Starting at the age of six, Dylan Siegel decided he was not going to give up, until his goal was reached! His goal, started when he was told his best friend Jonah Pournazarian had a deadly rare liver disease. Dylan was asked what he would like to do to help raise money because there is no cure or exact treatment because there is no money for research, and he refused to do any traditional type of fundraising. He decided he was going to write a book and sell it, with a goal of raising $1 million dollars for GSD research. He named the book "Chocolate Bar" saying that it means "awesome", and each page consisted of things that related to "chocolate bar" like Disney World, or fun times with friends and family. Dylan started sales at a local event raising over $5.000 but he was pleased and he soon became popular on local news stations and it spread all the way across the world. Dylan, now 9, has sold over 26,000 copies of his book, surpassing his goal. With the help of all of his earnings, researchers have been able to find a gene therapy to cure the disease in mice and are going to begin human trials.
Questions:
What do you think of Dylan's actions and positive determination?
Do you think you would be able to come up with an idea as fast as he did, and keep such a positive attitude the entire time?
What would you do if one of your best friends was diagnosed with a disease like this?
My Opinion:
I think this story is absolutely amazing! Dylan is a true inspiration to everyone, and what he did is incredible, especially at his age. I definitely don't think I could come up with an idea like his, or raise anywhere close to what he did. If one of my friends was diagnosed, I would do anything in my power I could to help them, but I think Dylan has done something that is very hard to beat!
Replies
Super job!
I think that this is an amazing idea to do! He wanted to help and raise money and he found a way at such a young age. I don't think I would be able to because it takes time to think of and come up with ideas. I mean for a young kid like him it doesn't take as long but its a cool idea he did. I would find as many ways possible to help my friend out to get money to help. I don't care what as long as I raise money to help my friend out!
I think this is great! This kid has an imagination! I don't think I could ever write or sell a book. I would try to raise money, but I probably wouldn't be able to make $1 million dollars.
I think it would be very hard to raise the money also. It is hard to keep getting everyone to donate for so many different causes because the number or illnesses and diseases continues to grow and prices of equipment to find cures also keeps rising.
This is an awesome story. It takes someone special like Dylan to do this for a friend. I am sure he was very surprised by his success and I bet his friend is very thankful for what Dylan did. I don't think I would be able to come up with that good of an idea so sudden. I would just try to stay positive as much as I could.
If I was Jonah, I would want a friend like Dylan! I think having supportive friends and family like that is one of the most helpful things through these tough times. I think what Dylan did is beyond incredible because his earnings have helped find a possible cure.
This is very inspiring! I don't think that I would have been able to be as positive as him! If that were my friend I would do my best to help out, however I don't know if I would have been able to do as well as him!
I think it is really cool how dedicated and determined this kid is. Majority of kids his age wouldn't even think about doing this. I would be sad and try and be there for my friend and their family.
I think you are definitely right, in saying a majority of kids his age wouldn't think of it. I think that special occasions like this happen often with kids, but everyone's imagination is different and life takes turns at unexpected times.
I think it's awesome that children facing so much adversity can stay positive, focused, and determined in their current situations.
I think the reason why he was able to come up with an idea so fast is because he was simply a child that didn't have anyone holding him back. I think anyone older than him would've had limitations to their project, but Dylan's imagination and creativity was allowed to run free. I wouldn't be able to do this because I'd get discouraged if I didn't fundraise enough, and because I think that people would be less willing to buy from me because I'm not a young child.
I'd be sad, of course, but I'd like to think that I would take on the same fighting spirit of my friend. I'd try to make his life as great as it could be.
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