Our names are Jen and Eric Cohen-Wallace. We are the parents of Tyler, our 13-year-old son who passed away a month ago after a courageous journey living with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a challenging connective tissue disorder.

In his short time with us, Tyler brought more love, light, and joy into the world than we ever thought possible. Despite countless medical challenges, tests, surgeries, and procedures—he lived with a radiant smile and an indomitable spirit. Tyler’s kindness and fierce determination were unmatched. He worked tirelessly to earn his black belt in karate this year, embraced life with fun, creativity, and taught us all what it means to truly live.

This holiday season, our family feels the profound emptiness of his absence. However, rather than letting our grief consume us, we’ve chosen to honor Tyler’s memory in a way that reflects the light and joy he brought to the world.

We’ve turned our front lawn into a vibrant holiday display, featuring dazzling inflatables, glowing lights, and at the heart of it all, a tribute to Tyler: the Loeys-Dietz logo illuminated with 60 ft. of LED lights. This display is our way of keeping Tyler’s spirit alive while raising awareness about Loeys-Dietz syndrome and supporting The Hospital for Sick Children, who cared for him with extraordinary dedication and love.

We’ve invited neighbors and passersby to visit the display, share stories, and make a donation to SickKids in Tyler’s honor. By doing so, you could help us heal, bring light to others this holiday season, and bring awareness to the incredible miracles happening every day at The Hospital for Sick Children.