19-Year-Old New Milford Teen Saves Others After His Sudden Death

NEW MILFORD, CT — A 19-year-old New Milford teen who passed away suddenly is giving others the gift of life even after his death. Dylan Pancoast had a massive aneurysm on Sept. 23, 2016. His family said that he planned on attending college for a degree in finance and worked in material handling at Kimberly Clark.

Dylan Pancoast was born July 15, 1997 at New Milford Hospital and graduated from New Milford High School in 2015.

The family is requesting donations in his honor to be made on their GoFundMe page to help cover the expense of his prolonged hospital stay in order for others to receive his organs that he donated upon his death.

"Dylan had the very rare opportunity afforded to less than 2 percent of all people who pass in a hospital to donate his heart and other vital organs. Dylan's heart will beat for another life. As of the morning after his passing Dylan has already saved two lives and spared those families the suffering that the Pancoasts have endured. The Pancoast family realized that this opportunity was far too valuable to squander. However, this came at the cost of prolonging the goodbye process and extending Dylan's time in the hospital," his brother Brandon wrote on GoFundMe.

"No parent should have to endure such a loss. Similarly, nobody should have to experience the death of their teenage baby brother. This loss is difficult enough without the unbelievable and staggering financial burden. Dylan had a prolonged stay in the hospital riddled with numerous tests, procedures, imaging and specialists from all over the country. The cost that the family may incur could exceed $50,000."

A memorial gathering will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at the pavilion in Harry Brooke Park in New Milford from 1 to 6 p.m. The family asks that attendees wear casual attire such as hats, sweatpants and hoodies. Representatives from New England Organ Bank will be in attendance to share how Dylan's donations helped save the lives of others.

"Through this tragedy the Pancoast family has found its greatest solace in that Dylan's legacy will continue beyond his life," his family said.

Dylan is survived by his parents Ted and Dawn, his brothers Brandon and Logan and his sister Peyton. He also leaves his paternal Grandmother Charlotte Pancoast, paternal uncle Gary Pancoast, paternal aunts Meredith Hulse, Kim Schumacher and Susan Tuohy, and maternal uncles Dana Bowman and Douglas Bowman. Dylan was a proud uncle of his nephew Greyson Pancoast and had dozens of cousins and friends across the country.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Pancoast Family's GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/dylanpancoast and also to consider organ donation.

Image via GoFundMe