A Bakersfield family and a local
youth football league are in
mourning this week following the
valley fever-related death of
Standard Middle School
seventh-grader Tyler
Bridgewater.
Tyler, 12, died Saturday at
Children's Hospital Central
California in Madera, nearly
four months after contracting
valley fever and encephalitis,
an inflammation of the brain.
"We did everything to try to
turn it around," Tyler's mother,
Monika Blake, said of the many
surgeries her son underwent.
"But after fighting it for
four months," she said, "Tyler
went into complete organ
failure."
The family is in shock, with
Tyler's 10-year-old brother,
Steven, and two sisters, Tori,
16, and Breanna, 8, trying to
make sense of the loss.
"It's hard for them," Tyler's
mom said. "But they're doing
OK."
Tyler's teammates and coaches
in the youth football league he
played for are also dealing with
the loss. Tyler played on
the North Fire team.
"The whole league is
mourning," said Ron White, the
executive director of Golden
Empire Youth Tackle Football.
"I've received countless
calls to my office," White said.
"Not only do people want to help
the family financially, they
want to reach out in any way
they can."
It's no small thing. Tyler's
mom left her job in October so
she could remain at Tyler's
bedside in Madera throughout his
struggle. Tyler's stepdad, Andy
Rost, stayed behind to watch the
other children and bring them to
Madera to visit whenever
possible.
Rost described Tyler as a
young man who was
"open-hearted," who was willing
to befriend anyone who needed a
friend.
"He met the world with open
arms," Rost said.
And football. Tyler loved
football, the New England
Patriots and especially his
North Fire teammates.
Only his family was more
important.
"He was very protective of
his brother and sisters," his
mother said. "He always wanted
to make others around him
happy."
Dr. Claudia Jonah, public
health officer for Kern County,
said only about 1 percent of
those who contract valley fever
suffer permanent damage from the
illness. But for that 1 percent,
it can be extremely dangerous,
even fatal.
The fungal disease is caused
when spores in dry soil become
airborne and are inhaled. The
spores are endemic in certain
parts of California, Arizona and
other areas of the American
southwest.
Most cases are mild, Jonah
said. In fact most people don't
know they have it as they may
exhibit mild flu symptoms or no
symptoms at all.
And once you've had it -- and
most longtime area residents
have probably had it -- chances
of a recurrence are quite small,
Jonah said.
"If you live here you should
educate yourself about this
illness," she said. People
should be cautious about being
out in windy, dusty conditions,
but "dust itself doesn't equate
to a problem."
Dust stirred up from land
whose soil has remained
relatively undisturbed, such as
the foothills northeast of
Bakersfield, is to be guarded
against. A dust mask may help,
but it's not foolproof, she
said, as the organisms that
cause the disease are very tiny.
Services for Tyler are
scheduled for this weekend. A
viewing will take place from
noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at
Hillcrest Mortuary. A memorial
service is scheduled for at 2
p.m. Sunday, also at Hillcrest.
The public is invited.
Meanwhile an account has been
set up by supporters of the
family at Bank of the Sierra for
those who wish to help with
funeral costs. The account
number is 260 008 7330. The
routing number is 121 137 027
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