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As the Publisher of the Sporting Times I have had the great opportunity to meet and talk with so many outstanding student athletes, coaches, parents and people in our community. I believe there is power in high school sports that unites, inspires and evoke passion in all of us.
This article is about an inspirational young lady who I was introduced to during the Girls 4th region championship game at E.A. Diddle Arena. It was the championship game between Bowling Green Lady Purples and Allen County Scottsville Lady Patriots.
Standing at the baseline at the beginning of the 4th quarter, the game well in hand for the Lady Purples up by double digit points, I noticed a player for Allen County Scottsville that I had not seen play before. She was tall, athletic and despite the score, was giving it her all. I turned to a lady who was wearing an ACS sweater with a camera in hand and I asked her “who is number 25?” She smiled and replied, “That’s my daughter, Tyler Creek she is a senior”. I expressed to Mrs. Creek how much I had enjoyed watching her play, but was curious as to why her limited play.
After a couple minutes of explanation from Tyler’s Mom, I realized that this moment for her daughter and there family was much bigger than the game itself. It was about family, faith, friends and the incredible spirit and perspective of a young lady who exemplifies the word inspirational.
Getting to know Tyler Creek.
Tyler is the eighteen-year-old daughter of Michael and Vanessa Creek, lives in Scottsville, attends Allen County-Scottsville High and is a member of the Lady Patriot basketball team. She started playing basketball when she was eight years old. She was tall and very strong.
As an eighth-grader, Tyler won the MVP award. As a freshman, she earned a spot on the varsity team. And, as a sophomore, Tyler’s height and strength earned her a starting spot in several games. Tyler prides herself on her fearlessness to take a charge. Her sophomore year, she received the award for “Most Charges Taken”. In that single season, she took 38 charges. Tyler had hopes of being one of ACS’s top players and one day playing at Diddle Arena as a Lady Patriot.
But at the age of sixteen, toward the end of her sophomore year, Tyler got very sick. Lingering and worsening symptoms kept her in bed most of the time. She was unable to enjoy the life that a normal, healthy teenager should have enjoyed. Summer practices as a Lady Patriot suddenly came to a halt as Tyler’s condition worsened.
After multiple doctor visits, and months of confusing, undiagnosed symptoms, Tyler was referred to the Hematology/Oncology department at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. After extensive testing, Tyler was diagnosed with von Willebrand Disease, an incurable bleeding disease like hemophilia, that prevents the blood from clotting. A substance known as von Willebrand factor, which helps platelets stick to damaged blood vessels, and a special protein called factor VIII are defective in Tyler’s blood, resulting in severe bruising, bleeding in the joints, and heavy, prolonged or uncontrollable bleeding.
Tyler takes a special medication to control episodic bleeding and bruising, but since her blood doesn’t clot, her life is at risk in the event of a serious injury or accident. A general hospital would not have the medications or blood products necessary to control the bleeding. She would have to receive emergency treatment at a Hemophilia Treatment Center in order to control bleeding in life-threatening emergencies. For treatment and comprehensive care, Tyler goes to the Hemophilia/Oncology Treatment Center at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Soon after the diagnosis of von Willebrand Disease, Tyler was dealt another blow. Neurological tests proved she had Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), an autonomic dysfunction that affects the autonomic nervous system in the body. An imbalance of the autonomic nervous system’s control over blood flow left Tyler with a multitude of relentless symptoms.
The hallmark of POTS is an excessive heart rate increment upon standing. Tyler’s heart had begun to beat at an excessive rate, causing extreme fatigue. It was as if she were running in place or practicing basketball 24/7. Her blood pressure was out of control, spiking, then dropping drastically and suddenly, causing dizziness and sometimes passing out. Severe migraines debilitated her. Now unable to retain fluids, Tyler’s body quickly got dehydrated. And, her digestive system was disrupted, causing nausea and vomiting.
For treatment of POTS, Tyler sees a neurologist and an electro physiologist. Because there is no cure for POTS, the symptoms of the disease are treated with lifestyle changes and a combination of medications. Tyler’s symptoms are yet to be controlled. She has a few good days where she might be symptom-free, but on most days, daily functions are a major challenge.
TS seriously affect Tyler’s daily life. More than anything, Tyler wanted to finish her senior year as a Lady Patriot and have a chance to play at least one game at WKU’s Diddle Arena. She knew that with this talented group of teammates, that chance was very possible. She was determined to overcome her extreme fatigue and the multitude of debilitating symptoms, so that she could continue to practice and play basketball whenever she was able.
“A lot of the time I think why me, but then I think I was given this so someone else wouldn’t have it. I could not imagine any of my family members or friends going through what I have gone through. I am glad it’s me and not somebody else. I feel that God has given it to somebody who can handle it and has the support to do it” said Tyler.
Tyler’s history of passing out and having an excessive heart rate limited her practice and play. On good days, Tyler’s coach would send her into the game to play for a couple minutes. He always made sure to ask her if she felt healthy enough to play. But sometimes, even on those good days, Ty, as her coach calls her, would walk off the floor and head straight for the locker room because she was nauseated, dizzy or having chest pain.
Some days, though, being a Lady Patriot seemed too much for Tyler’s body to handle. Quite often, she found herself pulling for her team while in the hospital receiving fluid treatments or being checked out for injuries due to passing out. The support was reciprocated as the team and coaches pulled and prayed for her to get better.
During the initial stages of diagnoses Tyler went through a roller coaster of emotions.
“When it finally hit me was when I starting missing school and more school. I kept trying, but with every doctor’s appointment I got bad news and then more bad news and awful test that nobody needs to go through”
Tyler’s support group is her loving family, friends and the community she lives in.
“I have a sister who graduated from Louisville. She is so smart and outgoing, she can do anything and I have a brother who works and lives in Bowling Green. He will also text or call me to wish me luck. My dad is funny. He nonchalantly comes up to me every day and gives me a hug and kiss on the forehead which makes me feel better. My mom is the stay on top of everything, doctors, medicine, do this and do that” said Tyler
Beyond her immediate family, Aunts and Uncles, her friends have supported her throughout her battle. “I have a best friend that goes to Greenwood High school her name Taylor Tolbert. Most of my doctor’s appointments are in Bowling Green. She would miss school to go with me to the doctors because she said I needed my side partner” said Tyler.
Taylor Tolbert is a senior at Greenwood High and the daughter of Todd Tolbert Athletic Director at Greenwood. “It is kind of hard being a best friend to see her go through this. It was never there before and then suddenly appears one day with her getting a nose bleed and having to go to the doctors and being diagnosed with those diseases. It is kind of heartbreaking, but it’s also a good feeling for her to count on me being there” said Taylor Tolbert.
But Tyler was a Lady Patriot, and that meant more to her than anything. She was determined not to give up. As a senior, Tyler’s hopes of playing at Diddle Arena were fulfilled when the Lady Patriots were crowned district champs and would play in the regional tournament at WKU. Tyler took the floor for the last time as an active Lady Patriot at Diddle Arena in the championship game of the regional tournament. And, even though the Lady Patriots did not advance into the state tournament, Tyler and her teammates had a very successful season. The memory of Tyler’s few minutes of play at Diddle Arena will last a lifetime, because for Tyler, it literally took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make one of her dreams come true.
“It seemed like my entire town was at the game when I walked onto the court. It just suddenly hit me that this was awesome. I loved it” said Tyler.
Tyler’s mother is grateful to the ACS family. “I can thank Coach Brad Bonds and the Lady Patriot coaching staff for helping to monitor Tyler’s conditions. They loved and cared for her as their own. Many coaches would have pressured a player into quitting due to having missed practices or games. But, never did they make her feel that her presence on the Lady Patriot team was not welcomed. She was a positive force and influence for her team”
“Tyler also loves each and every one of her teammates for being so supportive and protective. They exemplify the meaning of team as they truly experience everything as a team, not just as individual players. They have been there for Tyler during the trials of her diseases to the triumph of a winning season and helping to make her dream of playing at Diddle Arena come true” said Mrs. Creek
Once a Lady Patriot, always a Lady Patriot!
Tyler plans on going to Western Kentucky University and becoming a physical Therapist. She feels that would be perfect for her. For now, Tyler will finish up her senior year at ACS. She enjoys participating in FCA and having her friends back to her house since she is limited in what she can do.
Many thanks to the Creek family, and Tyler for sharing her inspirational story with the Sporting Times.
