Hi, our names are Keith and Danyelle, and we are the proud parents of Akai “Dinky” Wilkinson, our strong and beautiful 4-year-old son. Earlier this year, Dinky’s life changed in an instant when he went into respiratory failure. He was placed on life support, including ECMO (a machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs when they’re too weak to work on their own), and later underwent a tracheostomy to help him breathe.
For 133 long days, Dinky remained hospitalized—90 of those days spent on ECMO and life support—sedated and fighting for his life. He endured multiple heart rate drops, emergency interventions, a feeding tube, and several high-risk procedures. Through all the pain, setbacks, and uncertainty, Dinky held on. Now, by the grace of God and his own strength, Dinky is finally home. He’s breathing on his own, smiling again, and working toward full recovery. He’s even started to enjoy a few of his favorite activities, though most of his days are still focused on healing.
Dinky’s journey is far from over. He needs ongoing physical and occupational therapy, as well as regular visits with ear, nose, and throat and pulmonary specialists. The costs of hospital bills, travel for medical appointments, medications, and daily care have been overwhelming for our family. It’s just the two of us caring for Dinky at home, and we’re struggling emotionally and financially, especially after some injuries that happened during his hospital stay. Dinky is a true fighter—he’s eager to get back to doing all the things a 4-year-old loves. We are humbly asking for your support, whether through a donation or by sharing Dinky’s story. Every bit helps us keep pushing forward for our son. Thank you for believing in Dinky and helping us on this journey.
For 133 long days, Dinky remained hospitalized—90 of those days spent on ECMO and life support—sedated and fighting for his life. He endured multiple heart rate drops, emergency interventions, a feeding tube, and several high-risk procedures. Through all the pain, setbacks, and uncertainty, Dinky held on. Now, by the grace of God and his own strength, Dinky is finally home. He’s breathing on his own, smiling again, and working toward full recovery. He’s even started to enjoy a few of his favorite activities, though most of his days are still focused on healing.
Dinky’s journey is far from over. He needs ongoing physical and occupational therapy, as well as regular visits with ear, nose, and throat and pulmonary specialists. The costs of hospital bills, travel for medical appointments, medications, and daily care have been overwhelming for our family. It’s just the two of us caring for Dinky at home, and we’re struggling emotionally and financially, especially after some injuries that happened during his hospital stay. Dinky is a true fighter—he’s eager to get back to doing all the things a 4-year-old loves. We are humbly asking for your support, whether through a donation or by sharing Dinky’s story. Every bit helps us keep pushing forward for our son. Thank you for believing in Dinky and helping us on this journey.