Teen dies after battling cancer

After a yearlong battle with cancer, Tyler Larson, 19, of Hampton, Neb., died Thursday at his home.

As Larson struggled against neurofibrosarcoma, a cancer that targets the body's nerves, he and his family received support from people throughout Hamilton County. A family friend and cancer survivor, Kyle Jessen, of Sidney, Neb., even created a group called Team Tyler.

Larson's father, Mike, said community members wore Team Tyler bracelets, gave donations to the family and offered words of encouragement.

Since childhood, Tyler Larson also battled neurofibromatosis, a disease that caused learning disabilities and problems with his motor skills.

Despite his struggles, Larson was the type of person who overcame obstacles, his father said. Because of the neurofibromatosis, doctors said Tyler Larson would never drive. He did.

Despite academic struggles at Aurora High School, he also became the football team's equipment manager.

“Tyler probably taught me more about life than I taught him,” Mike Larson said. “His hard work, courage, determination. He would never give up. And he was committed in everything he did.”

Larson was first diagnosed with cancer in March 2009 after a tumor wrapped itself around the sciatic nerve in his left leg. The tumor was removed March 18, 2009.

The sciatic nerve, also removed during surgery, controls movement of the ankle, so after the operation Tyler wore a large brace and had to relearn how to walk, his father said.

After three months, Tyler went back for a checkup and screening. He was clear. No cancer. Another three months passed, and Tyler went back for another checkup in September.

This time doctors found a tumor wrapped around the aortic valve of Tyler's heart.

Doctors tried chemotherapy with no success.

By February, he was out of options. Surgery wasn't possible because he had become too weak from treatment.

Friends and family kept him company. Nebraska native and New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, one of Tyler's favorite baseball players, visited him.

Larson died Thursday, exactly one year after his first surgery.

Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Monday at St. John Lutheran Church in Kronborg, Neb. Visitation will be at Messiah Lutheran Church in Aurora from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Larson is survived by his parents, Mike and Nancy Larson, and younger brother, Riley, all of Hampton; and grandparents Judy Sullivan of Aurora and Richard and Maraldine Larson of Marquette.

Contact the writer:

444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com

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