On May 13, 2020, our world changed forever. Our six-year-old son Dylan — football-mad, full of mischief and always on the go — was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. In the space of an afternoon, hospital wards became our second home and every small decision suddenly mattered enormously.
Early on, a consultant told us something we've never forgotten: "You're already doing all you can." When food was offered in hospital, we found ourselves asking questions about what would actually help Dylan — what would keep his strength up, his blood work strong and his spirits high. We learned as much as we could, as fast as we could, and we cooked for him every single day.
While food couldn't cure Dylan, good nutrition gave him strength, energy and precious moments of childhood normality. His blood work stayed strong through treatment, and he kept playing the football he loved for longer than anyone expected — extra months of feeling strong, of being Dylan, not a patient.
Dylan will forever be 7. Now, as a family, we're passionate about helping others on this journey. The Dylan Strong Foundation exists so that no parent has to figure it out alone, and so that every family facing childhood cancer has nutritious food in and out of hospital, honest nutritional guidance and support through the school holidays — one less thing to carry.
