Support for Dylan Conn & his family

Hello, my name is Monique Smith. I’m a close friend and chosen family member of Dylan and Stacey Conn. I’m reaching out to share their story and ask for any support you might be able to offer during this challenging time.

On Sunday, August 4th, Dylan had an accident while casually jumping into a pool at a friend’s house, which resulted in a sudden impact to his head. This caused temporary paralysis in his arms and legs while he was underwater for about 20 seconds. Thankfully, a friend quickly pulled Dylan to the surface, and he regained function in his limbs.

Dylan was taken to Victoria General Hospital, where he experienced severe pain and a burning sensation in the back of his neck. After being placed in a neck collar, X-rays and a CT scan revealed a fracture in his C1 vertebra; a serious injury with the potential for severe complications.

The doctors at Victoria General Hospital advised Dylan to wear the neck brace at all times, removing it only for brief moments when absolutely necessary, and to limit his movement as much as possible. He was sent home to rest and recover with specific instructions to aid in his healing process.

A week later, Dylan experienced a sharp pain in the back of his head and by the next morning, he was unable to eat or swallow due to the pain at the injury site. He was taken back to Victoria General Hospital for further evaluation.

After additional tests and scans, a neurosurgeon explained that while most C1 fractures don’t require surgery, Dylan's injury was more complex. The bones in his C1 vertebra had begun to splay apart, and while the ligament that holds the C1 and C2 vertebrae together wasn’t broken, it had detached from the bone, allowing one side of the bone to drift away from the other.

Dylan was presented with two options: manage the injury conservatively with a neck collar, though this carried a high risk of the C1 slipping and the injury not healing properly; or undergo surgery to insert screws into the C1 vertebra to realign the bones and give the ligament a better chance to reattach.

After careful consideration, Dylan chose to proceed with surgery, which took place on Sunday, August 18th. During the surgery, two rods and a plate were added to stabilize his spine and ensure proper healing.

Dylan now faces a lengthy recovery, with an expected healing time of 3-6 months, though bone remodeling could take anywhere from 3 to 12 months, depending on how his body responds. The duration of his recovery and inability to work is uncertain.

If you’re able, any contribution would be greatly appreciated to help ease the financial burden on Dylan and Stacey during this time. Your support would allow Stacey to focus on caring for her husband and their two young children.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer, whether through donations, sharing their story, or keeping their family in your thoughts.