Help Dylan Get a Life-Saving Liver Transplant

Chances are pretty high that unless you went to highschool with us, you don't know who Dylan is. And then the chances are still pretty good that even though you did go to school with us, you still may not have known who he was.

I've been told that these gofundme's are only successful if you know a lot of people.

I am putting this in God's hands here because we do not know a lot of people and those we do know that see this, I pray sincerely that you forward his story on so that it can reach everyone God needs it to reach.

So in advance, I thank you for taking the time to read this, to contribute and to pass it along so we can get as much help possible.

WHO IS DYLAN?

Dylan stood out to me right away in high school. He wasn't typical. He had depth & sought out discussions on topics that actually mattered. He didn't partake in common mindless social norms like who won the game the night before & he didn't partake in gossip. He wasn't after popularity nor did he pay any mind to the mundane clichés typically associated with high school. Didn't chase after the girls & didn't cause any trouble. He was a free thinker, intelligent, knew who he was & wasn't sorry about it. Hysterically funny, fearless without being loud about it, genuine & bold.

Growing up, his dad's job required countless moves to and from, not allowing Dylan to make friends or partake in any organized group activities. Just before his parents divorced his mother became extremely sick leaving her debilitated and in need of a caretaker. Needless to say the responsibility of his mother became Dylan's, who was at the time still a child.

The divorce was an all out WAR. Placing him in the middle of his parents Dylan not only wore the hat of caretaker, but also middle man and peacemaker. Dylan was forced to grow up far to fast and without really getting a chance at childhood. And he did all of this alone.

WHO IS DYLAN TO ME?

We had Ty in 2005 and I could tell right away that Dylan was struggling with the idea of HOW he wanted to BE as a father. Considering the only reality he knew was that of his father and that was the Provider. So Dylan worked & we struggled.

Being so young with neither of us knew how to "adult" properly let alone with a newborn who was in and out of the hospital due to "the worst case of colic" two doctors had said they had ever seen.... & the day to day build up life relentlessly throws at you just became unmanageable between us.

Since then we have divorced but remain friendly & are on good terms with each other.

The commonality Dylan & I will always share is our son, TY. And as our boy turns his steps toward his future, I can think of nothing more important that he needs there in his life to help guide his steps to help steer him in the right direction than that of his father.

THE DEATH SENTENCE

Dylan has been diagnosed with End Stage Liver Failure or Disease. Basically his liver doesn't function. At all. Which I'm turn causes blood pressure to build up in/around the liver/stomach area (portal hypertension), which causes abnormal swelling in the stomach and leg areas. Left untreated, the body cannot survive without a working liver.

THE SYMPTOMS

Depending on the severity this makes doing the day-to-day tasks that we take for granted very difficult. Things like getting out of bed, getting up and down from the toilet, taking a shower and putting shoes and socks on.

He has to wear a wrap around his stomach that supports his internal organs. Then there's his diet. Dylan has to make every single meal himself everyday. He does this because he cannot have any sodium whatsoever. And sure that one doesn't seem so bad. But how many times a week do you get the luxury of going through a drive-thru to get something to eat simply because you don't feel like cooking that night? Dylan doesn't have that option.

He walks with a limp and is always cradling his stomach area.

Since the symptoms have only gotten worse, Dylan has had to stop working.

He has applied for medical assistance but we all know how long that could take.

HIS PROGNOSIS

There is no " fixing" the liver at this point. The only option is getting a liver transplant. Everything Dylan is now doing only masks, the symptoms and this will go on until Dylan eventually dies from the disease. Did I mention that he is 41 years old?

At the onset of the first ascites outbreak, the survival rate is 50% for the next two years. Dylan is in his second year.

CONCLUSION

We need help. Dylan has the doctor. He has a donor and he has the support and love from family. The amount we are asking for still won't get us there but it helps.

Please help me in giving my son and his father a second chance. Help me keep my son's father around so he can contribute more into our son's life. If we all deserve a second chance in life, help us give Dylan HIS.

No one thanks you more than our son, TY.