By Julia Train
A 3-year-old boy from Seaville is home after spending five months being treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Dylan Vanderhaeghen was hospitalized on April 13 after suffering severe, life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a riding mower.
After the accident, Dylan was airlifted to the closest trauma center and later transferred to CHOP, where he stayed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with polytrauma to the lower half of his body.
Dylan’s aunt, Ginger Beren, created a GoFundMe page for her nephew and his parents, Christine Lynch and Ben Vanderhaeghen, on April 17.
On the page, Beren wrote, “Dylan is an uplifting presence who spreads joy to those around him. He just celebrated his third birthday and is a sweet, silly, strong little boy, with boundless energy and a contagious smile.”
Since he arrived at CHOP, Dylan has undergone over 17 surgeries and Lynch has posted several updates.
Throughout his time in the hospital, Dylan received words of support and wishes for him to get better soon.
“Dylan deserves a chance to live his best life. And I declare that He will in the mighty name of Yeshua. He will live to be mighty and strong in the earth and no one or nothing will stop him,” wrote Roshay Wilson. “May His light shine upon you, filling your hearts with hope, strength, and unwavering love. Prayers up! Love and Blessings.”
Heidi Ray wrote, “Your family remains in my thoughts and prayers.”
On Sept. 14, Lynch wrote an update along with a family photo of her, Ben, Dylan and Dylan’s sister.
“Dylan is finally home and it’s been 5 long months since his accident. The support you all showed, and continue to show, was not only helpful to secure his care financially but heartwarming,” she said. “It lifted our spirits and showed us there was light during our darkest times.”
Upon his arrival, Dylan was greeted by Marmora and Seaville Rescue Squads.
While he is home from the hospital, his mother said his journey to recovery is far from over.
Dylan is left with a permanent disability and now wears a new prosthetic that’s “highly unique and specialized.”
It’s a modified boot lift that consists of a foot holder for his actual foot, then a bar going down to achieve equal length to his right leg, and then a prosthetic foot below that where a sneaker can go.
As he grows, more interventions and new prosthetics will be needed to fit.
“He will need many therapies, follow [up] care and a few major surgeries but we are so happy to have gotten past this major milestone,” Lynch wrote in her update. “Please continue to keep him in your thoughts. We are so happy to be home and living together as a family again. The 4 of us are so thankful.”
Dylan’s GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/f/support-dylans-road-to-recovery.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 25, it has raised $56,190 of the $75,000 goal from 521 donors.
