Run set to help oft-hospitalized child
Originally published March 29, 2015
While visiting the Sportsplex, a flyer, “Running for Dylan 2015,” caught my attention. I decided to investigate, and the story is so uplifting.
Dylan Creed, 5, has battled 24 bilateral pneumonias in more than 34 hospitalizations. She has traveled throughout the Midwest seeking treatment, with the recent intravenous infusion being very expensive. Bilateral pneumonia is a bacterial infection of both lobes of the lungs.
Her mom, Stacey, says Dylan was always quite ill as a baby – congestion, colds, and other issues. Her first very severe episode was at 10 months when she was hospitalized for 10 days. As Stacey explains it, “At first, you don’t think it is a problem, kids catch colds. But the next ‘cold’ was very bad. Dylan averages about one episode every 10 weeks.
“We had not seen any specialists until the third episode within two months. Twenty-four bilateral pneumonias later – through weeks, months, and years of treatments, her brilliant doctors found that her immune system doesn’t fight for her. The treatment, IVIG, is basically the antibodies that a healthy adult has within them. The treatment cost is so expensive because IVIG is pooled from hundreds or thousands of donors to comprise the antibody. IVIG is a medication used as a maintenance program – it diminishes or goes away within time and needs to be readministered.”
The doctors didn’t want to “confuse” her system by exposing her to other germs at school. Dylan is hopeful to begin first grade next year. Her foray into social interaction has been the day care in the Sportsplex, where Stacey can keep a handle on the small group setting.
Dylan’s father, Matthew, was born and raised in Orland Park and has worked for the Village of Orland Park for 18 years. Stacey was born in the Joliet/Shorewood area, and then, at age 14, her family moved to Lockport. She is on the nursing staff at Silver Cross Hospital where her co-workers have been wonderful. She can work limited shifts and keep her job. She is a recreational runner, having been on the cross country team during high school at Lockport High School. The family now lives in Lockport.
Running for Dylan 2015 is to help the little girl regain her childhood and offset some of the cost of her treatment.
Dylan has two protective older brothers. Dominick, 16, quietly has taken the back seat – which mom says is “very brave of him.” He’s on the cross country and track teams at Lockport High School, and members of both are running to support Dylan and him.
Chase, 8, who attends Milne Grove School, is planning on being a runner, too (or mom is hoping) and he’ll be running with his friends alongside. Chase is very close to his sister and has accompanied the family to many treatments in Cincinnati and elsewhere. Stacey says, “Chase is good medicine for Dylan – he is very protective of her; very fatherly, even if only 8.”
Stacey reflects on a conversation she had with Dominick.
“I kind of look at running as very parallel to a lot of things in life. What you learn from running and racing – it is hard; you feel good when it is done – it is not enjoyable every minute. Life hurts and is scary – but the more you learn to push and carry on through the pain, the better person you are going to be. Running is such an amazing thing. People who run appreciate that. You are going to do anything to cross the finish line. If you use that in other aspects of your life, that is amazing. Dig deep.”
The run kicks off at 9 a.m. April 26 at the Centennial Park West, Park Station Boulevard (METRA commuter station lot), the 5K Run (or Walk). For registration information, visit http://www.active.com/orland-park-il/running/running-for-dylan-2015.
Although the price is no different for pre-registration or same-day registration, pre-registration is preferred. Packets will be picked up on race day, beginning at 7 a.m.