Dylan

Dylan was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Aurora, CO and diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called gian beret syndrome on Saturday, April 30th. He has a long road ahead. He is under 24 hr intensive care and treatment(s). One treatment, they actually take out antibodies from his blood and replace it with the antibodies from over 10,000 people. This is because his own antibodies are fighting themselves. He is receiving IV treatments and another one called apheresis (Therapeutic Plasma Exchange). He cannot breath on his own. He cannot speak. He cannot move, we would guess 95% of his body. He can write, and does so frequently to communicate his needs. Internally he is still Dylan as indicated by his sincerity and his humor. After the helicopter flight, the first letter he wrote was to the staff. It read: "First off thxs so much, my throat hurts." Since then, he has remained true to being a teenage son as indicated by these following examples. After Dylan indicated he didn't think he was stronger and he had less ability to move than the previous day I explained to him: "Well son, we have the best people we can. We are doing what we can, but it might be another 2-4 weeks of going-down-hill." He motioned for a marker and wrote, "Dude, I know." Similar teenage irritations occurred as well when he penned his mom to "give [him] space". 

Yesterday he contracted pneumonia but it looks much better already and they anticipate it will clear up well.

Doctors, nurses, and other staff have continually commented on his respect, his writing skills, and his inner strength. We are waiting for his phone to charge now so we can show off his art work photos. He has the best team he could possibly have of radiologists, neurologists, and a good medicine cabinet of many other ologists. Each morning starts with a team meeting of 10 to a dozen professionals. They are amazing at their job and amazing at communicating to us as well.

This has been very difficult, but nothing has happened that is out of the ordinary for GBS. We anticipate being here for at least a month, and there will be many months of rehabilitation. However, most people who have contracted GBS (and Dylan !!) is expected to make a full recovery.

With the latest technology, sharpest of minds, will of our son, and sincerest of prayers we expect nothing less.

We will send much shorter updates more frequently from here on out to keep every one in the loop at this website (please do not donate to the caring bridge website)  https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dylanbaker