On 16th November 2025, just a few weeks before his 30th birthday, my son, Dylan, suffered a broken neck as the result of a freak accident in the surf on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Within 4 days, he underwent two emergency surgeries at Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, first to remove his C7 vertebrae through the front of his neck, and then to fuse his C6 to T1 through the back. While both surgeries were successful and Dylan has regained feeling in his upper body, he is unable to move his legs or wiggle his toes. As we are writing this together, doctors are still unsure what level of recovery we can expect.
So now he has a long and challenging journey ahead of him. He faces significant medical and recovery costs. In the following months, rehab, therapy, medical bills, and ADA adjustments to Dylan's home will be just the beginning of this journey.
Your support — in any amount — will make a real difference in his healing. Our first cost will be flying Dylan home to Seattle so he can receive the best care possible, surrounded by his support system of friends and family. Insurance does not cover medical transport, so our first and immediate cost to get him home is $16,000.
Dylan is a smart, wonderful, sociable, kind, and entertaining young man. He is extremely well-loved by his many friends and family who adore him for his infectious attitude, charm, charisma, and warm hugs.
Dylan was born in San Francisco in 1995 to English parents but grew up in Seattle from the age of 4 years old. He has a younger brother, Henry, and a younger sister, Lily. He is bright and active. At Stevens Elementary School, he received the Seymour Kaplan Award on graduation, and at both Garfield High School and Western Washington University, he was Captain of the cross-country teams. As well as cross-country, Dylan was a keen and accomplished youth soccer player.
He graduated from university in 2019 and immediately joined his dad working in sales for a data analysis company in Seattle. He remained there working until May 2025, when, having worked hard at saving enough money, he had the courage to make a big life change and dedicate himself to learning to fly to become a commercial pilot.
Dylan loves the Pacific Northwest for its camping and hiking, and Lake Washington, where he takes his friends out on his small ski boat. He is a fabulous host and plans many parties and events. He had planned a big event for all his friends this year to help him celebrate his 30th birthday on Dec 19th with a Viking-influenced party to honor his Danish roots.
It will be that indomitable Viking strength that will accompany Dylan through this challenge.
Dylan's making it his goal to fly again, with the intention to switch from commercial flying to being a pilot for Life Flights, the non-profit outfit that flew Dylan from the Big Island to O'ahu following his accident.
We so appreciate your generosity during his time of need. Nothing can prepare you for an injury of this magnitude, and we are deeply grateful every day for the massive outpouring of support and love for Dylan.
We intend to update you with details along Dylan's road to recovery. In the past nine days since the accident, Dylan has received excellent care from Queen's MC with physical and occupational therapy that has already gotten him from not being able to move to transitioning from bed to wheelchair and being able to sit upright for 45-minute stints. Lots more to come.
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With thanks and deep appreciation for your support.
Mike, Sarah, and all Dylan's friends xx