A short four weeks after her son, Dylan, was born, Caroline Hoffman learned that he had had a massive stroke. He was rushed to Westchester Medical Center and underwent heart and brain surgery. She and her husband, Kevin, didn’t want to leave Dylan’s side in the weeks that followed. Rather than come home to Wilton each night, they stayed across the street at the Ronald McDonald House during Dylan’s hospitalization and later move to the rehabilitation hospital.

Now that he’s 2 years old, Dylan will face a very tough road for the rest of his life, including seizures and brain damage. But his mother says, “He amazes us every day with things we’re not quite sure he’ll be able to do and how hard he works to do them.”

Despite their own medical costs and time-intensive therapies, the Hoffmans are still eager to help others who face a similar situation, and they are active each year fundraising alternately either for the Ronald McDonald House or the hospital where Dylan received such great care.“Birth to three helps us with equipment, and as he gets older he’ll need bigger things, but right now he still fits in the stroller. And thankfully insurance has been good.”

They are holding a bake sale in front of Village Market today, from 3 – 7 p.m. to help their campaign to raise money for Ronald McDonald house. The money they raise at the bake sale will support their taking part in an upcoming walk on Oct. 13 to raise money to support the program.

The Hoffmans are doing these things because they are grateful for the assistance they received at the Ronald McDonald House, and they hope to help other families like themselves. “During Dylan’s initial stay we were so lucky to have gotten a room at the Ronald McDonald House so that we were close by.  Having a comfortable bed, place to cook, and take a hot shower was such a relief.  The best part was we were just across the parking lot from Dylan if we needed a break.  The house is invaluable to families going through health issues with their children,” Caroline said.

She says that the program at the house runs on donations as McDonald’s does not fund it.