Cheerleader turns tragedy to triumph

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Tex. (KXAN) - When the LSU Tigers take the field next season, Tyler Briers-Buentello will be there with the best seat in the house, on the sideline as a cheerleader.

"LSU is the greatest place for doing what I want to do," said Briers-Buentello.  "I want to cheer in front of a crowd and their fans are off the charts."

During the summer of 2007, Tyler was on the football team at Dripping Springs High School when a car accident brought his playing days to a screeching halt.

"I lived most of my life before the accident," he said.  "But, it seems almost like a different person."

One night out with friends, Tyler was headed home traveling south on Trautwein Road when he swerved to avoid a fallen tree.  He then found himself hanging in the balance of a flooded low water crossing.

"My two friends jumped out," he remembered.  "The car tilted back and the water caught underneath the bumper.  It rolled forward, hit my shoulder and spun me around.  I was underneath the water and it slid down crushing my ankle.

"The top bone was broken in thirteen places.  And, the bottom bone was about six centimeters of dust."

Doctors spent a week trying to save Tyler's leg but were left with two options: fuse the bone fragments back together or amputate.

Faced with the impossible decision, Tyler never hesitated.

"My parents started freaking out," said Briers-Buentello.  "The doctor said, 'If we fuse your ankle you'll probably walk with a cane, and you won't play sports anymore.' And I was like, 'Cut it off because that's not an option.'"

He was fitted for a prosthetic leg and began rehabilitation immediately.  But, the toughest part was still to come.

"When you're going through it, a lot of times there are thoughts like, 'I'll never be able to do this again,' and 'I'll never have a girlfriend again,' and 'I'll never be normal again,'" he said.  "That's when it kind of got hard for me."

Staying optimistic about his situation, Tyler turned to the one sport fueled by positive energy.  Cheerleading.

"Making LSU cheerleader was a moment where I was really proud of myself," he said with a smile.  "I was able to step up because there was a lot of competition.  I really felt like I did something because I went in there and made it with a prosthetic limb."

Now his inspiring story carries on in spirit.  Team spirit, that is.