South Elgin teen remembered for strength, love of sports
It was Ty Hawkinson's strength, courage and love of sports that prompted dozens of NFL prospects to send him video messages of well-wishes and encouragement on April 26, the day of the league's draft. Those characteristics also are the reason the 13-year-old South Elgin boy has left a lasting impression on anyone familiar with his story, his father said.
Ty died Friday after a two-year battle with a rare form of cancer. Despite the pain, tests, hospital stays and surgeries, he always kept a smile on his face and "never even once" complained about what he was going through, said his dad, Andy Hawkinson.
"He had such an impact on our community," Andy said, pointing to the messages he's received from friends, family and even strangers in the last few days. "Some (people) never met him, but he made an impact on their lives because Ty showed such strength and courage and motivated people to keep going through whatever problems they were dealing with."
Late last month, the Hawkinsons were told Ty would need additional tests to see if his tumors had grown. However, Ty had been counting down the days until the NFL draft, and he asked doctors if they could hold off until after draft day.
That's when his caretakers at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital started planning a draft day surprise. The end result: a football signed by most of the Bears team, and more than 80 individual messages from players and pro prospects.
"That was incredible," Andy Hawkinson said.
At that point, Ty's parents noticed that his health was declining, he said. Scans taken the following day showed that Ty's cancer had spread, and doctors told the Hawkinsons there was nothing else they could do.
A week later, Ty died peacefully in his home with his parents by his side. Andy said Ty held on so he could be with his mom, Kelly, for her birthday Thursday.
"He knew that he was so loved by his parents," his dad said.
Ty dreamed of becoming an NFL coach and often would write his own plays, Andy said. He could name all the players on a team, and for this year's NFL draft, he made a poster with predictions on where each prospect would go.
In addition to football, Ty loved watching the NBA and also was the only St. Louis Cardinals fan in a Chicago Cubs house, Andy said. Ty even hung a Cardinals flag in the backyard right next to his dad's Cubs flag.
"The thing everybody remembers about Ty was his charisma, his smile and his sense of humor," Andy said. "He had a big heart."
Ty also is survived by his stepbrother, his paternal and maternal grandparents, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 W. State St., Geneva. A funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles.
Donations can be made in Ty's honor to Cal's Angels, a St. Charles-based pediatric cancer foundation, or to the Cleveland Clinic (Anderson Sarcoma Research Fund T56428; Attn: Jenifer Berlovan Ped Heme/Onc Administrator S20, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid, Cleveland 44195).