Battle Ground photographer garners support after suffering stroke

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Tyler Mode, a Battle Ground photographer who also runs the Battle Ground Weather page, suffered a stroke at the age of 39. He was released from the hospital last week and is currently recovering.

Mode said he is making the best out of his situation.

“(I’m feeling) better than I have been,” said Mode. “Still slurring speech a bit and trying to get the use of my right arm back.”

Doctors told him it would take about six months to a year to fully recover. There is currently a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical expenses. Mode estimates his bills will cost about $10,000 based on what he was told, but he hasn’t yet received the final amount. 

“I’m not prepared to pay that much, but I’m glad I have the support of the community,” he said. 

Mode has received an outpouring of support from people in the area, which he said has been “kind of humbling.” 

“(I) didn’t realize so many people cared that much,” Mode said. 

Mode returned to work at Grocery Outlet on March 17. He missed four days of work following the stroke.  

“It’s kind of hard without my right hand, but it is what it is,” he said.

Mode started his photography career when he was 16. He has spent his time taking free photos for school sports, nonprofits and local businesses. As for his Battle Ground Weather page, Mode said that although he did not study meteorology, he is fascinated by the topic. He has continued to run the page even as he recovers.  

Last week, Mode returned to the doctor’s office to start physical therapy. He will also go through a heavy regimen of medications to counteract the symptoms. 

Mode said the stroke took place “out of the blue,” especially given his age. He said younger people should get tested and receive regular exams to help prevent what he is going through. 



Lori Lindberg, the director emeritus of the Rocksolid Community Teen Center, has been heavily involved in rallying support for Mode.

“It hasn’t been very difficult (to gather help) because there’s been so many people who love him and appreciate all that he’s done for the community, so pretty much anybody I’ve reached out to has been great in helping however they can,” said Lindberg.

Lindberg said she met Mode when he took photos of the football team her son played with. He also took pictures at Rocksolid, which led her to introduce him to different business owners for their photography needs, which furthered their friendship.

Upon hearing the news, Lindberg was “shocked” and “worried,” but she is glad Mode is on the track to recovery. She was able to visit him once Mode got out of the hospital. 

“I think he’s such a go-getter,” she said. “I worry about him jumping back into things too soon.”

Besides donations, Nature By Design Landscaping offered to spruce up Mode’s yard this month and plans to do the same thing next month at no cost. 

Businesses in Battle Ground like Finishing Touch, Main Street Floral and Ink Ability will have calendars of his photos available at their stores. The calendar costs $10 and his books will sell for $20. All of the funds they receive will go toward Mode’s medical expenses. 

A Meal Train page, which aims to provide Mode with food through the end of April, can be found online at mealtrain.com/d8r38l. 

The GoFundMe, organized by Cody Escott, can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/2u43a6ep. As of Friday afternoon, the page, which aimed to raise $1,000, had raised