Annual Blood Drive Honors Incredible Impact of Tyler Smith

By Corey Christiansen, Denver Metro Area News Media Specialist

Every spring, seeing leaves return on once-dormant trees or flowers bursting out of the ground with boisterous color reminds us of the constant renewal of life. The season also fits perfectly with a tradition in Aurora’s Arapahoe Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to host an annual blood drive.

This is the fourth year the Arapahoe Stake has held the community blood drive in honor of Tyler Smith. Smith was a faithful member of the stake who battled brain cancer with an undeniable sense of positivity and resolve that inspired everyone in his orbit. Smith passed away in January 2020 at 37 years old and left behind his wife, Rachel, and their three children. Although his loss was heartbreaking, his family continues to honor his legacy of service.

Before his cancer diagnosis, Smith was a regular blood donor. His parents, Marilyn and Steve Smith, are also in the Arapahoe Stake and organize the annual blood drive to honor their son. In partnership with Vitalant, the Smith Family are celebrating Tyler’s life by literally giving life to people in need of blood transfusions in their community.

Marilyn has many powerful memories of how Tyler impacted those around him. “Tyler was a very special man,” she said. “He always had a smile on his face and exuded joy even while going through his trials with brain cancer, surgery, radiation and chemo. I am not exaggerating. Even after his first seizure, he was put on a ventilator and we went to his hospital room, and he smiled big with a tube down his throat. One man at his work said that Tyler was always asking him how things were going because he cared so much about his fellow employees and never brought up or complained about his own issues.”

Regarding how Tyler always prioritized his family, Marilyn said, “He was the best husband and father. He was always doing really sweet and special things for his wife, Rachel, making handmade gifts, leaving her little notes, trying to make every anniversary and every birthday special. He read and sang to his kids every night before bed without fail. One time we had to take him to the emergency room in the evening because he was having an anxiety attack (we weren’t sure if he was about to have another seizure), but once they stabilized him and couldn’t find anything they could treat, they asked him if he want to stay overnight for observation and he said, ‘I just want to go home and read to my kids.’ He loved his family and focused on God, faith and service.”

In addition to the blood drive, Tyler has also been honored through his former employer, Arapahoe/Douglas Works, which renamed its Spirit Award after Tyler. In an email to its employees, Arapahoe/Douglas Works said, “As many of you know and have heard from your colleagues, Tyler Smith was one of the most incredibly kind, genuine, generous, witty, and passionate individuals. I am so grateful to have known him and worked alongside him for many years. He was truly the embodiment of our Spirit Award, and with that, our Spirit Award will be hereinafter named the Tyler Smith Spirit Award. With this, we hope to continue to honor him, his work, and his spirit at Arapahoe/Douglas Works! My appreciation to Rodney Lanham for putting this suggestion forward. Thank you, and I look forward to our future recipients of the Tyler Smith Spirit Award.”

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