Dec. 13, 2000--

The true spirit of Christmas blesses both the giver and the receiver. And this year, a South Jordan boy with a fatal disease is on both ends.

He's giving and receiving the greatest gift of all, as he lives out his final days.

News Specialist Nadine Wimmer has more.

Tyler Horton was like any 7-year-old. He lived for sports and surrounded himself with friends.

Last winter, his parents noticed he wasn't responding like he used to.

Months later at his birthday party, his trouble walking was evident.

His parents took him to specialists and got the worst news imaginable--there was nothing they could do.

Wendy Horton/Mother: "THEY SAID, JUST ENJOY HIM WHILE YOU'VE GOT HIM, AND GOOD LUCK."

"WE WERE JUST OBVIOUSLY DEVASTATED."

Within months, adreno lucodystrophy had changed everything. It was destroying the coverings of his neurons, so directions from his brain to his body short circuit.

The boy who loved his friends didn't want to go home to die. But soon, even half days in his normal school were too much.

So classmates threw him a party... wrote him letters, released balloons, and said their goodbyes.

"THEY SAID, BYE TYLER, HAVE FUN IN YOUR NEW SCHOOL."

Nadine Wimmer: "WHEN TYLER CAME TO THIS NEW SCHOOL, FORMER TEACHERS AND PARENTS DECIDED HE NEEDED TO HAVE CONTACT WTH HIS FRIENDS, NOT FOR WHAT THEY CAN GIVE TO TYLER, BUT FOR WHAT HE CAN TEACH THEM."

Every day for a few hours friends leave their school to come to his.

"I KNOW THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS OF HIM."

Mathew Williams/Friend: "HE HAS A DISEASE AND STUFF, AND I FEEL REAL SORRY."

Enrique Reyes/Friend: "JUST KIND OF COMFORT HIM, PLAY WITH HIM, BE HIS FRIEND."

Since they can't play football, this friend wears the jersey he knows Tyler loves, Bronco's running back Terrell Davis, #30.

Here is where tragedy turns to triumph, young friends helping each other through life's lessons.

"GOOD FRIENDS ALWAYS REMEMBER EACH OTHER."

And that true spirit of giving will carry the Hortons through the holidays and beyond.

"WE BELIEVE WE'LL BE WITH HIM AGAIN AFTER WE DIE, AND THAT IT'S THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR HIM IS TO LET HIM GO AND BE WHOLE AGAIN."

Unfortunately they'll have other struggles down the road. They just learned their younger boy has the same genetic problem as Tyler.