Tyler's Giving Tree Candidates

Zion was a miracle from the start. He was born unable to swallow. He spent 4 months at primary children’s hospital receiving multiple surgeries for tracheoesophageal fistula and atresia, and other birth defects also known as vacterl association. He didn’t eat by mouth until 2 years old and didn’t learn to walk until 3. In Aug 2021 at 4 yrs old, by divine intervention, his mom took him to the ER for back pain. After an MRI, bloodwork, and bone marrow sample, his parents found out the devastating news that Zion had a rare, more aggressive form of leukemia called Philadelphia positive B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He then had surgery for a port placement and started chemotherapy. He has had multiple lumbar punctures to put chemo through his spinal fluid, bone marrow samples, and chemo through his port. He fought through a 10 day hospital stay for an intensely painful intestinal infection when all his blood levels were too low to fight it. Zion continues his journey in his words “kicking cancers butt”. He was supposed to finish chemo in Aug but the cancer spread to his cerebroespinal fluid causing high pressures in his brain where he spent 2 weeks in the hospital one of those weeks intubated in the ICU. He is back in the thick of the fight facing new treatment as we try to again kick cancers butt. He has an 8 yr old sister named Taya, and 3 yr old brother named Royce. You would never guess Zion has been through so much! He smiles through it all. He loves everyone around him, and never complains. He told his mom he feels angels all around him because he knows people are praying for him. Zion is an example of God’s love, power, and strength.

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The second canadite is Davis County's own, Coach Weaver. He was born and raised in Utah. Lived his entire life in Davis or Weber county. Coach has two kids, his son Jaiden and daughter Quincee. Aside from them, sports has been his entire life since he could walk and talk. Once his high school playing days were over, coaching became his passion. He coached high school basketball and AAU basketball for 17 years. The majority being at Northridge high. Helping kids grow on and off the court is a very satisfying reward. Now, he is in the hospitality business as a General Manager of a hotel in Layton, where I can continue to still influence and help others grow. Recently he was diagnosed with small bowel cancer (treated as stage 3 Colon cancer).

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