A woman in North Carolina asked the community for help making her nephew’s birthday extra special. Christy Ford is the aunt of Tyler Ford, a 21-year-old with special needs and a deep love for dogs. His loving aunt wanted to surprise Tyler with a book full of dog pictures, knowing there was nothing else that could put as big of a smile on his face! What Christy didn’t know is that her simple request would quickly go viral.
A Man Who Never Loses His Smile
Tyler has a condition called Cri-du-Chat. It causes him to have difficulty with motor skills and he is in nearly constant pain from hip dysplasia. Additionally, Tyler has a sensory processing disorder. These impairments make everyday activities a struggle but Tyler still wears a smile, especially when there’s a dog nearby!
“To watch him endure these things day in and day out, knowing he does not have the ability to verbalize his discomforts and exhaustion, makes him nothing less than a hero in my book,” Tyler’s mom, Shanda, told barkpost.com. “Nonetheless, he continues to show grace to live life to its fullest, braving each day with that contagious smile on his face.”
Perhaps the best part of Tyler’s day is the love and friendship he gets from his two Australian Shepherds, Banjo and Fiddle. The trio seems nearly inseparable! Tyler’s family says he never forgets any dog that he meets. It was this devotion to dogs that sparked Christy’s idea to start the dog birthday book.
The Simple Request Went Viral And You Can Join In!
Christy had hoped for a good response to her original Facebook post. But, when things escalated and it was getting shared faster than she ever dreamed, Christy started a Facebook page just for the photos. Tyler’s PAW Strings now posts updates and shares stories of how the kindness of others is hitting this family right in the heartstrings. They have received pictures from all 50 states and many countries! One little girl even sent Tyler her own stuffed dog in the hopes it would bring him the same happiness that it brought her.
Tyler’s birthday is in April and the family is still accepting pictures. If you want to get in on something incredible and share your pup’s love here are the details:
Deadline: March 30th
Photo size: 3×5 or 4×6
Mail your photos to:
Tyler c/o Christy Ford
PO Box 1036 Trinity, NC 27370
Include your dog’s name, breed, and your name on the back of the picture.
You can also follow Tyler’s PAW Strings on Facebook to stay in the loop!
h/t: barkpost.com
Featured Photo: @Tyler’sPAWStrings/Facebook
Toledo, United States.
