Lehigh Valley Music Awards Shine Spotlight on Neurofibromatosis
This year’s event will honor Tyden Lewis, who has battled the disease for the past seven years
By Kailee Baylor
After being born with more than 30 birthmarks, one-month-old Tyden Lewis visited an ophthalmologist, who checked his eyes for markings that might be similar to those that were on his skin. There were no spots, so the doctor sent him to St. Christopher’s Hospital to see a neurologist, who agreed that everything looked as it should.
About three years later, Tyden developed what looked like a bug bite on his right earlobe, so his mother took him to the family doctor who prescribed a cream. Over time, the earlobe continued to grow. After a year of going from doctor to doctor, Tyden had an MRI that revealed he had had a tumor inside his head. He was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis.
“My whole chest felt like it had collapsed,” says his mom, Danielle Finch. “A storm of questions came coursing through my brain. ‘Where do we go from here?’”
By the following year, Tyden needed surgery to remove the tumor. His mom calls him ”an amazing child,” saying he handled it all extremely well.
“The only time he was scared was when they came to get him for the surgery and I had to leave,” Finch says. “As they took him, he screamed and cried. I turned around, balling my eyes out. It was the worst feeling in the world.”
While the surgery was a success, Tyden’s fight is far from over. As of now, this courageous 7-year old has nine tumors on his body. But despite everything, he remains a happy, loving, energetic boy who loves music and dancing. It’s for this reason that the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association is honoring Tyden and his family at this year’s Lehigh Valley Music Awards ceremony with their annual Community Youth Award.
During the LVMAs on March 6, Tyden will share the stage with some of the area’s most popular musicians as he receives his honor. In addition, the School of Rock, Lesson Center and the Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School for the Arts will pay tribute to Tyden, dedicating their performance of David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity “to him.
“Tyden loves music and has a very positive outlook on life despite all the adversity he has faced,” says Gloria Domina, co-coordinator of the music awards. “We’re honored that we can recognize this courageous young man while helping to shine the spotlight on NF. He truly is an inspiration to us all.”
At the music awards, Tyden and his family will also be accepting donations for the NF Network and providing information about the Great Steps 4NF Awareness Walk, organized by Danielle Finch, set for May 14 at the Bethlehem Township Community Center.
