When one engages in a good book, interesting article or magazine story we often find ourselves drifting ahead, picturing characters, places, moods, wondering what to expect as we turn the page. From the time Dylan was born and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy we knew we had many un-written chapters in his book of life ...

From the time Dylan was born and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy we knew we had many un-written chapters in his book of life. We knew it was going to be extremely difficult and challenging, but we also knew that we couldn’t wait to start writing these chapters and face them head on! Dylan has always been a fighter, an inspiration to others, a DETERMINED 10 year old boy. His attitude, drive and grit are qualities you can’t teach! You’re born with it; it’s delivered to your soul like a fiery Phoenix rising from the ashes.

As with a Phoenix, Dylan rose from his latest installment to create a new chapter, one full of promise and opportunity! The opportunity would be a second round of orthopedic surgery, enhancing his overall mobility as well as to prevent a possible hip displacement. The reason why I say opportunity is because it would take place during a time that would afford him quality recovery time and by one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country.

The surgery went as planned and the recovery, from the surgery, was manageable. What we faced next was six weeks of Dylan being placed in a full body cast with a metal bar separating his legs. This proved to be challenging experience for all involved, but we knew by inking this chapter it would provide for a much better story, inching closer to his goal of a “Life without Limits”.

The challenges have continued since the removal of his cast with extreme tightness in his legs and the inability to move without triggering some sort of pain/anxiety. In talking with the doctor’s office this is normal and will subside. The road has been long (to this point and still is) and it’s truly a difficult thing to do when subjecting your son to a surgery of this magnitude, but when the dust finally settles on this chapter HE will be better for it.

The goal in all of this is continued mobility, more independent freedom and individual satisfaction of taking more control of his way of life! It also teaches him that he can push through it! Every day of his life will be an uphill challenge, it’s our job to continue to push him, illustrate how to strive for excellence and be the young man that he dreams of being. If you ask Dylan his most important chapter has yet to be written and that chapter is to WALK!


More about All Children's Hospital:
All Children's Hospital provides expert pediatric care for children and families from all across the state of Florida and beyond. We provide compassionate, state-of-the-art care for infants, children and teens with some of the most challenging medical problems.

Is a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, we provide access to the most innovative treatments and therapies. Taking part in pediatric medical education and clinical research helps us to provide world-class care in more than 43 pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties.

More than half of 259 beds are devoted to intensive care level services. We are the regional pediatric referral center for Florida's west coast. Physicians and community hospitals count on us to care for critically ill patients and to perform complex surgical procedures.

Parents count on us, too. Our philosophy of family-centered care means that family members are an important part of the healthcare team. We put this philosophy into action by including parents in making decisions and plans for their child's care. Patients who are old enough to take part in these discussions are included, too.

We asked patients, parents and our staff to share ideas to help us design the 259-bed All Children's Hospital that we opened in January 2010. The result was a spacious and bright hospital with individual rooms where parents can comfortably spend the night. Combining the latest technology and our commitment to family-centered care, our hospital provides an ideal environment for healing - All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida.