Dayton Shepard

I am a Shoe Guy for Wine Women and Shoes 2025, and I need your help!  Shoe Guys are in charge of greeting and escorting guest to the marketplace, promoting auction lots, selling tickets for Key to the California Closet, Stud Muffin, Heads or Tales, and - most importantly - making every guest feel special.

Why I am asking you to help,

Desi’s Story

Desi was born to young parents in a small town in upstate New York. It was their second child, a bouncing baby boy. The pregnancy had been uneventful and the delivery went well. Soon the parents were on the way home with their first son. His hair had a red hue and they thought he was perfect. He appeared normal in every way. Desi was active, happy, and alert and the parents and family were smitten with this new gift from God.

But a few days later he suddenly began to change. Desi began to look gray, ashen. His demeanor began to change too. He was fussy and started to cry as if he was in pain. His mother took immediate action. She called her husband at work to tell him she was taking the baby to the ER at the local hospital. She was very worried. 

By the time her husband arrived at the local hospital, his wife was already there and Desi was being examined by the ER doctors. Everything started to speed up. The doctors called the parents back into a room to discuss Desi’s problems. The diagnosis was not good. They believed the baby had a serious congenital heart defect that needed immediate attention. Unfortunately, they were not equipped to treat the child, Desi must be transferred to another hospital over 100 miles away. In fact they were allready preparing Desi for the transfer by ambulance. The doctors said they were hopeful that the child would survive the trip. 

The mother was told she could ride in the ambulance with her baby boy who by now was hooked up to various monitors and receiving care from a cadre of doctors, nurses and EMT’s. The father was told he could follow the ambulance in his car. And with that, as sirens wailed and light flashed they raced north towards Rochester. 

Two hours later they arrived at Strong Memorial Hospital where a team of doctors and nurses were waiting. Desi was taken and the parents were left to sit and wait for news. It wasn’t long before they were informed he was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries, a rare, congenital heart defect where the two major arteries carrying blood from the heart are switched. Desi would have his first of many operations that evening. 

Now just a few hours after deciding their baby needed help, the parents found themselves two hours from home, unprepared and quite honestly bewildered by their child’s condition. How quickly their lives had unexpectedly changed. They had no change of clothes, no toiletry items, didn't know where they would stay or how long they would be there. They were hungry, lonely, and frightened for their child. The feeling would be best described as despair. 

This story took place two years before the first Ronald McDonald House was opened. It was a long time ago but the memories remain as fresh today as if it all took place yesterday. With this personal experience you can see how I have a deep appreciation for the work and service Ronald McDonald Charities do for the families of sick children. So, when I was asked to participate in the Wine, Women and Shoes Fundraiser for the RMC house in Chattanooga I knew immediately it was something I wanted to be involved in. 

Today, there are parents being thrust into the same situations we experienced. Their lives are upended when they suddenly find themselves with a seriously ill child. They come from a wide area that includes parts of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and even farther. They quickly find out their child is going to receive world class care at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. They may not know Erlanger Health Systems is one of the top ten largest hospitals in the nation, but they will soon realize that they have arrived at one of the top children's hospitals in the State of Tennessee. They will also find out they are not alone. They have a wonderful resource called the Ronald McDonald House. 

Ronald McDonald House supports the families of these sick children. They provide free housing and assistance. It is a place to call home when home is far away. The house is located directly across the street from Erlanger Hospital. It can be described as being like a small 28 room bed and breakfast. You can do your laundry, find support or a quiet place. I can’t fully describe how important I believe this organization is to the families of these ill children.

You probably realized I'm the dad in the story. The baby was my son, Dayton Eugene Shepard III, or Desi, as he was nicknamed. He was treated by a great team of doctors and nurses. I can’t say enough about the care he received at Strong Memorial and I will forever hold them in the highest regard. 

So, in memory of Desi, I am asking for your donations to support this worthy cause. The denomination isn’t important. Give what you can. It will be greatly appreciated. 

Read more about: 

Ronald McDonald Charities of Greater Chattanooga at: https://www.rmhchattanooga.com/. 
Children's Hospital at Erlanger at: https://www.childrensaterlanger.org/.
Strong Memorial at: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/strong-memorial.

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) is a rare congenital heart defect. Today thanks to advances in medicine, 98% of children born with this abnormality will survive surgery and have a normal life expectancy.