From Dream Team to Dream Come True: Tyler’s Story from Amber Murken

Tyler Murken has lived by three words his whole life: never give up. Diagnosed with Joubert syndrome, a rare genetic brain malformation, Tyler and his family had been navigating an uncertain road long before CC4C ever entered the picture. But in 2021, everything changed. 

That's when CC4C connected Tyler, then 12 years old and passionate about basketball, with his Dream Team: the San Marcos High School Men's Basketball team. 

What happened next is the kind of story that reminds us why community matters.

Over the years, Tyler grew from participant to coach, stepping up alongside the players and coaches who had stood by him to mentor the next generation.

At the team's end-of-season banquet, he was honored with a legacy award, recognition not just of how far he has come, but of the impact he has made along the way.

His mother, Amber, recently shared what this journey has meant to their family:

"Those boys and coaches mean more to Tyler and me than any other part of his entire educational career. This all started because of CC4C. All because this organization was willing to expand outside of Austin to connect my boy with a basketball team. I can never thank y'all enough."

She went on to describe Coach Miller, the one person Tyler still listens to, the one who shows up when it matters, the one who helped make sure Tyler would cross that graduation stage.

"They are everything he's needed to get through this stage of life. We wouldn't have gotten here, and he would not be graduating, if it weren't for them." 

This spring, Tyler will walk across the graduation stage. Everyone will be celebrating as he takes those steps. 

This is what CC4C does. Not just financial support and programming. Connection, real, lasting, life-changing connection that meets a child exactly where they are and never leaves them on the bench. Tyler’s story is proof.

Be part of the next chapter. Your support helps CC4C connect more families like Tyler's to the communities that will carry them forward.

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