in Tyler getting infusion therapy. In April of 2021, I started my journey at M.D. Anderson, where I received my stem cell transplant on May 6th.
I was quarantined for one month at M.D. Anderson, then had to stay in Houston for 100 days. I was allowed to come home but had to remain in quarantine in my home for another four months.
My immune system is still very weak, but I am allowed to leave home with restrictions.
I did experience some setbacks, namely pneumonia, RSV and COVID to name a few, but I’m still pushing forward.
If there is any advice I could give someone else going through this, I would say, “Try not to let cancer get in your head and bring you down.” I have had a great support system from my wonderful daughters, grandson, and siblings. God has blessed me with more time to annoy them all. God has been very, very good to me through this trial; I thank God every day.
Thea and Ella Cooper – Blood and Marrow Recipients
In July of 2020, Thea was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at the age of 21 months. She required many blood transfusions during her chemotherapy and three stem cell treatments along with radiation to end her treatment. She is now almost three years out of treatment and doing amazing.
A year after Thea had completed treatment, our other daughter, Ella, got diagnosed with medulloblastoma at the same age as her sister. She also went through a similar treatment plan with several blood transfusions during chemotherapy and three stem cell treatments. She did not have radiation, however. She is not almost a year out of treatment and also doing very well.
We are beyond blessed to have two daughters that are doing so well despite what they had to go through at such a young age. Now they are almost five and three years old and people who don’t know our story don’t even know they are cancer kids.
Chris Hemphill – Organ Recipient
IN HONOR OF MY DONOR
“I was diagnosed with Stage 5 Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure on July 25, 2022. It came out of the blue and was a massive shock. I went on dialysis and did home hemodialysis for 7 months. While this treatment helped to keep me as healthy as possible, it required several adjustments and took so much energy (both physically and emotionally).
I work as a teacher and coach at Grace Community School. A parent of a couple students, who had a family member who had been an organ recipient, heard of my diagnosis and decided she wanted to get tested to see if she was a match. She was a match and gave up one of her kidneys. I had the surgery in February and am back now teaching and coaching full-time.
The diagnosis was such a shock, and the dialysis required me to make so many changes and sacrifices. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of a kidney, and so quickly. I feel as if I have been given a new lease on life. Without receiving this kidney, I would still be so limited in what I could do–both in time and in energy. I am thankful that God provided for me so that I can continue the work of raising up the next generation to be godly men and women.
Jase Blackwell, Blood Recipient
Jase was a thriving six-year-old little boy when all of a sudden started having knee pain. We were told it was growing pains, to juvenile arthritis to an infection. Then the worst was confirmed that it was cancer. Jase was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
He immediately began chemotherapy treatments while in the hospital. During the most intense phase of treatment, Jase had to receive many blood transfusions and has faced many obstacles along his cancer journey. One obstacle has taken away his mobility. He is fighting every day to regain his mobility. He is fighting every day to regain walking. He has entered the last year of the three-year treatment plan.
Landon Ellis – Stem Cell Recipient
Before February 14, 2023 Landon was a typical 11-year-old outdoor boy. He loved all things outdoors-riding bikes, shooting hoops, playing soccer, swimming, camping, building forts etc. He also loved to cook and build things. Valentines Day 2023 his life changed-
On February 14 after bloodwork ordered by his primary care physician in Tyler, we were told to get him to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital in Dallas as soon as possible. There, he was diagnosed by Oncology Doctors as having Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He has been in Children’s since that date and undergoing chemo treatments.
In early August, the doctors declared him ready for stem cell transplant. August 22, after one more round of chemo to get his body ready, he received his new stem cells from an unknown donor who was listed in the registry as a 10 out of 10 match. His body accepted the new cells and he has been recovering well. Landon is still in the 101 recovery days and is doing great!
We are forever thankful and grateful that the donor gave Landon his life back.
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
We are honoring the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for their long-standing partnership with Be the Match. They are an active, enthusiastic group that strives to live up to the four hallmarks of our organization: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.
Beginning in 2016, Phi Theta Kappa has held many registration drives to put students and faculty on the Be The Match Registry. They have partnered also with the Center for Student Life and the Tyler Junior College Nursing Departments to further this life-saving mission for all searching patients
Joshua Canal – Organ Recipient and Tissue Donor
Josh Canal’s life was saved many years ago by a special person who donated their heart. Years later, when Josh’s transplanted heart began to fail, he was again put on the transplant list. This time, however, a donor was not found in time. At Josh’s passing, he became a donor, gifting many of his tissues to others to give them life.
Aneesa Cedillo – Blood Recipient
Aneesa Cedillo is a childhood cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at age 6. She is now 11 years cancer free as of July 27. Along with chemotherapy she has had many blood transfusions.
Although she went through such a traumatic experience at such a young age that does not stop her from pursuing one of her dreams. Aneesa is passionate about spreading awareness of childhood cancer, she uses her voice for those who are afraid or cannot use their own. She wants to be a role model for the youth to show them that nothing can stop them once they put their mind to it. She started a Go Gold Week at her high school where it is a fun educational way for the students to be aware that kids get cancer too. For example one of the days is Monday: Stomp Out Cancer, Wear Boots. She was recently able to get her school district to Go Gold and hopes that it’ll continue on even after she graduates.
Aneesa wants people to know that kids get cancer too and wants people to show their support by wearing gold or yellow during September because September is childhood cancer awareness month, or wear yellow/gold throughout the year because cancer does not care who and where you are. Gold is the color for childhood cancer because children are more precious than gold. Go Gold.