Help Dylan Fight Acute Myeloid Leukemia

If you know this family, you know they are always together. They are the loud, busy family that shows up together, celebrates together, struggles together, and most importantly is always there when someone needs their help.

For the first time, they are the ones who need family, friends, community and faith to surround them. Their whole world has suddenly been changed.

Dylan, at the age of 18 was accepted to the University of Kentucky. He was supported by his Mom Jen, and father Dan, who is also the father of his older brother Declan who is 19, and sister Brianna that is 16. He is so special to also have the support of his step-father Steve, and his brothers Chase who is 13, and little Nikolas that is 18 months. He left his family to go to school to study a major in business, apply to law school, and eventually pursue a career in corporate law.

Dylan has a plan. His family has supported his plan every step of the way.

Sometimes, we make plans, we have everything all figured out, but we are reminded that God has the ultimate plan. He is the one that determines the path ahead. Dylan's faith is a big part of who he is, and now his path has taken a different direction.

Shortly after leaving for school Dylan had begun to feel tired, the food wasn't the same as at home so he wasn't eating. He had told his mom it tasted terrible (but actually used teenage terminologly of ass). As a mother's intuition, Jen felt there was something wrong. Not just a kid being homesick, but after talking to him, knowing it was more than that, she made arrangements to go and see him in Kentucky. Rather than her coming there, he asked if he could come home.

When he came back, Jen decided to bring him to Elmhurst Emergency Department, to get evaluated. She has worked there for almost 20 years and she trusted the care and opinions of her work family. She couldn't have asked for better care than the ones that she has worked beside, cried with, and shared life's most vulnerable moments with. This time, she was on the other side. She wasn't caring for a patient. The one being treated was her son.

While being cared for by one of the best physicians in the ER, Dylans labs began to be resulted, his viral panels were negative, but there were other abnormalities. Ultimately they determined that he needed to be transferred to a higher level of care. They facilitated the transfer and he was sent by ambulance to University of Chicago. It was then that they confirmed that he was diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Dylan's path has now changed. instead of thinking about his classes, or what his friends have planned for the weekend. He is now faced with the plans of a PICC line, a painful bone marrow biopsy, and that he will be undergoing intensive chemotherapy for the next 5 weeks while in the hospital on the stem-cell transplant unit.

ONE DAY AT A TIME. EVERY MINUTE COUNTS

No parent wants to be in this situation. No parent wants to ask for help. Jen and Steve have dedicated their lives to helping others. Jen has worked caring for patients in the ER for 19 years, she is in the last semester of nursing school. Steve has worked in law enforcement for over 18 years. They have worked diligently for nearly two decades to help, protect, and care for others in their time of need. Right now, they need a village. Not only are they struggling with the fear of the unknown with Dylan, but also trying to maintain stability with their other 4 children at home.

We are creating this GoFund Me because as members of Jen's ER family we know it is not always easy to ask for help. We are the strong ones, we are the ones to fix things. We are fighting and praying for our patients as if they were our own family.

Dylan is our family. He is an 18 year old boy that should be enjoying his first year at college. Cancer might have put a bump in the road, but it doesn't define him. His faith in God, along with his army of friends, family, doctors, nurses, and all those support him will be by his side.

If you are able to donate, anything will be appreciated to help him and his family in the weeks ahead.

Most importantly, just pray for Dylan. Pray for his response to the chemotherapy, for wisdom to guide his healthcare team, for his brothers and sister, and most importantly to give him strength when he needs it.

You will always have infinite aura Dylan. Cancer low key does not define you. Bet.