About Tyler Luiz Simões
His was not a fight until the end. Rather, it was a fight for a new beginning.
Tyler was born to Danielle and Fabio Simões, brother of Yasmin, and the youngest of 20 grandchildren on his father's side. Even at a young age, Tyler was an old soul. He was a wise listener and his communities at Covenant Christian Academy and Netcast Church turned to him for advice. He connected with children, especially babies and toddlers who gravitated towards his warmth. His love of the color red reflected his energy as he ran across the soccer field and basketball court. His superheros were the Avengers, Diego Ribas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Devin Booker, and most of all, his dad. His sister always made him laugh. Their joy filled countless dance videos and every escape room they solved together. His mother was his North star - because of her, he saw beauty in all the women in his life.
He dreamed of going to Yale Medical School, and of having a family with five children. Even as he began to spend more and more time in the hospital, we were all in awe at how he still did so much. He helped with music therapy in the hospital and prayed for other children who were sick. He brought the Count of Monte Cristo to life for his classmates and his team on Hale 10. In some of his hardest moments, he cried - never as a complaint, but only as a wish for the simplest things so many of us take for granted: returning to school in person and being home with his family. He worried about his mom, who was always at his side and for his dad, who carried him out of school when he was in too much pain to do it himself.
Tyler lived a short life on this side of heaven. Yet, the memories below show how he moved so many hearts and souls, changed forever. Tyler created countless ripples of grace for all who knew him. His love for Jesus and his perseverance through unimaginable suffering were an inspiration to his medical team, school friends and their families, people from church, and even those who knew him only from afar.
Tyler fought the good fight for a new life - not only for himself, but also for others. His last words were from the song “The Goodness of God.” In the end, Tyler did not get his miracle over the disease. But we got Tyler and the miracles he made for all of us.
