On August 20th I received a phone call that changed my life. My husband Steve and I were in Scotland, preparing to lead a workshop, when the call came that Aaron, my son, had fallen and broken his back. His sisters, Taya and Amber, dropped everything and rushed to the hospital. Aaron had fallen twenty-five feet while at work, which resulted in fusing of his spine and paralysis of his lower body.

Before his accident Aaron worked as a carpenter, with his eyes on becoming a contractor involved in green building. He loved to snowboard, kayak and run on the beach with his dogs. Now, almost two months after his injury, Aaron is home from the hospital. He is learning every day how to cope with his devastating disabilities. He has encountered crises that would seem insurmountable to most. However, with tremendous courage, he is facing them.

Aaron was working for a private builder at the time of his accident. Due to this employment status, he was not eligible for company health insurance. Therefore, as I’m sure you can imagine, his medical bills are enormous. We now face the necessity to finance rehabilitation costs, handicapped equipment and his care for the next years as he heals, learns to function in a new way, and learns new career skills. We expect that his rehabilitation costs alone will be over $100,000.00 for the first year. To help offset such expenses, Aaron’s family and friends have come together to establish a fundraising campaign in his honor through the Catastrophic Injury Program of HelpHOPELive. All contributions are administered by HelpHOPELive exclusively for Aaron’s injury-related expenses. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Please help us give hope and faith to Aaron by making a donation to help him.To email this page directly to others in your community, who might wish to learn about Aaron’s campaign, click the email button and type in as many email addresses as you wish.

One story I must share with you… I was sitting at Aaron’s bedside at the trauma center watching him sleep after an eight-hour surgery. As I prayed for clarity and direction to help me help this extraordinary young man, he opened his eyes and said, “The only thing that would make this worth it, all this pain, is if it inspires hope and faith in others, others who are suffering.” Tears came to my eyes as he drifted back to sleep.

Deep in Aaron’s soul is the wish to help others, but before he can do so he needs your help. There is an ancient Jewish saying that God gives great burdens, but many shoulders to carry them. Would you please help shoulder some of Aaron’s burden by giving as much as you can?

With thanks and blessings for all you can do!

Peggy Dylan
209-768-4499