Warriors For Wyatt

Ordinary Boy, Extraordinary Circumstances

Wyatt Crippen and his Lego City – Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

While most parents have been working to keep their children occupied during the recent frigid weather, Wyatt Crippen’s parents have been shouldering a much larger burden. Wyatt, is a student at Mount Horeb Elementary School and he has many friends. In most ways, Wyatt is a typical little boy. He loves his dogs, plays mindcraft and just wants to hang out with his buddies. He is a ball of energy that is a former Karate student and the King of Lego.  But, in one major way, Wyatt is not the typical elementary school guy-Wyatt has a brain tumor and he is facing his third surgery.

Wyatt’s parents, David and Kristi Crippen, have been traveling this road to recovery with their son since just before Christmas in 2011, when Wyatt’s frequent headaches and nausea was diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma. Though the road to diagnosis was lengthy, as Wyatt had been having painful symptoms since he was around 3 years old, the time the Crippens had to make serious health decisions for their son was short.  Within hours, their son was in surgery and the Crippens normal life took a devastating turn. They were fortunate to have a top rate surgical team for his first surgery and the site of that tumor remains clear. Unfortunately, scans identified a second location that was also being closely watched. Wyatt and his parents made the every three month trip to Nashville for follow up tests and they were hoping for a full recovery. Once again, the Holiday season came around and the Crippens, again, received devastating news. Wyatt would need another surgery to remove another tumor. Their son received his second surgery on January 15, 2013 and this time the surgery was more intense. Any neurosurgery has inherent risk, however the location of the second tumor was much more risky and further growth could have rendered it inoperable. The second surgery, like the first, was performed at Vanderbilt and the follow-up trips continued. Both Kristi and David have been with Wyatt through his entire medical crisis and the struggle to manage their son’s medical needs and provide a life for their family has taken its toll. His balance has been impacted and he is at risk for falling. Head trauma could be deadly for Wyatt and his parents take turns assisting him, sleeping and working in shifts. Eleven more months of check ups and tests followed the 2013 surgery and the Holidays rolled around again. The Crippens were hoping that this year would be different for their family, however, for the third time they received devastating news. The 2013 surgery did not remove all of Wyatt’s tumor and it was growing back in the same place. The Crippens are traveling to Washington for a second opinion and consultation with a renowned specialist and they plan to take his advice on treatment, which could include surgery combined with chemotherapy or radiation. The reoccurrence of Wyatt’s brain tumor and the dicey location have complicated Wyatt’s care. Options, such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, are not available to the Crippens and they are troubled that some well meaning people do not understand the medical limitations that they are working with in determining a course of treatment for Wyatt. Like all parents, David and Kristi want the best for Wyatt, however they are concerned that his options are limited due to the particular issues of his condition.

Though they are facing another surgery later this month, the Crippens are a family of faith and they have found solace in an enormous outpouring of support from a rather unusual source. In addition to family and friends, Wyatt has become facebook famous and his facebook page-Warriors for Wyatt- boasts more than 20,000 members. People from across the United States and beyond have joined the group to let a little boy in Jefferson County, Tennessee know that he is not alone in his fight. They have offered prayers, pictures of their pets and even contributed to Wyatt’s medical expenses. Wyatt enjoys the well wishes and likes to get on his Kindle and look at the pictures of pets that have been posted. It had become particularly important because, in an effort to cut expenses, the Crippens made the decision to cut off their cable. They have learned through years of medical expenses that every dollar that can be cut from the family budget is necessary for their more pressing needs. Wyatt was planning on taking his Kindle to his appointment in Washington, so that he could play games and keep up with his new facebook friends, but it appears that the Kindle is not working. As one of the ways that Wyatt’s parents can safely entertain the energetic boy, the Kindle will be sorely missed by both Wyatt and his parents on this trip and during recovery, when Wyatt’s movement is limited. In a list of large problems, however, the Kindle is a small inconvenience.  David and Kristi have been astounded by the out pouring of love and generosity by strangers that are bonded by the desire to help Wyatt recover. It never occurred to the struggling family that there were those that would contribute emotionally, physically and financially to help in their time of need. According to David, their church family has been beside them all the way and so many have taken an interest in their son’s health. Wyatt’s parents are hoping that this time is the last time that their son will have to face surgery. The follow up tests and waiting are just a part of recovery process and, though it is stressful both emotionally and financially, they will face each day together. Their faith, family, friends both new and old and Wyatt’s beautiful smile and strength of spirit will lead the way to brighter days and, hopefully, a short road to full recovery.

For those that are interested in becoming a facebook friend of Warriors for Wyatt
https://www.facebook.com/groups/483517231761034 and there is an opportunity to donate to Wyatt’s medical expenses on his facebook page.  Accounts have been set up for Wyatt at US Bank and First Tennessee Bank in Dandridge or donations can be dropped off at the First Baptist Church in Dandridge. Should a group or individual wish to make a larger donation, the Crippens are requesting that it be through the First Baptist Church in Dandridge.