Tyler’s Story

Site created on April 30, 2021


We knew this day would come for Tyler but prayed not this soon. Tyler has begun his liver transplant journey.  Tyler was diagnosed with gallstones at 22 months old. During his surgery to remove the gallbladder they discovered that he has biliary cirrhosis. Tyler has been on medication, 2 times a year labs, yearly ultrasounds and yearly doctor appointments. On Marcy 23rd Tyler went to Urgent Care for digestive problems and yellow skin and eyes. He was transferred to the ER and then transferred to Fairview Southdale in Edina. He was there for 2 days and had several blood tests and an MRCP to check for any blockage in his bile ducts. The MRCP did not show any blockage.  They found a regiment to help with his digestion. On April 1 Tyler followed up with his doctor at Minnesota Gastroenterology. After review of Tyler's most recent tests he received the diagnosis of ACLF ~ Acute-on-chronic liver failure. This was a super scary diagnosis to hear and even scarier upon researching it. On April 3rd Tyler started feeling even worse and experiencing some abdominal pain. After a phone call to the on call Gastroenterologist we were directed to take him to Abbott if he did not improve. I brought Tyler to Abbott on April 4th  and he was admitted for abdominal pain. His pre admission Covid test was positive so I was unable to be with him during his stay. Abbott did a fantastic job talking with me during his doctor visits. Tyler had a liver biopsy during his stay at Abbott. Based on his liver biopsy he was referred to Mayo Clinic for a liver transplant evaluation. He is scheduled May 24-27 for the evaluation. Once he has been evaluated the liver transplant team will determine if he is eligible for a transplant. Please pray for Tyler to be eligible for a transplant so he can have a better quality of life. 




Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Angie Ziegenhagen

Tyler is doing well overall. He has had a few bumps in the past 71 days. A virus called CMV, was detected in his blood work. This was treated with a viral medication. According to his transplant coordinator, this is very common. CMV is like a flu like virus. Tyler had very mild symptoms of it. He has battled through his first common cold with a weakened immune system. Going on 2 weeks and still can't quite shake it. Not even sure where he picked that up. He only goes to labs every Monday and that is a few steps into the hospital. None of us have been sick. Sophie picked up the cold from Tyler and was better within a week. 
Tyler has gained 20 pounds since we came home from Rochester! This is amazing! He has much more energy. Sleep is still a problem for him as well as some annoying side effects of all the medications he has to take. Hopefully at his 4 month appointments he will be able to decrease some of them. He continues to live at home with us and not sure if Mama Bear will let him leave anytime soon. As far as work goes, he is still on long term disability and Mayo will reassess at his 4 month appointments to see if he can go back to work. 


76 days since Tyler's liver transplant and 76 days since a family lost their loved one. The donor family is in our thought so many times throughout the days. We have so much to be thankful for. We are in the process of writing the donor family a letter to bring with us to Tyler's appointments at Mayo in May. How does one put in to words how thankful they are for the gift of life at the cost of another losing their life?!

April is National Donate Life Month as well as National Autism Month! We will celebrate Tyler and all he has overcome everyday! He is our HERO!
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