Dylan Michael Smith, 27, of Prince Frederick, MD, passed away on August 29th 2020 in Washington D.C. after a 4-year long battle with brain cancer.
Dylan was born at Anne Arundel Hospital to Shari and Carroll Smith on June 20th 1993. He worked as an elevator mechanic for 7 years at Schindler Elevators. He’s been a member of Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department since 2008 and was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award, 15 Life Save Awards, 5 Green Cross Awards, 2 Medals of Courage, and a National Medal of Honor by the age of 23. In 2019, the Huntingtown Fire Department named their Rookie of the Year Award, the “Dylan Smith Rookie Firefighter of the Year Award” in his honor.
Dylan was born to be a fireman, and the only things he loved more than fighting fires were, his sister, his parents, his girlfriend, his dog and his friends. He was a hero through and through, and he changed the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was the most selfless, noblest, funniest, loudest, most child-like man this world has seen. He requested that his loved one’s cheer on the Orioles and the Titans for him in the coming years.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Barbara and Carroll Smith.
He leaves behind his sister, Hope; his parents, Shari and Carroll; his grandparents, Robert and Carol Young and David Stotler; the love of his life, Brittney Colliflower; their furry son, Brooks; and his godchildren, Charlotte Bittner and Brooks Montgomery.
Following the burial, a wake will be held at Huntingtown Fire Department. Attendees are encouraged to wear sports memorabilia, specifically Orioles and Titans, although Washington sports gear is strictly banned.
Pallbearers will be Justin Bittner, Mike Montgomery Jr., Matt Montgomery, Josh Buckler, Kevin Kady, and Ty Lester.
The remainder of the funds that were generously donated to help pay for Dylan’s treatment as well as any funds that would have been spent on flowers for his funeral will be donated to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Funeral Arrangements for Firefighter Dylan Smith are as follows:
Viewing will be held on Friday, September 4th, 2020, from 1400 to 1600 hours, and 1800 to 2000 hours, with Fire Department Prayers at 1900 Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc., 4030 Old Town Road in Huntingtown, MD 20639
Services follow on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 1100 hours at the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc., 4030 Old Town Road in Huntingtown, MD 20639
Burial at Chesapeake Highland Memorial Gardens, 3270 Broomes Island Road, in Port Republic, MD 20676
Repass at the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc., 4030 Old Town Road in Huntingtown, MD 20639
Any department wishing to bring apparatus, please contact Mike Clark (301)399-9722, or Bert Small (240) 417-1921
8/29/2020:The Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dylan Smith. Please join us as we mourn the loss of our friend, Dylan, who passed away this morning after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Dylan has been a member of the HVFD since 2008. His work and contributions to the fire service will never be forgotten. He will live on in all those who he has made an impact on. Rest in peace Dylan. We’ve got it from here.
2/05/2020: Dylan Smith has always had a passion for firefighting. He began volunteering at the Huntingtown Fire Department in 2008, at the age of 14. At the age of 16 he began riding in the engine, making him one of the youngest firefighters in Southern Maryland. For the next 8 years Dylan would volunteer as a firefighter.
At the age of 23 Dylan had received the following awards
- Rookie of the year at the age of 15
- 5 Green Cross Awards for extricating victims from vehicles, and bringing car accident victims back to life
- 2 Medal of Courage awards; one for rescuing a child from a car accident, and one for rescuing his best friend who fell through the floor of a burning building
- 1 National Medal of Honor for pulling a woman out of a fire
- 15 Life Save awards
In March of 2011, Dylan’s senior year of high school, he became hospitalized with 3rd degree burns to his hands. He also burned his face, shoulders, and back, tore his rotator cuff, and broke bones in his back from jumping out of a second story window of a burning house. Even from a young age, Dylan gave of himself to others.
In November of 2016, Dylan was diagnosed with grade 3 brain cancer, Anaplastic Astrocytoma. If you google Anaplastic Astrocytoma and firefighter, there is story after story of firefighters with this horrific disease. Dylan had two brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. In November of 2019, an MRI showed that the cancer had returned. Dylan underwent another brain surgery and doctors have recommended the same treatment plan. Dylan and his family know this only buys him time; it is not a cure.
A doctor in Germany and a newly founded company CeCaVa GmbH & Co. KG, which is based in Tübingen, Germany have created an individualized vaccine. Using a tissue sample from the patient’s individual tumor, doctors there are able to create a vaccine that can be tailored to the specific mutations in the respective tumor. One of the reasons that treatment for brain cancer hasn’t progressed in decades, is because brain tumors are heterogeneous, no two tumors are alike. They must all be treated differently.
This treatment requires testing of the tumor, 4-6 weeks to create the vaccine, a ten day stay in Germany and two years of traveling to Germany every two months to receive the injection. The tumor tissue from Dylan’s surgery in December of 2019 can be sent to Germany for testing, but it must be done immediately. This cutting-edge treatment is not covered by insurance, but it offers Dylan a chance at a cure.
Dylan’s family needs financial assistance in order to access this cutting-edge treatment necessary to give Dylan the best possible chance at a cure. Please consider making a generous one time or ongoing donation if you are able. Contributions of any size are welcome. Sharing this page can help the Smith family during this difficult time. Prayers are always appreciated and welcome. Thank you for your generosity and support at this time.
Donations can be given here. GoFundMe.
