Jeopardy! contestant Tyler Stevenson faced more than just losing the game show. The contestant opened up about family struggles he went through before appearing on Jeopardy!.
Stevenson, a special education teacher from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, played against Nora Inman, a policy analyst from Louisville, Kentucky, and four-day winner, Adam Remsen, an attorney and theater producer from Memphis, Tennessee, on June 18. Remsen had a four-day total of $72,601.
Stevenson did not win the game after a failed Daily Double. He ended the game with $9,199. This put him in second place behind Remsen, giving him $3,000 to take home. Remsen won with $27,000, giving him his fifth win and securing a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
But losing Jeopardy! is not the only thing that was on the teacher’s mind. Right before his episode on Thursday aired, Stevenson’s dad underwent major surgery. He shared the post to his Instagram page, explaining what the family has gone through.
“Today was an eventful day for me. My father underwent surgery today to remove his gallbladder and part of his small intestine. I just received word before the show aired that his surgery was a success and that he should recover quickly. I’m grateful,” he wrote.
“After almost losing my dad some years ago, I wanted to get on @jeopardy so badly, so that he and my mom could see me achieve my dream before they passed away. When I auditioned for Jeopardy this year, I was just hoping to get to a 2nd test. When I not only passed the 2nd test, but that they wanted me as a contestant, I was blown away. I was literally in the middle of teaching class when I received the call!” Stevenson continued.
He shared that he and his mom flew out to Los Angeles for the taping. “I had the time of my life,” the contestant said.
“I might not have won today, but today’s watch party with my friends reminded me that I’m still a winner and that I’m still loved all the same,” he wrote.
Stevenson went on to say that his mom got to live out her dream of visiting Los Angeles and sticking her toes in the ocean, while also seeing her son play on Jeopardy!.
He shared the post on Reddit and thanked everyone for their kind words and messages. “With everything going on in my personal life, I am so thankful to have you. Jeopardy! has been a solace and a source of joy for me throughout all the clouds. I would have lost it if it weren’t for Jeopardy!. I’ve gained a community, a home, and a family through Jeopardy!. I am thankful for places like this that give trivia lovers like me a place where we belong. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. All love,” he wrote.
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