During this
difficult time we have been flooded with messages
from well wishers and supporters of Dylan's cause.
Although it would be impossible to thank everybody
we have included some of the special messages we
have recieved from people in Alberta and around
the world.
My name is deryck reade, I saw
your story on global tv news a few minutes ago.
To tell you about my self. I Was diagnosed with
a brain tumour at the age of two years old and many
doctors told my family and I that I was crazy even
though i was constantly in pain, having seizures,
and the brutal headaches. I had surgery at the age
of 3 years old and went on with every day life until
i was 15 when I was rediagnosed with another tumour
that nearly took my life away. I started to have
the brutal headaches and became very sick very fast.
I was seen one day after another. hospital after
hospital, doctor after doctor.
not once did they consider my history
and relook inside my brain. finally we found a doctor
who actually cared. his immediate thought was to
send me for tests where it was confirmed i had a
stage 3 astrocytoma in my right temporal lobe. After
extreme emergency surgery and treatment to follow.
I had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and the everyday
stuff all over again. I am now 22 years old and
still suffer from the trauma and alberta health
care, but I am still here today and thats what counts.
I write to you today not to tell
you a sad story, but rather to tell you I was touched
by your families story and say that your all in
my prayers. I also want to help. My plan is to organize
a bbq for as soon as possibble. Do you have any
additional info to your situation so I can use it
to organize a bennefit bbq andor dinner in dylans
honor?
I saw your story last night, and
knew what I needed to do. I too (although I am an
adult) suffer from a debilitating disability that
has yet to be correctly diagnosed, and face similar
obstacles as your family, so I really could understand
your horrible, frustrating situation.
I talked with my kids last night,
and we decided that the money I was going to spend
on them for gifts for Christmas this year, I would
donate to your family instead. I'm sorry it is not
much, but I am a single mom, with no
health benefits and lots of medical expenses too,
so $50 is all I can afford. I wish I could give
you more.
I live outside of Olds, so I will
go to the ATB in Olds today and make the donation. I
pray you get enough to help your son.
I saw a feature on Dylan on Global
news at lunch time and went online to get more information.
I will be making a donation through my local Treasury
Branch this afternoon.
The Alberta Health Care System
is great if you're healthy, but can fail folks who
really need it. Our son (he's 40 & a bachelor)
went to India February of this year to have back
surgery. The wait was so long to see a neurosurgeon
in Alberta that he might have been in a wheelchair
or worse by the time he even had an appointment
never mind surgery. He was covered for 3 months
by his insurance through work; after that thankfully
we were able to help him out until he returned to
work. He's very articulate and tried every avenue
possible to get help rather than resorting to going
out of country. As he was leaving the hospital in
India a person from Ontario was being admitted for
the same type of surgery. This health care problem
is across Canada it seems.
I certainly hope you get the donations
you need to have Dylan looked after as soon as possible.
1. I had brain surgery myself.
I know what it is like to be told that it is ".all
in your head!" To go to doctor after doctor
and not get results. I had a doctor in the non-emergency
room at the Foothills tell me that he could not
find anything wrong. The next time that I saw him
I was recovering from surgery in the stroke unit.
I wanted to jump up and down screaming "SEE!"
2. I am a Mom
3. I grew up in Airdrie and we take care of our
own!0) I hope that this holiday season brings the
best out of people so that you can raise enough
funds to be able to have your surgery. You are in
my thoughts and prayers.
I just wanted to write a short
note to tell you that I was just checking for further
updates on your story since seeing it on the news
and was brought to tears to see that you are now
able to get the surgery sooner than later.
I know
you'll have the best Christmas ever & the Happiest
of New Years! I'll be thinking of you all and wish
youthe very best. Looking forward to further updates.
Dylan ... Miracles really do happen,
in ways you could never imagine, don't they?
Hi, I am Ken of "Ken and Friends"
who do a music jam at the Over 50 Club on one Saturday
each month. After my wife (Linda) and I helped at
the fund-raiser on December 20th and learning Dylan's
story I did our usual music jam today andd we want
to donate the proceeds from the silver collection
to Dylan. Can you just tell me where to deliver
the money.
"Dear Nielsen family. We saw
your story on TV while watching the news and applaud
your efforts to try and help your son during everything
he's been through. We are still shcoked there was
no medical coverage or funding for a siuation like
this and since we had a sick child recently this
is not something we would wish on anyone. We hope
Dylan gets all the help he needs and has a speedy
recovery, we are all pulling for him!
