The following is from Rylan Dodson’s family:
On May 3, 2011 I gave birth to my second child Rylan Dodson. Upon entering this world it was immediately apparent that something was very wrong with our son. Over the next several weeks Rylan was treated for a condition called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn. He was hooked to countless machines while doctors worked to save his life. As the hypertension got better, Rylan did not. He was unable to come off the ventilator and no one knew why. He was then transferred to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta GA for further testing.
Once there we were assigned a team of 8 different specialists who searched and searched for answers. Hundreds of tests were performed yet nothing showed the cause of Rylan’s need for mechanical ventilation. At six weeks old our family decided to have a tracheostomy preformed so we could work towards bringing our baby home. Rylan remained in the hospital over the next few months while we were trained to take care of him and continue to search for answers. The decision to have this done was not an easy one and meant our lives were going to change more than we could have even imagined. This new life required me to quit my job to stay home as Rylan’s mother, nurse, therapist, and most of all cheerleader.
Unfortunately our family was very accustom to being a two income house hold and was not prepared for what the loss of my salary would do. My sister had gone to high school with Matt Hudson and we were aware of their journey with precious Harrison through social media sites. She decided to reach out to them for advice on this home health care world and finances. About 10 minutes after they hung up my sister’s phone rang and it was Matt. They wanted to help our family.
Over the next year the Hudson’s and Hope From Harrison did more for our family than I could have ever imagined. Their incredible foundation gave friends, family, and even strangers a safe place to give donations to help us. They hosted fundraisers such as SunFest with all proceeds going directly to help our family. Because of Hope From Harrison we were able to stay in our home when we thought that was not possible.
They provided our mortgage payments months and months on end giving us the opportunity to pay medical bills and even save a little. Not only did they provide us monetary support but they did so much more. They provided the emotional support that I needed in some of our darkest days. They were truly life saves and I will be forever grateful to be a part of not only their foundation but also their family. Rylan is now a year a half old and thriving. He is still ventilator dependent but enjoying several hours a day free from machines. I don’t know where we would be today without the Hope From Harrison but I do know I would not be the person I am without them.
The Dodson Family