Heartwarming journey for baby Dean David is supported by We Ride For Dean David fundraiser

by Tina Cole-Mullins

Earlier this year, as thoughts turned to hearts and valentines, little Dean David Zehr Bair was born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS). As a result, the right side of his heart did not develop, leaving him with only one ventricle and multiple other heart issues. Parents Crystal Zehr and Norman Bair found out about his congenital heart disease (CHD) while Dean David was still in utero. CHD is the most common type of birth defect, affecting 1 in 100 infants. It is also the #1 cause of birth-defect-related deaths.

This author was introduced to little Dean David’s medical challenges by local resident Cheryl Norton. Norton shared how she became involved with the Zehr-Bair family:

“Through my work at North American Stamping Group, a corporate email was sent out informing us that an employee/company fundraiser would be running in September, with all donations being matched by the company. Baby Dean’s father works at our plant in Bryan, OH.”

No stranger to hosting fundraising events and rides, after seeing the company email Norton and her husband began networking to host a motorcycle ride—We Ride for Dean David. (See: The Ride near the end of this story.).

Dean David’s Journey

Dean David’s journey began earlier in 2020, on a cold February 12 afternoon in Toledo, OH. Within days he was transferred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan, where he had his first surgery. Soon after, Dean David was placed on the heart transplant list at the highest level.

Just short of his one-month birthday, the baby left Mott to return home to await a heart. His stay at home was short-lived as medical complications prompted a re-hospitalization in Ann Arbor—one of many future back-and-forth trips the family would make between Ohio and Michigan.

Emergency room visits and hospital stays became part of the Zehr-Bair routine. As if maneuvering through such a journey was not difficult enough, the COVID-19 crisis was making an already difficult and stressful time even more of a struggle. In mid-May, Dean David went into heart failure and returned to Mott with an understanding that he would not be returning home anytime soon. His parents were unable to get into the Ronald McDonald House because it was operating at 50% COVID capacity restrictions. When able to manage the cost, the hotel became their home away from home, but often these devoted parents could be found sleeping in their car.

From the time Dean David was just seven months old, Zehr would post live updates on social media, often showcasing a smiling, happy little guy. They documented good days and bad days, including many physical and occupational therapy exercises to ensure Dean David met milestones and stayed as healthy as possible. His mom had relocated full-time to Ann Arbor while his father remained at home working and  and commuting to Ann Arbor when he had time off and when emergency situations arose with his young son.

After months of waiting, in an emotional, late-evening update on September 14, Dean David’s mom went live on social media, “We just got a call about an hour ago. They have accepted a heart for Dean! We are en route to the hospital right now and we are overwhelmed with joy and emotions that I have never felt personally! Dad’s pretty quiet.”

The family could not check back into the Ronald McDonald house for two weeks, having lost their spot upon Dean David’s last return home. But additional fundraising continued to help cover housing, food, gas, and lost wages. Although  employer North American Stamping Group would continue matching 100% of all funds raised to help offset costs, the day-to-day expenses continued to be an additional worry to the new parents.

In early morning on September 15, Dean David received his heart. That afternoon Zehr’s live social media post went like this: “His heart is in, things are looking great, and he is doing well. The world is so hard right now and we have just received a blessing, a gift. This is the first day of our son’s life. My son has a chance for life and I am so happy and grateful. This is something I never could repay to the family who lost someone to give my son a life.” In a pause filled with emotion Dean David’s mom gathered herself and continued her update.

Fast forward to September 19, and Dean David’s parents could be found in a park nearby the hospital awaiting the Norton’s and the We Ride for Dean David riders. Once they arrived, Cheryl Norton presented the parents with donations totaling $3,025—a total that Bair and Norton’s employer would match.

Less than two weeks after baby Dean’s heart transplant, Zehr sent an update: her son was 10 days post-op and if everything went okay they would be receiving home-care training and getting their house ready to bring Dean David home the last week of September. “I am so overwhelmed at the moment with preparations to bring Dean home. I am very grateful for the love and support. I can’t believe it’s happening so fast. He’s doing amazing!”

If you would like ongoing updates to the Dean David Heart Journey, follow him on the Facebook page of that name. Ongoing donations can be made directly to the family at [email protected] or Venmo @Crystal-Zehr or PayPal at www.paypal.me/CrystalDZehr

And while we’re on the topic, are you an organ donor? For information, check out donation statistics at www.organdonor.gov/statistics-stories/statistics.html or FAQs answered by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at unos.org/transplant/facts/

The Ride

On Saturday, September 19, 2020, with the assistance of Stockbridge Police Chief Johnnie Torres, local residents and riders of motorcycle enthusiast group We Ride Michigan gathered for the We Ride for Dean David fundraising event. This ride was hosted by Cheryl Norton and her husband Mike who are known to ride that extra mile for the good of others in fundraising events or to cheer someone up or just show their support. With 40 riders on 27 bikes, participants met at the Stockbridge Area Emergency Service Authority (SAESA) parking lot staging area. As fog gave way to a clear day for a scenic countryside ride, the group headed out from Stockbridge to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann, Arbor in support of Dean David Zehr Bair. For the safety of the riders, the fundraising event was fully escorted by the Stockbridge PD, Washtenaw County PD, and the Ann Arbor Police Departments.

“If you didn’t know he had had heart surgery and a heart transplant, you couldn’t tell he was sick,” says Crystal Zehr, Dean David’s mom. Photo source: Dean David Heart Journey Facebook page.

Norman Bair and Crystal Zehr spend an emotional moment with their infant son Dean David prior to his heart transplant surgery. Photo source: Dean David Heart Journey Facebook page

Dean David’s parents are photographed (near center) with riders from the We Ride for Dean David fundraiser. “Many riders came from 1-2 hours away and left their homes with temperatures in the 30s, which shows the dedication of these riders,” points out Cheryl Norton. Photo provided by Cheryl Norton.

“Thank you goes out to the three local police departments that escorted our ride, including Stockbridge Village (1 car), Washtenaw County (2 units) and the Ann Arbor PD with 6 motor officers on bikes. Having a police escort not only adds safety but also an element of ‘special’ for riders and those we are riding for,” says Stockbridge-area ride coordinator Cheryl Norton. Photo provided by Cheryl Norton.