The Exciting Light the Night news!

Recently, I was told that the local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society office plans to create an award to be given to the top fundraising team at the Seattle Light the Night walk AND they want to name the award after Tyler!  I would love for Team Firefly to be the first recipients of this award, so I ask that you join our team in fundraising this year if possible.

To see Tyler's Honored Patient story, you can go to:

http://image.lls-email.org/lib/fef915707d600d/m/1/Tyler+-+Story.pdf

6 months gone

It's hard for me to believe that 6 months have passed since Tyler lost his battle with leukemia.  He lives on in the stories we tell and the memories that we treasure.  Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with many of Tyler's childhood friends and was so thankful to hear them telling jokes about his cross country running prowess.  Apparently, Paul actually beat Tyler in a race and made sure to invite the media to the event.

Life certainly changes as time continues to march on, but I am doing well.  I am a little worried that I won't be able to get enough time in on the soccer field this summer, as my teams aren't playing enough or on the right nights.  :)  I am thankful for the continued friendship of the many friends that I made through Tyler, as well as the new friends that I am making now.  It is strange to restart your life again.

I read an amazing story several months ago about a woman who had lost her grandmother, an avid button collector.  From time to time she would find a button in a completely random place like the bathroom sink.  I thought that was an amazing story and, after much thought, I decided to give Tyler a song that he really loved and consistently made me think of him.  From time to time, I hear his song on the radio and remember that he loves me still. I was quite moved when his song played just before the craft swap a couple of weeks ago.  It felt like he was telling me that he was happy that I doing this fundraising (or maybe just happy that I was giving away some craft supplies).

Thanks to the many people who prayed for me and encouraged me, especially in the first few months when the pain was so much more sharp.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Hans, who compiled the amazing slide show you saw at Tyler's memorial service, has graciously offered to provide copies to friends and family who wanted a copy for themselves. If you would like to get a CD with the slide show on it, please comment and/or send me an e-mail.

The Dash, By Linda Ellis

For those of you were moved by the poem The Dash at Tyler's memorial service, I have included a link to the author's website.  She has a beautiful slideshow and the complete poem listed at:  The Dash’s Dash

Sleep in Peace, Tyler Douglas Bledsoe

Tyler Douglas Bledsoe, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on Jan 6, 2011 after courageously fighting a four year battle with Leukemia.

He was born Oct 31, 1966 in Longview, WA to Scott Bledsoe and Andrea (Bledsoe) Coughlin. He grew up in Ballard, attending Crown Hill and Whittier elementary schools and Whitman Middle School, where he participated in Little and Major League Baseball and Soccer. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1984 with Honors, and participated in Varsity Baseball, Cross Country, and Soccer.  He attended Seattle University for one year, then transferred to the University of Washington, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

He loved working outdoors with his hands, and made a career of creating beautiful landscapes. He worked for Olympic-Cascade Landscaping for 10 years, then joined the Seattle Children's Hospital Grounds & Sustainability Department, where he helped recreate the landscape you see there today as well as managed and maintained the facility at 70th and Sandpoint Way.

He was an outstanding athlete and continued playing soccer throughout his adult life, leading his teams to many victories by employing "THE MOVE". He also coached a girl's soccer team for several years, and was an avid fan and season ticket holder for the Sounders. He loved golf, both real and "fantasy", and enjoyed many rounds in the last four years with his father Scott, his father-in-law Dave, and his brother Matt.

Tyler had a passion for life. He was a man of great inner strength and displayed wisdom, stability, love, humor, kindness, sensitivity and fairness. He was fiercely competitive but had an even disposition, a generous spirit, and never ending patience and strength with medical challenges.

Tyler leaves behind his loving wife Mandy, his parents Scott and Kate Bledsoe and Andrea and John Coughlin, siblings Matt Bledsoe, Sam and Colleen Sundquist, and Elizabeth Gizzi, grandmothers Thelma Westberg and Marion Bledsoe.  He leaves behind many other loving family members, as well as countless friends. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed by all who had the honor of knowing and loving him.

Tyler's memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan 15th at 1:00 pm, at North Creek Presbyterian Church - 621 164th Street SE - Mill Creek, WA 98012. All are welcome to come celebrate his life with us. Remembrances may be made in Tyler's honor to Team Firefly, our fundraising team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the amazing doctors, nurses, and other staff who provided him such excellent care throughout his battle.