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Steamboat Springs — As Steamboat Springs' Tyler Johnson has been recovering from a serious illness, the support from friends and the community has been amazing, his grandmother, Louise Thomas, said.

"We're so grateful that he lives here, and not in some big city where he'd be one of millions in need," Thomas said as she manned the silent auction at a benefit to help pay Tyler's medical bills Saturday at the Steamboat Springs Community Center. "Everyone wants to do everything they can."

Tyler, 10, lost his feet and parts of some fingers from an illness earlier this summer. Tyler was flown to Denver in June and spent five weeks in the hospital, undergoing several surgeries. Doctors think the illness was a form of meningococcal septicemia but have been unable to confirm the diagnosis.

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association provided free meningococcal vaccinations to youths at Saturday's benefit.

"We're happy to be here to support the cause, as well as provide some public education," nurse Janice Poirot said. "Most meningococcal disease in the United States is preventable."

The family has not yet calculated the total of what they will owe toward Tyler's medical bills. Insurance will pay only 10 percent of the cost of prosthetic feet, which will cost at least $10,000, and Tyler's first week at the hospital was $441,000 before insurance contributions, Tyler's mother, Shara Johnson, said last week.

Attendees bid on more than $20,000 worth of silent auction items, including a plaque donated by Garth Brooks, commemorating the sale of 7 million copies of his self-titled debut album, and autographed photos and a football donated by former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann.

A horde of children, including many of Tyler's wrestling buddies, played outside the community center while their parents perused the silent auction items inside. In addition to friends and family, members of the community who never knew Tyler before his illness stopped by to show their support.

"A guy brought in a $1,000 check - he just dropped it off and left," benefit co-organizer Kathie Zelek said.

In addition to Saturday's benefit, community groups including Yampa Valley Wrestling and 4-H already have donated thousands of dollars, and a fund for the family's expenses has been set up at Vectra Bank. Euzoa Bible Church has put up Tyler's extended family in its conference center.

"The town has been so generous, it's just unbelievable," fundraising committee member Laura Case said. "It's a real community effort."

- To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com