Dylan was only nine years old when he complained of having a migraine and numbness in his legs. Knowing migraines are unusual for Dylan, his mom Vanessa took him to the emergency room, where their scary medical journey began. “That was the beginning of ten hours at the ER, watching Dylan in and out of consciousness,” says Vanessa.
After hours of tests and blood work, a pediatrician quickly attuned to Dylan’s symptoms. A CT scan showed early arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, which is a type of brain abnormality. “The first thing that comes to my mind is brain surgery, and I’m internally collapsing at this point,” says Vanessa.
Dylan was quickly airlifted from Crescent City, California to UCSF, where a team of doctors explained AVM to the family. Dylan’s care team developed a solid plan, deciding to move forward with Gamma Knife radiation versus invasive surgery. And after a weeklong stay at UCSF, Dylan was discharged to await his upcoming treatment.
Having discussed Angel Flight West’s services with a UCSF social worker, Vanessa confirmed their round-trip angel flights a week before Dylan’s treatment. The day of their first flight, AFW Command Pilot Henry Ward brought along his son and co-pilot, Austin. “It was like stepping into another world,” says Vanessa. “They took away our sense of worry and made us feel like we were doing something together as a team.”
After staying overnight at a hotel, they checked into UCSF the next morning, where Dylan’s doctors were able to target the entire AVM during his treatment, with a plan to follow up with periodic MRIs and an annual angiogram.
Dylan’s flight home with his parents was generously donated by AFW’s partner Advanced Air. “They were watchful over our family,” says Vanessa. “The pilot came out to give Dylan a hand up and down the steps, and I felt the warmth and care from the pilots and staff.” Advanced Air team member Jerry also went above and beyond, taking good care of the family throughout their journey home — and even taking a photo with Dylan afterward (pictured above).
Today, Dylan is recovering well. He’s a smart and creative nine-year-old, always teaching his family something new.
As for Vanessa? She continues to express her deep gratitude for their AFW and Advanced Air experience, saying it “left its mark” on their family. “We never would have been able to take on the cost of the entire trip,” she says. “It wasn’t just a flight to the hospital — it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
