COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- It was a wish to help make his dying grandmother's final Christmas 'extraordinary.'
Since FOX 17 viewersfirst met Tylor Westra in early November, the responses from others wanting to help make the wish come true for his grandmother have been pouring in, with hundreds of dollars in donations and support.
Phyllis Tucker, 73, is in the end stages of lung cancer while also in the midst of battling other medical issues. Anticipating this Christmas could very well be the last he'd have with his grandmother, Westra set out to make it the best yet, decorating her home with donated lights and decorations to bring the holiday cheer to her, being she has limited mobility.
Westra set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations to help buy more decorations and gifts for his ailing grandmother, saying he wanted to give back to her for all of the holidays she spent making so memorable and special for the rest of the family. Following FOX 17s story, the page has raised more than $500 in just a few weeks.
“It’s just a beautiful thing, even people who are sick themselves have written her... saying they still want to help and do what they can and it’s very humbling," Westra said.
“It just showed me there’s people who have silent integrity and they’re not looking for recognition."
Saturday, Westra and his family marked a major item off their 'holiday bucket list:' taking their grandmother to go pick out a live Christmas tree for her home.
“The Christmas tree just ties everything together, it’s something for her to look at when she lays in her bed," Westra said. “Anything at all that puts a smile on her face, I’ll fight tooth and nail for.”
Tucker, who was able to sit in the family's car as they made their way through the tree lot, was at times at a loss while trying to express her gratitude for what her family has done and the response she's received from others wanting to help.
“My family, everybody, they’ve all been wonderful to help me have a nice Christmas," she said. “It surprised me, I knew (Tylor) loved me but not that much, but he’s a good boy.”
Westra said he didn't think twice before deciding to do this for his grandmother, adding 'it's just what you do for your family.'
“It’s a long, long, hard process to watch someone slowly deteriorate and it’s hard to put on a smile when you’re really hurting inside," he said.
“People have been very kind through the GoFundMe page, people have been kind just in the community and her town… it’s very nice to see that there are people who still have hearts.”
Westra is still accepting donations of Christmas items. He’s also asking the community to send Christmas cards to his grandmother. They can be mailed to PO BOX 115, Comstock, MI 49041.
The GoFundMe page can be found here.
