On Wednesday, June 11, at 6:00am, Kiara Tyler, daughter of our good friends Gary and Toya Tyler, went home to be with the Lord. Kiara was born with a rare disease called Fanconi Anemia. For the past two years Kiara has been in and out of the hospital for long periods of time, been unable to go out and about like a normal child, had to endure up to 30 shots a day of medicine, and has even had a bone marrow transplant. She experienced more pain and suffering in her six short years than most people will endure in a lifetime. Her parents were by her side the whole time, making whatever sacrifices they needed to in order to care for their precious daughter.
The truly amazing thing about Gary and Toya Tyler, is not only seen in how faithfully they cared for both their daughter and their 12 year old son through all of this, but how they placed their confidence in God and trusted Him at every moment. In Kiara's final days, they preached the gospel to the doctors announcing their faith and trust in Him. On the day that little Kiara went to heaven, Toya was talking about all the ways she wanted to use her time to serve others in the church. This is a couple who truly has an eternal perspective and find their joy in pleasing the Lord. And they would not dare take any of the credit for themselves, but attribute it all to the Lord's grace in their lives!
As we anticipate the arrival of our first daughter in October, I think the reality of what they went through rings truer in our hearts than it would have a few months ago. We love our little baby girl so much already, and we haven't even met her! How much more will that love grow in the next six years. Do we have the faith to truly give our child over to the Lord in whatever He requires of us? Would we be able to praise Him still even if He brought little Suzie through the pain that little Kiara had to endure? Our prayer is that we would!
Thank you Gary and Toya for being an example of faithfulness, selflessness, encouragement and love in ALL circumstances!
