WINFIELD, W.Va. – “TyStrong” remains the rallying cry in Putnam County and around the Kanawha Valley as Winfield High School student-athlete Ty Laughery continues his fight with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Laughery returned home last week following three weeks of treatment in Cincinnati and will continue with visits, lab work, and chemotherapy there in the coming months. The outlook through the first phase of treatment is positive.
“He’s handling the chemo well so for what the situation is, which is still a dire situation, a situation you never want to find a child in or a family member or friend, by any means, or anyone for that matter, he’s doing really well considering the circumstances,” Winfield boys basketball coach Travis Tarr said.
The Winfield community wrapped its arms around the Laughery family following Ty’s diagnosis and the support continues as treatment carries on. That includes support from his teammates on the basketball team and Tarr said Laughery’s spirits are still high.
“He’s always responsive. He’s just a positive kid. I’ve never seen him down so when I talk to him, it’s that same way. In talking with him, you wouldn’t know anything’s going on,” he said.
The Generals continue their season with Laughery’s fight serving as a source of motivation along the way. Even in a recent loss, Tarr reminded his players of what their teammate’s battle means compared to their play on the court.
“Guys were so tense and I looked at them and said, ‘Guys, just think for a minute. Ty’s in a battle that we’ll never experience, hopefully we don’t experience, and we’re just in a basketball game right now. Lighten up. Recognize the moment,” he said.
Winfield is 8-2 on the season and, before the start of the postseason, could get some extra inspiration. Once the ongoing cold and flu season subsides, Laughery could rejoin his team off the court.
“Once the flu season gets kind of past us, hopefully he can come back and be on the bench with us a little bit and attend practices again. I know one thing for us. It’ll lift our spirits. It’ll lift Ty’s and I can’t wait to have that moment with him,” Tarr said.
Support for Laughery and his family extends beyond just the Winfield athletic family. After Hurricane partnered with Winfield to raise funds for the Laugherys at the “War on 34” game earlier this season, even more opponents are repping “TyStrong.”
“We just went to Poca and you step in and see they’re wearing “Laughery” warmup shirts. Wayne High School comes into our gym last week, all in Ty Laughery warmup shirts. Hoover, who’s a huge rivalry of Winfield, steps in and their coach being one of the first guys, Coach (Ryan) Thomas, to reach out to me,” Tarr said.
The need for the Laugherys extends beyond just these first few weeks with travel and treatment still creating a heavy burden. A GoFundMe for the family has raised more than $55,000 and Tarr doesn’t see the support stopping any time soon.
“We are a short-term memory society and you feel like something hits like that and then all of a sudden you think a week later, the family’s been forgotten. That hasn’t been the case,” he said.
“TyStrong” supporters dot the map, not just in the Kanawha Valley, but across the entire state. With individuals and groups like the West Virginia Kids Cancer Crusaders stepping up to help Ty’s fight, Tarr believes it’s the West Virginian spirit exemplified.
“We’re a small state and we’re always a helping state and in a situation when you find yoursel like this, it’s overwhelming the support that people come to give to a family that’s in need. I just hope we continue to show that support to them,” he said.