TYLER, Texas — Friday marked an exciting end to a week for students and faculty members from Tyler Legacy High School who raised funds for an all-inclusive baseball field in memory of a young Tyler ISD student.
There was singing, dancing and cheering all to honor smiling, loving Jacks Bryans, an Andy Woods Elementary School student who was nicknamed "Joyful Jack."
"Jack was always happy, he smiled, he laughed," Jacks Bryans' father Casey Bryans said.
Jack Bryans was diagnosed with Leigh syndrome at almost 3 years old – a condition that slowly caused him to lose all his abilities in life.
But that never stopped him from doing the things he loved. He was the 2018 Children's Miracle Network Miracle Child. He passed away at just 9 years old in 2022.
"He loved people. He loved playing games. He loved his family," Casey Bryans said. "And that's part of our reason and our love for baseball because he loved to play mainly because he loved to be on the team with everybody."
All week, Tyler Legacy High School held fundraisers as a part of Jack's Joy Week. They raised over $12,000 and donated it all to the Bryans family.
Fundraiser organizer and Southern Belle drill team director Rachel Bumgardner said Tyler Legacy loves giving back to community members.
"One of his siblings, Molly, she's actually a senior at our school right now," Bumgardener said. "So we love of course to give back to our community, but it's especially really special when we have a student here that's involved in that."
The Bryans family is working with The Miracle League of Tyler and the city of Tyler to build a fully accessible baseball field in his honor.
The city of Tyler has donated the land for the field. Now, kids with disabilities will have the opportunity to learn and play a sport they love.
"Having more accessibility for children who may be in wheelchairs or have walkers, just whatever their disability may be, it's definitely going to give them the access to play baseball and to just move around really well," Bumgardener said. "Also each kid that plays for the league will be paired up with someone to help them be able to play and learn more about baseball."
Now, kids of all abilities will be able to enjoy playing on a field in honor of Joyful Jack.
"It's just overwhelming. It's just unbelievable to think we were able to do this," Casey Bryans said.
The field will be located at Faulkner Park. The Bryans family hopes the field will be ready for play in the spring 2025.
Those interested in donating to build the field can click here.