Tyler James Volenec was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia (AML) in September of 1998 at the age of two. He dealt with the many challenges created by the disease with courage and a firm resolve to live each day of life to the fullest. After battling the disease for five months, Tyler passed away in February of 1999.
A life-threatening disease such as leukemia creates many personal and professional challenges for patients and their families. Megan and James Volenec, Tyler's parents, dealt with many of them firsthand. They also interacted with other families dealing with similar situations. Their collective experiences led them to identify an unanswered need: improving the quality of life for the patients and their families as they manage the demands created by tending to a loved one battling leukemia and other forms of pediatric cancer. As a result, Megan and James founded the Tyler Volenec Foundation to help address this unanswered need.
The foundation provides assistance to patients and their families throughout the metropolitan Chicago area. Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH), a leading pediatric cancer treatment facility located in Chicago, IL, provided a large majority of Tyler's healthcare. CMH and Tyler's Touch have developed a close working relationship. In addition to grants to individual families, the foundation will also direct resources to CMH for a variety of purposes with one goal: increasing the quality of life for patients and their families. Currently, the foundation has provided resources for a number of initiatives including:
- Distributing holiday gifts to patients at Children's Memorial Hospital
- Providing monetary assistance to families for payment of recurring expenses and health-care costs
- Purchasing Sony Playstations, televisions, video recorders, movies, toys and other items for use by patients on the pediatric cancer floor of Children's Memorial Hospital
- Holding a Valentine's Day Party for patients in the out-patient clinic of Children's Memorial Hospital
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