Mike and Deb Hultink recently learned their oldest son, 13-year-old Tyler, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
“A mass the size of an orange is pushing on part of his brain, taking up ‘luxury real estate,’ causing him sharp pain from movement, nausea, dizziness and vomiting,” said a GoFundMe page set up for the Hultink family.
“Until the tumour is removed and sent for testing, they do not know what type it is. The head of neurology in Canada will be performing the surgery and they are being well-taken care of at the Stollery (Children’s Hospital) in Edmonton.”
The Lacombe teen’s surgery was this past Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Mike and Deb … have been told that he will not be able to speak, walk or drink when he awakes. The hope is that these things will return in time.
“They were told the surgery is their ‘mountain’ and there will be many ‘hills’ after that. This has been a shock and a lot to process in only a few days.”
The GoFundMe page has already raised more than $34,000.
“We have Ty back in our arms for now. He is stable,” an update on the GoFundMePage said.
“We are humbled and blown away from the go fund me and other donations. Thank you for taking that stress from us. We are speechless. Thank you just doesn’t feel like enough.”
An earlier update on the GoFundMe page said the family was told “his tumour appears to be cancerous.”
“The tumour is showing many small cells with many dead ones, indicating it’s aggressive. Even if they get all the tumour, the concern is that the cells are all around in the brain.
“We have no words and feel devastated. We have to wait 10 business days for pathology. This is not what any of us wanted to hear. Our hearts are broken beyond words.”
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