Man, 22, Spends Night Before Major Brain Surgery Reading Children’s Books with His Friends

Tucker Nelson had only one week to come to terms with his brain tumor diagnosis before his surgery.

Doctors found the tumor on Aug. 1, giving the 22-year-old and his family very little time to fully understand what was happening before his surgery on Aug. 8.

His girlfriend, Kiya McLaurin, stayed by his side the whole time and told PEOPLE about the support Nelson received from his community.

“We were in the hospital for four or five days,” McLaurin, 22, says. “During that time, his friends kept reaching out to me. They kept messaging, saying, ‘Please, can we come over? Please, please, please.'”

The night before his surgery, friends and family held a pizza party in the hospital waiting room. McLaurin said around 25 people came to support Nelson.

When Nelson said he was getting tired, about 10 friends quietly followed him to his hospital room.

“They didn’t say anything. They just wanted to be there with him. Surgery is scary, and they didn’t want him to be alone,” McLaurin explains.

McLaurin brought some books with her and picked up The Giving Tree, one of Nelson’s favorite childhood books. She started reading it as a joke, but the words soon felt very meaningful in the crowded hospital room.

“I got three pages in and realized this was a serious moment. Everyone was paying attention; his parents were recording, tears streaming down their faces. Everyone felt a mix of emotions,” she says.

“There was a sense of belonging and comfort—being surrounded by people who love you unconditionally,” she adds.

The Giving Tree has always meant a lot to Nelson. McLaurin says when they first met, he asked if she had ever read it. His love for the book even inspired a saying he uses: “trust is like a tree.”

“He told me, ‘It takes a long time to grow a tree, for it to be strong with deep roots. Relationships are like that. Once you build friendships and family, those roots are deep, and it’s hard to break them,'” McLaurin recalls.

McLaurin says the support Nelson received shows how strong his relationships are.

“He’s like the tree in the book, always giving and caring. Now that he needs support, people are ready to give it back,” she says.

McLaurin posted a video of herself reading to Nelson on TikTok with the caption: “Reading my boyfriend’s favorite childhood book surrounded by all his best friends & family the night before major brain surgery will be something I never forget.”

The video went viral, getting over 16.5 million views. Some people asked about the medical professional in the clip, but McLaurin clarified he is a friend and respiratory therapist, not Nelson’s doctor.

After the video was shared, people sent messages about their own experiences, offering support and encouragement.

McLaurin says Nelson is now home and “doing well.”

“The doctors were amazed that he came out of surgery smiling, laughing, and joking. It was beyond what we expected,” she says.

Throughout this experience, McLaurin balanced honesty and hope, making sure Nelson understood everything while staying positive.

“Validating him has been one of my main goals. It’s important to have hope, but also be prepared,” she says. “It’s hard for anyone, especially at this age.”

“When he cries, I sometimes cry too and share the emotions with him,” she adds. “It’s a tough time, no matter your age. It’s important to recognize all the feelings.”

Being positive is what Nelson is all about. The book also became a post-surgery keepsake, with friends and family writing encouraging notes in the first pages.

McLaurin says there are even talks of getting tattoos inspired by The Giving Tree, to remember the love and support they share through good and hard times.