NEWS

Why the Ice Bucket Challenge matters to this Morris County family

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

The Ice Bucket Challenge has done a lot of good in recent weeks, raising money and awareness for a great cause.

But it's worth noting the reason for these fun videos - the people that are in need of help. People like Elaine Tyrrell, a sergeant in the Morris County Prosecutor's Office who died exactly one year ago today at 47 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge asks people to fill buckets of varying sizes with ice and water, dump it on their heads and challenge three or more friends to do the same within 24 hours or donate money to ALS organizations. Videos and donations are more frequent than ever three weeks into the craze and ALS Association said Tuesday it has received $22.9 million since July 29, compared to $1.9 million in the same time period last year.

Elaine Tyrrell grew up Elaine Stewart in Chester, graduated from West Morris Central, and was hired in 1988 by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office where she met her husband Art Tyrrell.

"I did her background when she joined the Prosecutor's Office," said Art Tyrrell, 56, of Caldwell.

She graduated from the police academy in 1993, marrying Art Tyrrell in 1994. She was eventually promoted to detective and sergeant and worked in the sex crimes, child abuse and missing persons units. She also also taught at the Morris County Police Academy and was an adjunct professor at Centenary College, where there is now a scholarship in her name.

SEE RELATED | Morris County takes ALS #IceBucketChallenge http://dailyre.co/1oAVo1G

'It's like I forgot how to walk'

Elaine Tyrrell first developed a limp in April 2012.

"I asked her 'what's the matter?' and she said 'it's like I forgot how to walk," Art Tyrrell said. "As diseases go, it's something I've never experienced. One of the strangest things."

Through the months, Art Tyrrell said his wife's limp grew worse. She went to a chiropractor, orthopedist, neurologist, and specialist searching for answers.

By August she had left her job as a sergeant in the Prosecutor's Office on disability, and in December she was officially diagnosed with ALS and was initially told she would have three or four years to live. She passed away nine months later.

"Her limp turned into using a cane, then a walker, then a wheelchair," Art Tyrrell said. "By January she was in a motorized wheelchair."

Art Tyrrell said even on the day she got her electric wheelchair, she was still smiling and laughing despite the limitations she faced due to the disease.

"Duct tape yourself to a chair and you'll understand how it feels," Art Tyrrell said of ALS. "She went from no movement in her legs, to her arms, to not being able to work a wheelchair. How many hours could you lie still in a bed?"

Art Tyrrell said once a person is diagnosed with ALS, it's more about making them comfortable than treatment.

"There comes a point when you need everything," he said. "It's no doubt when you get the diagnosis, it's a question of how long."

Soon after her diagnosis, Elaine Tyrrell moved in with family in Long Valley on the weekdays because the home was all one floor, making it easier for her to navigate.

"We were fortunate to have that, for all we had," Art Tyrrell said. "A local family, house set up right, we had all those things."

Art Tyrrell said he bought a van to take her around and it didn't pass 1,000 miles before she couldn't use it because her breathing assistant needed to be plugged into an outlet.

"It all happened so fast. But Elaine fought. She kept going," Art Tyrrell said. "She drew everyone in and made them happy, allowed other people to feel good with the way she handled it."

Art Tyrrell recalled experiencing all the "lasts" with his wife.

"The last time we went downstairs to the entertainment center. The last time we went upstairs to our bedroom. The last day with the dog," Art Tyrrell said. "A year ago today was the last day I saw her."

The disease spread to her diaphragm, preventing her from breathing, and she passed away at 2 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2013.

'Gone but not forgotten'

Now Art Tyrrell said the "lasts" have turned into the "firsts." Wednesday will mark the first year since Elaine Tyrrell passed away.

She retired officially June 30, 2013 but was given a "last call" over the radio by the county communications center after her funeral. The police tradition announced Elaine Tyrrell's radio was out of service and ended saying she was gone but not forgotten.

"She was fortunate in the support she had. Always had visitors. Friends, family and co-workers," Art Tyrrell said. "The biggest thing was family for her. We had the most photographed kitchen because she took a picture with everyone who came to visit."

Art Tyrrell recalled how kind and charitable his wife was.

"I think by any measure she was generous and giving," Art Tyrrell said. "She gave blood even though she passed out every time. She knew she'd faint 45 minutes later but she would always do it."

He continually referenced Elaine Tyrrell's smile even with all she had to face.

"There is no better smile. It drew people in," Art Tyrrell said. "She was always happy."

After Elaine Tyrrell passed away, many of her loved ones received letters saying; "Thanks for making me smile." Her husband said she must have arranged with someone to have them sent out after she passed but he still doesn't know who it was.

"She faced it all head on. It's the way she was," Art Tyrrell said. "We went to the cemetery together, got the headstone together. She even helped pick out the pictures for her wake."

Art Tyrrell was recently cleaning out their home and found boxes of T-shirts from all the charity runs she completed for the Valerie Fund for children with cancer and blood disorders, and various Special Olympic events like the Torch Run and the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge.

Last year she was unable to participate in the Valerie Run but her friends and colleagues completed an ALS walk that raised $20,000 for ALS research. She organized those runs for the Prosecutor's Office.

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said Elaine Tyrrell was an altruistic person in the best sense of the term.

"Even after her ALS diagnosis, her positive spirit was inspirational. She was always more concerned with how others were dealing with her illness than the symptoms which limited her mobility," Knapp said. "Her dedication to life was unmatched. She is sorely missed."

SEE RELATED | Morris Hills teams accept ALS ice bucket challenge http://dailyre.co/VAsBxi

Ice Bucket Challenges

Elaine's mother Loretta Stewart said she is very happy to see the Ice Bucket Challenge because it's making so many people aware of ALS.

"What discouraged Elaine was the lack of a cure," Stewart said. "With more people aware, there will be more research, which can be very beneficial for the people with this disease who are still alive. It's very hard to watch a young person die of this terrible disease."

Art Tyrrell said he didn't hear about the Ice Bucket Challenge until he received texts from some people who participated.

"With the Ice Bucket, my biggest thing is awareness," Art Tyrrell said. "It's drawing attention to not only the ALS Association but also the people and families living with it. It's teaching people that didn't know about it, starting conversations. And with all that money being raised, it's amazing."

While an unconventional way to help out a cause, Art Tyrrell said the Ice Bucket Challenge is clearly working and he is sure his wife would have done it.

"If it was someone else she knew [that had ALS] she'd be all over it," he said. "She was always a coordinator."

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com

If you go:

The nonprofit HARK ALS is coordinating a beefsteak dinner in memory of Elaine Tyrrell on Oct. 10 in Morris Plains. The money will benefit the Elaine Steward Tyrrell memorial Scholarship at Centenary College. Tickets are $45. To reserve a seat, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beefsteak-dinner-in-memory-of-sergeant-elaine-stewart-tickets-12420107877.

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