Tyler Hatcher

Tyler Hatcher is a high school wrestler who was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

History
Tyler, a wrestler, passed out while wrestling. He'd also had some dizziness while wrestling at other times. The next day was the conference finals and Tyler needed to do well to get a scholarship to college. Cooper examined him and heard a heart murmur, so he told Tyler and his parents he wanted him to get checked out by Sam. They wanted to get it done today and needed Cooper to sign a medical release saying that Tyler could wrestle again.

Sam diagnosed Tyler with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but said he could still wrestle. There were risks, but there was a chance he could do it without any problems. Despite his recommendation, Cooper said he couldn't allow Tyler to wrestle.

Tyler came to Cooper and said his mom had gotten laid of and his dad was working double shifts to pay the rent. He worked a part-time job on the weekends to help out. Wrestling was his way to get to college. Cooper just said he couldn't risk it and had scheduled a cardiac MRI for Tyler.

Tyler's dad, Randy, came into the hospital, saying he understood how important getting the MRI was. He was surprised that Tyler hadn't arrived because his mother had said she'd bring him. They then figured out she had taken him to the conference finals instead.

They arrived at the match and tried to get Coach Patterson to stop it. He said that the medical release had been signed, but Stacy had forged it. Tyler won his match, but shortly after, went into cardiac arrest. They rushed him to the hospital, where they were able to restart his heart, but he was deprived of oxygen long enough that there was the potential for brain damage. They put him in a medically-induced coma. Stacy said that Tyler had come to her, saying how much he wanted it. Everything he'd always worked for to get a chance for something better.

While they waited on Tyler, his mother showed Cooper a letter from UCLA. They'd already decided to give him a full scholarship before the finals. Stacy and Randy cried at their son's bedside.

Familial
His parents supported his wrestling. His dad even practiced with him at home when he wasn't allowed to practice at school.

Notes and Trivia

 * He was 17 at the time of his hospitalization.