Small Town News

Tristen Andrew Dasch

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Tristen Andrew Dasch, 15, went to be his Lord surrounded by his family on Saturday morning, August 14, 2010 after a 6 'A year battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was the son of Dr. Bill E. Dasch and Sheila (Morris) Dasch of Mansfield, Texas. Tristen was also the loving brother of older brother Taylor, and oldest brother Scott (Sandy) Dasch. Tristen was born July 1, 1995 in Houston Texas and was baptized at St. Mark Lutheran Church in the Spring Branch area of Houston where he also attended grade school. In February 2004, his family moved to Mansfield, Texas. Shortly upon his arrival, he joined a basketball team and quickly became a friend to everyone on the team as well as his new classmates at school.

Within a few short weeks, Tristen was showing signs of lethargy and by mid-March he went in for a routine blood test. The diagnosis was leukemia. He was immediately admitted to Cook's Hospital in Fort Worth where he soon began what would be the first course of chemotherapy. By July 2008 the tests revealed he was no longer in remission and immediately began chemo again, and later radiation, and eventually a bone marrow transplant with his brother Taylor as the donor in October 2008. In time, Tristen returned to many normal activities and he was able to enjoy so many things that he loved doing with friends and family. Tristen had a one-year follow-up appointment in October 2009 and it was clear the cancer had returned for a third time.

Tristen was a patient at Cook's from mid-October 2009, coming home for 2 short breaks; he was able to spend his final Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with his family, and he slept in his own bed. In January 2010 Tristen and family arrived in Memphis, where he was admitted to St. Jude Research Hospital. The following month he received a bone marrow transplant from his mom, Sheila, and the 100 countdown began. During that time frame, he began experiencing problems with graft vs. host disease which would later cause problems with his liver. He spent two months this summer in the ICU unit but returned to the bone marrow transplant unit, a victory and personal goal of his before finally succumbing to a myriad of health complications that would eventually end his life.

In the time since his original diagnosis, Tristen was able to enjoy many great days, which allowed him to enjoy time with his friends and family. He was a proud member of Dasch's Warriors basketball team. But of all, Tristen loved the Lord with all of his heart, and all his soul, and all his mind, and all his strength. Time after time again, he would draw-close to not only his dad but a number of caretakers in his final weeks, asking "pray for me". Even as his final hour on Earth was at hand, he was covered in prayers, Scriptures, and stories of heaven that we cannot begin to conceive with human hearts. Through life, he taught us to laugh at the funny things in life, smile in the face of adversity, maintain his dignity and show-grace to caretakers during many times that he would have wished to be anywhere else. Tristen was an inspiration, a joy, a friend, a son, brother, nephew, cousin. During the course of the life that was to be his, he taught each of us how to totally and completely lean on God for our every

need. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, and Tristen was not only an example of that in life, but continues that legacy for each of us in his death.



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© 2011 The Banner Bernice, Louisiana. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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