When Kaysville’s Sandi Quick adopted Ty Burningham when he was 3 months old, they were told that he would not live to see his first birthday. Ty has Trisomy 9p, an extremely rare condition where he has an extra piece of chromosome number 9. Quick said, “He is extra special.” Yet Ty continues to defy the doctors’ expectations and celebrated his 26th birthday on July 4. 

Ty has become a fixture in Kaysville and regularly ventures into town on his scooter or bike to interact and converse with neighbors. “Ty’s greatest joy is people,” Quick said. And with his huge smile and outgoing and friendly demeanor, Ty gives that joy right back to everyone he meets.  

Meeting Ty in random Kaysville locations has become such a highlight for Kaysville residents that Jeff Bosen created a Facebook group called “Adventures with Ty,” where people can post selfies and share stories about their interactions with him. Kaysville’s Melissa Saunders Jackson shared a Ty selfie after she saw him at Walgreens. Jackson said, “Thanks Ty for brightening my day!” 

Other residents have shared stories and videos of Ty sending greetings to LDS missionaries, how he can remember details about people he meets such as their kids’ names and ages, and how he makes people feel like they have been lifelong friends - even from the first brief interaction. Kaysville’s Carol Hartvigsen Ferguson has run into Ty several times over the years but after the most recent one in October at the Dollar Store. 

“He asked a lot of genuine and sincere questions about me and my family,” Ferguson said. “We talked about weather, watches, wallets, phones, and weekend plans. Ty should teach a communications course on how to be genuine and sincere and have no inhibitions when speaking to friends or strangers. With Ty, there are no strangers, only friends.”

On Ty’s 25th birthday on July 4, 2020, a dozen Kaysville teens pooled together their money to replace his broken scooter. The recent Davis High grads wanted to do something nice for Ty for his birthday, so they each donated money to surprise Ty with an upgraded and much faster electric scooter. Hunter Garrett told KSL news, “He’s got that personality where it’s like you see him and you just can’t not smile. He just lights up a room wherever he is.”

When Ty’s bike was stolen on October 27, the Adventures with Ty Facebook group donated to replace his bike. On November 2, Bosen posted, “PLEASE NO MORE DONATIONS. First off I want to thank everyone who donated money towards Ty’s bike. In less than 24 hours you guys raised a lot of money!” Raising more money than what was needed, Bosen and Ty’s mother, Sandi Quick, asked the community what to do with the surplus money. While they were willing to return an equal amount back to everyone, the community replied that the money be put towards the Kaysville Gives holiday project, an endeavor that provides holiday gifts to over 35 local families in need. 

Ty was thrilled when Bosen presented him with a new bike on November 7. Ty then surprised Bosen with gifts as well - some delicious snacks and a bottle of Goo Gone. If you would like to continue the spirit of friendship, joy, and generosity that Ty inspires, visit www.kaysvillegives.com.