“Never give up”: that’s Rifle local Tristian Grey’s life motto. 

Tattooed on his left arm, the phrase is more than daily inspiration — it’s a reminder of where he’s been and, more importantly, how far he’s come. 

After having a stroke in the womb, Grey was born with gangrene — the death of body tissue when blood flow to a specific area is reduced — in one arm. By three years old, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. 

“Tristian’s always been one of those kids that, no matter what someone would say or suggest he  couldn’t do or shouldn’t do, he would always power through it,” his father, Christopher, said. “He’s very self-determined and motivated.

“When he was little, doctors always said he’d never walked, and he was like, oh, I’m gonna walk, and he did. They said he’d never talk, he did. They said he’d struggle in school, he did alright, graduated and everything,” he added. “Anytime you tell him you can’t do something, he’s always going to do it.”

For a decade, Grey suffered from chronic seizures despite taking anti-seizure medication. By his teens, he was experiencing up to 50 seizures a night.

In 2013, after years of regular trips to the doctor, Grey and his family turned to the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. They were told a functional hemispherectomy — removal of the part of the brain causing the seizures — was the best treatment for his epilepsy. 

At only 16 years old, Grey had the left half of his brain removed. 

“After the surgery he had to learn how to walk again and was blind on the right side of both of his eyeballs,” Christopher said. “He’s trying to find a business that he’s able to do and he’s pretty naturally gifted (at video editing).

“It’s crazy how he’s able to do what he does,” he added. “If you or I ever had the left side of our brain removed, we would not be functioning.”

As a child, Grey faced more than chronic health issues — he was also bullied in school. “When I was in grade school, I tried to make friends and (they) turned into bullies and then (stuffed) grass down my throat and then I was sent to the hospital,” he said.

Now working as a special education paraprofessional at Highland Elementary School in Rifle, he uses his childhood memories as motivation to do “a good job and try to encourage people to not be bullies and never give up on their dreams and goals,” he said. 

Grey also uses a beloved hobby — video creation and editing — to spread joy.

Four years after his surgery, he started dabbling in video editing, often posting his creations on his YouTube channel, @tristiangreyvlogs7015.

 He creates videos — often photo compilations paired with music — of graduations, family events, anniversaries and engagements.  

“I have a very special gift of editing videos and putting videos together,” Grey said. “I just thought, I might as well start my own business and make people happy and create memories.”

In March, Grey began the process of creating his own business. 

“I started doing some anniversary videos for people and it got me thinking about creating memories with anniversary videos, family tributes or family legacies, or senior graduation pictures,” Grey said. “That’s what brought me to create Cherished Memories.” 

After almost six months of work, Grey opened his own vlogging business, Cherished Memories, in August. Now registered with the Colorado River Valley Chamber, his business helps him spread joy through replayable celebrations of life milestones. 

“(Video editing) always makes me happy,” Grey said. “It always makes me think more creatively and more ideas come into my head. (It’s the) thought and the art to it.”

In a year, Grey hopes his business will be “a very big deal,” with a quality list of clients and good-hearted employees who can help him expand his business. But for now, he’ll continue doing what he’s always done — moving forward. 

For other young entrepreneurs, Grey only has one message: “Go for it,” he said. “Follow your dreams and follow your new career.”