A message from home: Fundraiser planned to help Dillon family
By Kyle Valentini
September 19, 2014
966
More than 100 friends and family members gathered to give Brittany Dillon, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend and a mother a simple message, We love you!
Those words, coming from the people who know her best and have stood by her as she has struggled with challenges no one should have to face, were never more meaningful than when they were said in unison Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia.
Dillons brother, Nathan Douglas, along with his wife, Amanda planned the spur-of-the-moment gathering that brought family and friends together to record a message that would make its way to California to the producers of the popular daytime television show, The Doctors.
Dillon and her husband, Patrick had left the day before to begin taping a segment for the show.
We dont know if the producers will use the video, but we wanted to send it just in case, said Nathan Douglas. We wanted Brittany to know how much we support her and love her.
Just a week before, Brittany Dillons friend, Sabrina Crowell had returned home from an evening of collecting donations for a fundraiser planned to help with mounting medical bills that had accumulated after Dillons recent diagnosis of moyamoya, a rare neurological disorder that demanded two major brain surgeries, weekly treatments and upcoming surgeries to correct blood flow to her lower extremities.
Just two years earlier, the Dillons oldest child, son Easton, then nine, had to undergo an unrelated brain surgery where doctors performed a hemispherectomy, a rare procedure that removes half the brain to treat a seizure problem that had plagued Easton since birth. Ever since I have known Brittany, it always seemed she was faced with challenges, big challenges, said Crowell. I wanted to help her, after all she had been through. I just started emailing some of the TV shows thinking maybe there would be some help out there for her.
Crowell emailed several shows including The Doctors, a show she had watched and enjoyed. They do amazing things for people on this show, said Crowell. People are just blown away. I wanted that for Brittany after all she has been through. I was desperate to see something good happen for her.
Only two hours had passed when Crowell received a phone call from the producers of The Doctors. They wanted to feature Dillon on the show. That was Gods work, said Crowell, holding back tears. Hes been in control the whole time. I just hope something amazing is going to happen for Brittany.
With nearly 2,400 miles between them, Dillons family and friends wanted to show their support and made the video that could be included in the segment.
Dillon is recovering and enjoyed her time in California. After all my mom has been through, she deserves to be on TV, said Easton Dillon. Im excited for her. I love her. We all do.
The spaghetti dinner fundraiser to assist Dillon and her family is scheduled Sunday, Sept. 27 at Park Christian Church in Dennison from 4-8 p.m. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad, dessert and a drink. Carryout is available. There will be a 50/50 raffle and an auction. The church is located at 236 Miller Ave. For tickets or more information, call 330-243-4851.
