Tyler Needs Our Help More Than Ever

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

A sixteen year old McCreary Countian needs a living kidney donor as his condition worsens. To help, call Living Donor Team at 513-636-7201 and reference Michael Tyler Lay or call family at 606-376-8278.

“The Voice” first introduced Michael Tyler Lay, a McCreary County teenager in need of a kidney transplant, to our readers in December 2017. One year later in 2018, we did an update on Tyler’s condition for our readers and unfortunately had to report Tyler was still waiting for a compatible kidney and his condition was deteriorating. At that time, Tyler was feeling worse, struggling with high blood pressure, and his kidney function was decreasing. Due to his deteriorating condition, Tyler was forced to begin daily peritoneal dialysis treatments at home, and doctors and family began to aggressively seek a kidney donor.
Today, just over a year after beginning dialysis, sixteen year old Tyler is still praying and waiting for a kidney. His care has been switched over from the University of Kentucky to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and he requires dialysis for ten hours each day. Tyler continues to take large amounts of medications. His grandmother and caregiver, Marie Hale, says it is hard for Tyler to be so restricted.
“Tyler hates to be hooked to a machine and stuck in his bedroom for ten hours at a time,” Hale said. “He is a sophomore at McCreary Central, but he cannot go to school because we have to keep him healthy. We homeschool him, and the teacher is wonderful. He has been in the hospital several times from complications related to dialysis. Tyler breaks my heart because he wants to do stuff a sixteen year old does. He cannot go swimming, go on vacation, or hang out with his friends. When he sees someone doing something fun, Tyler just says he’ll be able to do it, too, when he gets his kidney.”
Earlier this month, Tyler and his grandparents received a call summoning them to the hospital for a kidney. Unfortunately, after cross matching blood, the doctor informed Tyler’s family that the kidney was not a match. Needless to say, Tyler and his family were heartbroken.
Tyler is eager to get a new chance at life. Always a sports lover, Tyler continues to follow UK football and basketball. After watching this year’s Daytona 500, he is now a racing fan.
To help Tyler get a new lease on life, individuals interested in becoming a living donor can call the Living Donor Transplant Team at 513-636-7201 and reference Michael Tyler Lay. Interested individuals can also call Tyler or his Mamaw, Marie Hale, at 606-376-8278.
There is absolutely no cost to the person who donates a kidney. The Living Donor’s labs, hospitalizations, etc. are all covered. For anyone not capable of being a donor, Tyler asks for prayers and help in sharing his story far and wide. With help from readers of “The Voice,” Tyler and his family are certain he can find a new kidney that will save his life.
“Please pray that Tyler gets a kidney soon,” his mamaw requests. “We pray every day for one, and we pray for him to stay healthy enough to get one. All he wants is to be a normal sixteen year old.”