Team DMan

This year will be a little different but we are thinking outside the box for a fun way to support the Ronald McDonald House and Dylan's memory! We are running, walking and cycling for the month of October. We'll track our miles and the total event goal is to move 1,164 miles in honor of the number of days Dylan was with us.

About Dylan J. Hoffman: Dylan Joseph Hoffman was born on July 7, 2011. At 4 weeks old we discovered that he had a coarctation of the aorta which lead to a massive stroke. The stroke was caught early enough to have drains put in to relieve the pressure on his brain. At 6 weeks old he had been through more than most people will have been in a lifetime, having successful heart surgery and brain surgery within days of each other. A coarctation of the aorta means there is a narrowing of the aorta, so more blood was going to the top of his body than the lower part due to where it was.

The stroke has caused quite a bit of damage leading to a very long and hard road for Dylan and our family. He had endocrine issues, low tone, cortical visual impairment, eventually a feeding tube, pulmonary issues, and seizures. He amazed us everyday with things we were not quite sure he'd be able to do and how hard he worked to do them. Unfortunately, on September 12, 2014 Dylan got too tired to work anymore and left us peacefully.

During Dylan's initial stay we were so lucky to have gotten a room at the Ronald McDonald House so that we were close by and Kevin's parents were able to stay there too. Having a comfortable bed, place to cook, and take a hot shower was such a relief. The best part was we were just across the parking lot from Dylan if we needed a break. The house is invaluable to families going through health issues with their children.

The house runs primarily on donations, you can click here to learn about their relationship with McDonald's. Please help us raise money so that the house can operate and help other families in need of it. 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, but that doesn't mean less children and families will need the house.