The Tidwell Family

Update:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tyler on Saturday evening, 10 December, 2022. Tyler fought valiantly against ALS and he passed surrounded by his loving family and without pain.

Tyler was a devout Christian and believed in the promise of heaven. We take comfort in knowing that he is now in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior.

There will be a wake in honor of Tyler on Thursday, 15 December from 6-8 PM at the Smith & Kernke Funeral Home located at 14624 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73134. Tyler's funeral service will be held the following day, Friday at 10 AM at Crossings Community Church, located at 14600 Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73134.

We invite all those who knew and loved Tyler to join us in celebrating his life and remembering the joy and love he brought into our lives. We ask that you keep Tyler's family and specifically his wife, Cassi, and their children Alexandra, Bobby, and Christian in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

We have set up a GoFundMe page to help support Tyler's family and meet their unmet financial and educational needs. All proceeds will go directly to Cassi and their children. We appreciate any support you can give.

Rest in peace, Tyler. You will be dearly missed. Tyler may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, forever.

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3 years ago, Tyler Tidwell was preparing to deploy for the 4th time in service to his country as an officer in the Marine Corps. Today, Tyler is in a wheelchair, unable to eat, drink, or talk. 

Tyler and his family are battling ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a deadly, incurable disease. Tyler is fighting for his life. 

Tyler and his family need your support in order to provide for their family and their future, help fund treatment, and the daily increasing costs of taking care of Tyler, including caregivers, transportation assets, and more. 

Please follow the family here: Cassi and Tyler Instagram

As featured in The Oklahoman , found here: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/04/16/us-marines-help-navy-football-alum-tyler-tidwell-battle-als/7137256002/

As featured in The Athletic, found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wcAZ3T72B68d7-yxDOc0H-Ow8nMmNbEM/view?usp=sharing

and also here: https://theathletic.com/2247385/2020/12/11/tyler-tidwell-navy-football-als/

Help Marine Corps Major Tyler Tidwell's wife and three young children as he battles ALS, a non-curable disease leading to paralysis and death. 

Tyler was recently medically retired from the Marine Corps due to his ALS diagnosis. As such, his inability to work and his caregiver requirements are having a significant impact on the family's financial future, as they now need to take care of Tyler's significant medical needs while they also pursuing elective, experimental treatments for Tyler that are highly expensive. 

Tyler and Cassi have been married for nine years with three kids: Alexandria (5), Bobby (4), and Christian (1).

Tyler graduated from the Naval Academy in 2007, where he was a star linebacker on the Navy football team. 

Tyler deployed numerous times in defense of our country as an infantry officer. He led and impacted thousands of Marines with exceptional leadership, character, and morals.

Before his fourth overseas deployment, Tyler began experiencing slurred speech and muscle weakness. Unfortunately, his symptoms worsened, and in August 2019, doctors diagnosed him with ALS.

Tyler is getting worse every day and requires assistance for everything. 

Tyler is currently in Oklahoma with his family fighting his diagnosis.

Cassi is the rock of the family. Her courage and toughness in the face of this tragic disease are nothing short of heroic. 

While the DOD and VA cover all standard medical costs, the Tidwell’s have and will continue to pay significant out-of-pocket expenses on elective, experimental treatments in an attempt to slow the progression of his symptoms. They want to proactively battle the disease and not just accept that Tyler will only get worse.

The cost of these past and future elective treatments as well as additional caregiving-related expenses have run into the hundreds of thousands, along with their relocation in order to be near their family and support system in Oklahoma.

We need to support this family. Tyler needs to be able to fight the disease without worrying about their finances and Cassi needs to be able to take care of Tyler and her three young children without worry.

The Tidwell's are the purest form of a military family and have always sacrificed so that others may be free. Even as Tyler loses his capability to speak and move freely in his body, he continues to find ways to help those around him. 

We need EVERYONE to step up and help the Tidwell family. The time is NOW to help. 

Thank you for your support - it is greatly needed and appreciated.