Tyler Trent Whose Fight With Cancer Inspired Many Dies at 20

The former Purdue student Tyler Trent, who was a super fan and inspired many sports fans with his grace and gratitude died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, a from osteosarcoma. He was 20-years-old.

Trent was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma when he was in high school. He was diagnosed with the disease after while playing frisbee he broke his arm.

The young man was a huge football fan and the Boilermaker football team got to know him after he camped outside the stadium last September before their home opener against Michigan. He had his picture with the head coach Jeff Brohm that morning. Trent did not mention to Brohm that the day before he had chemotherapy.

During an interview in October, Brohn talked about the super fan. He stated that he saw him dress in Purdue clothes and he was smiling. He didn’t tell him that he was sick and he was just happy and positive.

The athletic department at Purdue issues a statement Tuesday with condolences to Trent’s friend’s and family.

They stated that while words can’t stop the hurt they hope to offer comfort in knowing that Tyler was an inspiration to the fans, staff, coaches, and athletes. Everybody in the Purdue Athletics family was touched by his battle which was courageous and his spirit was positive and his faith unwavering. Tyler was a Boilermaker and will always live in everybody.

Trent was made an honorary bowl captain and was at midfield during the pregame coin toss which happened last Friday. The Boilermakers ending up losing to Auburn at the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Jim Irsay the Indianapolis Colts owner flew Trent and his entire family to Nashville.

Trent’s illuminating smile was known by millions of college football fans after the media covered his cancer battle. He ended up raising more than $100,000 in his final months for cancer research.

Doctors discovered Trent’s cancer in 2014 after he broke his arm playing a Frisbee. He needed surgery to replace the bone in his upper right arm and received nine months of Chemotherapy. It was great news when it was found that he went into remission. The young man earned a scholarship to Purdue. However, the Cancer returned while he was a senior in high school. He then had surgery to replace his pelvic bone. He was about to start at Perdue University in less than two weeks.

Trent told ESPN that when he learned that for the second time he had cancer he told the doctor that he would be going to school. He made it to his first day of college.

In 2018 the Cancer spread to his spine and he left school and returned home. The Boilermakers went to his home and gave him the game ball from their win against Nebraska.

Trent and his family were going to attend the Oct 20 home game at Purdue against Ohio State who was undefeated. His fight with cancer was featured on College GameDay.

Purdue won the game against undefeated Ohio State. During the game, millions of viewers learned about Trent’s importance to the Boilermakers. The following two months he won the ‘Disney Spirit Award’, the “Sagamore of the Wabash Award’ which is the highest and most important award given to citizens of Indiana. He also went to SportsCenter and co-hosted an episode. Even a bobblehead doll was made to look like him.

Trent started a program named Teens with a Cause to help the families who are taking care of people with Cancer with household chores.

Written By Barbara Sobel
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

ABC News: Tyler Trent, whose cancer fight inspired many, dies at 20
CBS Sports: Purdue superfan Tyler Trent dies after battle with bone cancer
WDRB: Purdue Super Fan Tyler Trent Dies of Cancer at 20

Featured and Top Images Courtesy Of Frank Gruber’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License