Class of 2022:
Tyler Clay
Meet Tyler Clay. Tyler was the 6th recipient of The ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship awarded in June 2022. Tyler's mother received a phone call on December 28th 2021 advising that she needed to come to the hospital being that she was next of kin and had to make a life saving decision on his behalf. When his mom arrived there were 12 doctors in the room and they told her she could not enter because the sight was too awful. The family was taken to the family room and was advised that Tyler was in a horrible car accident being ejected from the car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Till this day Tyler does not remember the accident and it is still unknown at this point what actually happened. Tyler stayed in the hospital for three months. His left side of his brain was removed to reduce swellings. Amongst several procedures he had a left sided craniotomy and left sided craniaplasty From this accident he suffers major depression, aphasia (which is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate caused by brain damage), and epilepsy/seizures disorders. His right side is affected.
Tyler had no insurance and was actually living on his own. Since the accident he had to move back home with his parents. While in the hospital ten days into his stay (after doctors said he was 100% disabled) the staff at Memorial Hermann advised his mom that he may want to look into the Kel Strong Foundation because they said he will have to learn to walk and talk again, this organization would be beneficial in rehab. On behalf of Tyler his mom reached out and submitted an application for the scholarship. His mom did research, looked at the website and learned more about the program and how Kel helped several people such as himself. He had no insurance, lost his job, and basically had nothing to his name. Several months later, his family was excited to receive the news that Tyler was awarded the scholarship. “This is one of the best things that has ever happened,” Tyler mom says.
“While still waiting on a social security claim to be approved, Medicaid to be approved etc, the Kel Strong Scholarship is what is going to help with his rehab in the interim,” says Tyler’s mom. Tyler is currently receiving occupational therapy with the scholarship he was awarded to hopefully regain full use and movement of all his fingers on his right hand. He currently cannot move three of his right fingers. “Tyler's family and Tyler is forever grateful for this foundation,” says Tyler’s mom.