On November 13th, 2019 our lives forever changed with a call as a parent you never want to receive. On the other end of the phone, was a dear friend my husband's son had made while travelling . Dylan, who was 28 years young, had been traveling across the country backpacking abroad for almost 2 years. He was doing what he loved playing, writing music, meeting people and making an impact on peoples lives. He was also  studying humanitarian. Through talking to some of the friends he made during his travels, we learned how many lives he touched through his kindness and love for other people.  For the last couple of months he had been in Gambia, West Africa were he had made his new home.  Unexpectedly he became very ill,  a parasite took over his body and eventually took his life. We are awaiting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. He was camping in his favorite place in Gambia when the ranger found him.  Dylan was my husbands first born son and never did he think as a parent that he would receive this news. Dylan was very kind, funny, loving & intelligent. I remember Dylan by his smile, the love he had for people, and his humbled self. We are beyond devastated. We recently learned to bring Dylan's body back in to the United States and lay him to rest it will cost over $15,000. Gambia law requires that the body be transported in to one of only three US cities, and then nationwide transport and care must be taken care of separately. Anything and everything will help in this situation and is greatly appreciated. While no amount of money can ease the pain, we all feel or change what happened, it can help with immediate and future financial burden Jed Dylan's father will bear while hopefully easing his concerns as he and Dylan's family deal with grief and bringing him back to the US to lay him to rest.

As a parent I would like to spread the importance to young adults that are backpacking abroad that they are well educated on life threatening diseases that are easily spreadable in these other countries. As well as the US.