Help Dylan Rise Up After Getting Knocked Down

The Motorcycle Accident Told From A Mother’s Perspective

My 17-year-old son, Dylan, was out riding his motorcycle on a beautiful sunny afternoon like he had done so many times before. It was after 5pm and I was out walking our dog, Jack a ten-year-old, 5# teacup Chihuahua, we were on our regular doggy walking route. A normal day just like any other.

My son was driving down Monona Drive at the same time as I was walking Jack. I heard my son coming up from behind, I could recognize the sound of his motorcycle, and he drove past me when right in front of my eyes I witnessed a car pull out in front of Dylan.

That car was stopped at a stop sign waiting to cross lanes and turn left during rush hour. The driver was an elderly man who did not see Dylan coming, he pulled out into traffic blocking both lanes. I will forever remember the sight of Dylan’s brake lights, the sound of his tires squealing and the gray smoke from the burning rubber on his motorcycle tires trying so hard to prevent the inevitable.

I bent down, scooped up my dog and ran faster than I have ever run in my life! I was one of the first people to get to Dylan. Dylan was under the front of the car that hit him, the tire was so close to Dylan it was almost touching him. I remember seeing the leaking fluid on his legs, later Dylan told me he could feel the wet and thought it was his own blood spilling from his body.

I kept my cool, I made sure to leave his helmet on, his riding gloves and his riding boots to prevent any additional injuries. I recall calling 911 as I ran to save my son, the line was busy. I yelled for others to call 911 and in the chaos, I heard multiple people say they called. Now, it was time to wait for help to arrive.

Another image that is forever etched in my mind's eye was kneeling over the top of my son and flipping up his visor so I could see his eyes. Dylan’s pupils were so tiny, but he was alert. I begged him to stay still, please don’t move, help is on the way.

Dylan, being the teenager and car lover he is, asked me if his bike was ok? Dylan loved that motorcycle – he worked so hard to pay for that! I did not buy it for him – Dylan is in the youth apprenticeship program at his high school learning to become an auto mechanic. Dylan worked full-time last summer and had a couple of part-time jobs on the side.

I looked up for a quick second to see where his motorcycle was; it was in the turn lane for oncoming traffic. I learned later from an eyewitness that his bike went airborne (at the exact moment I bent down to pick up my dog, so at least I don’t have that image burned in my mind) and landed on the other side of the road.

The paramedics arrived and I stood up to get out of their way so they could save my son’s life. The paramedics told me that we needed to get him to a hospital immediately and I needed to come with them, right now. Of course, I said, but I still had my dog? What do I do with my little dog who is also experiencing his own version of this trauma. I did not have time to take him home – I was faced with giving him to a stranger or not going with my son in the ambulance; the paramedics were firm that we had no time and I MUST come with them.

I recall standing in that busy street feeling so alone, surrounded by people, hands on my head and just spinning in circles trying to get my mind to find a solution, make a decision; I must stay with my son! That’s when I saw them, the guys at Schwen’s Garage!! Schwen’s is on the same corner where the accident happened. Doug, Curt and all of them had been friends with my family for many years – my Dad and Brother took all of their vehicles there, I took my cars there and they even came to my Dad’s funeral.

I immediately ran over to them and asked them if they could take my dog for me and just put him in my house. I live right down the street; they knew my house because I bought it from my brother and I just happened to leave the garage door open that day so they could just put Jack inside. They of course said yes and told me they were calling Kevin and my brother Willie to let them know what happened.

I am forever grateful for all the guys at Schwen’s Garage; they were there for me in my greatest time of need.

I stayed with my son from that moment forward. I rode in the ambulance. I stayed in the ER and watched the anthill of amazing trauma nurses and doctors working feverishly to save my son’s life.

When we arrived at the hospital Dylan’s oxygen level was at 70 - he was not getting the oxygen his body needed to stay alive.

I watched them intubate my son; I watched them cut into his side to put in a chest tube to save his life – I heard a nurse say that a big gush of air came out – I knew that was a good thing. I saw them put in IV after IV, and then they rushed him out for scans.

I recall sitting in the corner of this bustling ant hill and then suddenly, I was alone in that ER room amongst the debris of wrappers from IV’s, tubes, gauze, needles, and the blood. Not only was there blood on the floor, but it was my son’s blood.

After I sat there for a while, I finally realized how cold it was in the ER. I realized that I was wearing a dirty pair of shorts and a tank top; I was out raking and prepping the garden in the hot sun and dusty dirt just before going on the walk. It was 80 degrees on April 14th when the accident happened. I had no wallet, no ID, no money, no debit card and my phone had 5% battery left; I was not prepared to spend the next 12 days in the hospital.

My brother was on his way to join me in the ER. I am so grateful for my brother; he is a great source of comfort, and he brought me pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was so grateful to be warm again.

After they brought Dylan back into the ER where I was waiting for him, they put in another chest tube for his other lung and a central line to his heart. Eventually, Dylan was stabilized enough to be moved out of the ER and up to the PICU.

List of Dylan's Major Injuries:

• Broken Jaw (even with a full-faced helmet on he suffered from an open fracture of his lower jaw)

• Broken collarbone

• 2 broken ribs

• Fractured pelvis

• BADLY bruised and lacerated lungs

• Lungs had collapsed

• Level 4 laceration on his liver

• Level 4 laceration on his kidney

• Lacerated adrenal gland

• Concussion

• Road rash

• Multiple other ‘smaller’ internal injuries

Dylan spent the next 3 days in PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) at the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison.

Dylan had jaw surgery and 2 plates were installed in his lower jaw. Dylan will be on a liquid or puree-only diet for a couple of weeks while his jaw fracture heals.

After PICU, Dylan spent another 9 days in the hospital for a total of 12 days in the hospital.

Dylan was an amazing patient – he kept his positivity for life – fist-bashing doctors and nurses, somehow telling jokes while he had the breathing tube in his mouth. LOL – he even told a surgeon that I was single; next time Dylan wait for me to have showered before trying to set me up with a surgeon.

Dylan even asked a girl out to prom while in the ICU - she said yes!!!! Prom is this Saturday, May 6th. Dylan's nurse helped him pick out a corsage.

With time, rehab, rest and nutrition Dylan can and will recover 100%

Why we are asking for your help:

• Medical bills – ambulance, hospital, surgery, ICU, eleventybillion x-rays, scans and labs, doctors, nurse, etc. Luckily, we do have insurance, but I am sure there will be copays or deductibles, etc.

• Prescription and over-the-counter expenses – out of pocket for the 1st day was well over $100 for his over-the-counter medication.

• Durable medical equipment for home care

• Specialized diet of liquid, puree and high calorie protein drinks – Dylan didn’t eat for over 7 days, so a feeding tube was put in.

• Lost wages. My employer has been amazing, super flexible, family comes 1st so luckily, I don’t have to worry about losing my job. However, I am new and do not have any paid time off. I have lost over 2 weeks of wages along with future wages for caregiving and follow-up appointments over the next couple of months.

• Dylan has and will continue to experience lost wages of his own. Dylan worked as a youth apprentice and would leave school early to work every day. It is unknown when Dylan will be able to go back to work.

Gratitude

I sincerely appreciate you reading our story. It was therapeutic for me to write it and share it with all of you. Even if you can’t contribute to our cause could you please take a minute and share it with your friends and contacts?

No matter how much we raise or don’t raise; I am so grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way. I could not have spent 12 days in the hospital without my mom’s support. My brother, sister-in-law and nieces took Jack in and loved him and cared for him when I couldn’t. All my friends, family, and Dylan's friends keeping me sane and checking on both of us everyday. I love you all!

It truly takes a village to raise a child.