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Family’s faith leads fight for tiniest newcomer

Family's faith leads fight for tiniest newcomer
The Tysdahl’s — (clockwise from left) Drake, Troy, Tate, Knox and Carrie — pose for an impromptu family photo at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Photo courtesy of Troy and Carrie Tysdahl.
By Shelly Weiss, reporter@nhtrib.com

Those who know Troy and Carrie Tysdahl probably aren’t surprised that their youngest son is a fighter.

And they’ll probably be even less surprised that the birth of little Knox Myron Tysdahl has brought their tight-knit family even closer.

For four years, their home was Nashua, where Troy Tysdahl taught social studies, coached football and served as Nashua-Plainfield’s activities director.

And they appreciate the support they’ve received from the residents of their former community since March 4, when Knox, weighing in at 1 pound, 3 ounces, arrived 17 weeks earlier than planned.

Troy and Carrie Tysdahl moved to Nashua in July 2011.

Troy had accepted the social studies teaching position at the Nashua-Plainfield High School. They couple were expecting their first child the following month.

“The outpouring of love and support has been amazing,” Troy Tysdahl said. “We are truly blessed. This is not a journey you ever think you will have to go on, but this journey has brought a lot of people together. We will all end up stronger after this.”

 

THE TYSDAHLS NOW live in Clear Lake, where Troy has continued his teaching career.

But they admit, even if they were in Nashua for a relatively short time, it will always hold a special place in their heart.

They welcomed their first-born, Tate, to their family while in Nashua. And two years later, another son, Drake, was born.

After moving to Clear Lake during the summer of 2015, the Tysdahls stayed in touch with many of their friends, Troy’s fellow coaches and his former players.

Last fall, they were excited to learn that their family would grow once again when they learned that a third Tysdahl child was on the way.

Carrie’s pregnancy progressed normally. She had her 20-week check-up and everything was going as planned.

Two weeks later the unimaginable happened. Carrie’s water broke.

After a trip to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, Carrie was transported by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

The goal in Iowa City was simple: Stay pregnant as long as possible.

“Carrie and the baby were safe,” Troy said. “They were in the best possible place.”

But the pregnancy lasted just 11 more days, and on March 4, Carrie told Troy that something didn’t feel right.

“Carrie looked at me and told me that something was wrong,” Troy said. “I called for the nurse. She checked Carrie and within seconds the room was full of nurses and doctors.”

Seventeen minutes after Carrie said something was wrong, Knox Myron Tysdahl was born by emergency c-section.

 

THE TYSDAHLS HAVE been overwhelmed by the support from everyone, including New Hampton residents that they came to know through Carrie’s sister, Heather Rausch.

“We know the prayers are working,” said Troy. “Knox is a fighter. Our biggest concern now is his lung development.”

On March 10, Knox underwent some very important scans of his brain and an echo cardiogram of his heart.

Six years earlier on the same date, Troy Tysdahl’s mom passed away.

“There were no brain bleeds and his little heart valve that they wanted closed was closed,” said Troy. “I know my mom is watching over him and was holding his hand through it all.”

Since Knox’s birth, his parents have been staying in Iowa City at the Ronald McDonald House to be close to their little miracle.

Carrie’s parents have been staying with Tate and Drake, and the two older boys visit frequently.

“It’s pretty emotional when they have to leave,” said Troy.

Knox, meanwhile, continues to battle, and recently the family celebrated a milestone reached by the youngest Tysdahl with a cool Facebook post that showed a picture of Knox.

“Knox Myron Tysdahl: I doubled by birth weight. I’m now 2 pounds, 6 ounces!”

Meanwhile, from Clear Lake to Nashua and beyond, #teamknox continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

So, too, does the family’s faith in a loving God.

“The prayers are working,” Troy recently wrote on Facebook, “and will continue to be needed on this journey. God is good, all the time, and All the time, God is good.”


Shelly Weiss is a reporter for the New Hampton Tribune.

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