PETERSBURG — Upper Township and the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Officers Association have teamed up on a mission to support a Seaville boy who was severely injured in an accident at home.
According to a post on the family’s GoFundMe page started by Ginger Berens, the aunt of Dylan Vanderhaeghen, the 3-year-old suffered severe, life-threatening injuries April 13.
He was airlifted to the closest trauma center and then transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he was treated in the pediatric ICU with polytrauma to the lower half of his body.
“His condition is critical but stable. He has undergone multiple surgeries and will require many in the future. The stay at the hospital will be extensive, his injuries permanent and he will need medical services well into the future,” Berens wrote on the page.
Hayley McElroy, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Officers Association, worked with Dylan’s mother Christine Lynch during her three years in Cape May, where their children spent time together at the base day care center.
“We became very good friends,” McElroy said, adding that she visits the family weekly.
She said Dylan has been stabilized and first was moved to the inpatient trauma ward and now is being treated in the inpatient rehabilitation center.
“We expect him to be there for a large portion of the summer,” McElroy said, noting Dylan suffered extensive injuries to both legs.
A fundraiser is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, July 27, at Amanda’s Field, 1091 Route 50 in Petersburg. The Touch-A-Truck & Walk will include displays of Upper Township emergency vehicles.
The GoFundMe page already has exceeded $50,000 of the $75,000 goal, and all proceeds from the fundraiser will support the family financially.
“Since the hospital is far away from home, the situation is quite challenging. Moreover, they are not stationed close enough to any family members who can provide extended support while they are at the hospital,” Berens wrote.
Lynch is a senior field contracting officer who has spent nearly 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, now serving at Training Center Cape May. She leads and manages a diverse team of purchasing and contracting personnel over four states and drives process, policy and organization change for the district.
Dylan’s father, Benjamin Vanderhaeghen, was a Coastguardsman who now works as a civilian at the TRACEN health clinic.
McElroy said the Coast Guard is “very good at supporting the people and there has been an outpouring of support from many areas.”
In addition, she said, Upper Township “made it very clear from the beginning they wanted to help.”
McElroy said she approached the township about holding a fundraising walk and Lynch suggested adding the touch-a-truck facet because she wanted to make it more of a family event.
Plans call for emergency vehicles from Upper Township and AtlantiCare, as well as a medevac helicopter.
Upper Township Recreation Director Larry Cole said he is serving as the center point, pulling together all of the collaborators and attractions for the fundraiser.
“We have support of Mayor Jay Newman, with the assets of emergency services to have their equipment there for kids to view and touch,” Cole said, adding that the State Police community outreach unit would be providing bicycle safety tips. “We have also been working on getting the Medevac helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard small boat division.”
Cole said the walk would take participants around the 1.7-mile loop at the park.
“All donations go toward alleviating the debt load that the Vanderhaeghen family is facing from the extensive injuries,” Cole said. “We are hoping for a well-populated event that we can hopefully have a return each year to help this young man out with his tough battle.”
Anyone interested in donating money or attractions can contact the Recreation Office at RecreationDepartment@UpperTownship.com or call (609) 628-2011, ext 248.
McElroy said the event is free to participate and that donations will be gratefully accepted.
“The event is a fundraiser but also to show support,” she said, noting the parents likely will not be there but photos from the event should lift their hearts.
Berens described Dylan as “an uplifting presence who spreads joy to those around him” and “a sweet, silly, strong little boy, with boundless energy and a contagious smile.”
She reported Dylan has an older sister, Emily, who also requires love, support and care.
“At this time, there are so many unknowns for the future but we do know he will have extensive hospital time, future inpatient and outpatient therapies and medical needs with several different specialties and therapies required,” Berens wrote. “Logistically, he will require at-home care for a prolonged time taking mom and dad out of work or hiring care. The reality is there will be significant financial stress both immediately and long-term into Dylan’s life.”
Berens wrote she and the family are extremely grateful for the support of the community.
“There has been an amazing outpouring of love for Dylan, with many people asking how they can support Dylan and his family. Christine and Ben are kind-hearted people who never want to burden anyone by asking for support, but they have humbly agreed to accept support,” she wrote. “Please continue to pray for sweet Dylan’s recovery and strength and for he and his family to get through this unbearable time.”
McElroy said the family has health insurance but there are a lot of things Dylan will need that are not necessarily covered. The boy also likely will need intensive care, possibly forcing one parent to leave the workforce.
“The bottom line is, health insurance doesn’t cover everything. The goal is to make it so Dylan can live life like a 3-year-old boy, live life as normally as possible like the adventurous little boy that he is,” she said. “They don’t want money to be a limiting factor on the help that he can get.”
Dylan’s GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/f/support-dylans-road-to-recovery.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff