Bridging Bionics Foundation: Tylers Story

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Former professional ski racer and mountain bike racer, Tyler Williams has come such a long way since his diagnosis of Arteriovenous malformation (AVM). We are playing our part in helping Tyler Williams with his neuro-recovery. He attends our Bridging Bionics program two to three times a week for physical therapy utilizing our advanced technologies and alternative therapies to strengthen and trigger new movement patterns. He is making progress!

Tyler has been experiencing debilitating symptoms dating back to 2008. He sought out various medical opinions over the years and had numerous diagnoses from carpel tunnel to brain cancer. In 2015 a scan of his brain showed a large mass which was diagnosed as an AVM. His symptoms have ranged from loss of speech, loss of motor function in his arms and legs, especially the right side of his body, and unbearable pain.

Arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system. This vascular anomaly is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system (usually cerebral AVM), but can appear in any location.

In medical terms, the most general symptoms of a cerebral AVM include headaches and epileptic seizures, with more specific symptoms occurring that normally depend on the location of the malformation and the individual. Such possible symptoms include:
* Difficulties with movement coordination, including muscle weakness and even paralysis;
* Vertigo (dizziness);
* Difficulties of speech (dysarthria) and communication, such as aphasia;
* Difficulties with everyday activities, such as apraxia;
* Abnormal sensations (numbness, tingling, or spontaneous pain);
* Memory and thought-related problems, such as confusion, dementia or hallucinations.

On January 10, 2018 Tyler arrived at UC Health in Denver for one of three treatments of Gamma Knife Neurosurgery. Today, Tyler utilizes a variety of our advanced technologies to improve his endurance and strength on the right leg. His physical therapists use interventions such as dry needling and biofeedback, combined with cardio and strength conditioning exercises, including a variety of robotic exoskeleton technologies. Most recently he wore an exoskeleton to augment his capabilities and walk up and down a hill 10 times for 60 minutes, which crushed his old record!

Tyler is incredibly humble, and his list of skiing successes are long and deep. He can proudly claim the following achievements: a seven times X Games skier-cross participant; six times participant of the 24 hours of Aspen World Endurance Ski Championships with two wins; and a participant in the world pro big mountain tour for 10 years. He qualified for the World University Games while he was at Western State Collage. Prior to losing motor function in his right leg, he was coaching at the Aspen Valley Ski Club. He most recently won first place in the Adaptive Mountain Biking World Championships in Crested Butte.

Keep on pushing it, Tyler. You are an athlete through and through, and you continue to astound us with your fortitude and progress.

To give the gift of mobility to athletes like Tyler, please consider donating to our 2021 Rise UP Campaign here: https://bridgingbionics.networkforgood.com/projects/137313-rise-up-campaign.

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