New 24/364 Film “Dylan Findling” Captures One Family’s Refusal to Let a Rare Disease Define Their Son’s Life

Second film in the “In the Light” series follows Dylan Findling and his family six years after a devastating diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

CHICAGO & NEW YORK & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dylan Findling, a powerful new short documentary from 24/364, debuts today as the second film in the In the Light series, offering an intimate look at the life of Dylan Findling and his family determined to keep living, hoping and fighting in the face of a devastating rare disease diagnosis.

At nine years old, Dylan was an active kid who loved basketball, drawing, and spending time outside. Then his family learned that he had adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare genetic disorder that can cause progressive damage to the brain and nervous system. His mother, Elissa Findling, remembers doctors telling the family that Dylan probably had about two years to live and would progressively lose his ability to walk, talk, and see. He told them to go home and enjoy the time they had left.

That was six years ago.

Today, Dylan attends school, spends time with friends, creates art, follows his beloved Detroit Pistons, and communicates using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device controlled through eye-gaze technology. His daily life also involves an extraordinary level of care, therapy, and coordination from his family, educators, therapists, and medical team. The film follows the Findling family through that daily routine, not to portray Dylan simply through the lens of his disease, but to show the person, family, and community behind the diagnosis.

“When we were told we had two years, I remember thinking, ‘That’s just not good enough,’” said Mrs. Findling. “We still haven’t accepted what happened to him, but we have embraced our reality and moved forward. We’re going to keep fighting, we’re going to keep living, and we’re going to give him the best life we can.”

The film also documents the Findling family’s search for options after Dylan’s diagnosis. Through an ALD support community, the family connected with specialists at the University of Minnesota and pursued an experimental treatment approach that, according to Elissa, stopped disease progression seen in Dylan’s brain. While Dylan continues to live with significant neurological damage and requires extensive support, his family says his disease has not progressed since that intervention.

That experience has shaped the Findling family’s determination to keep Dylan engaged in the world around him. At school, he participates in mainstream classes. At home, therapy is woven into everyday life. His family still goes to Disney, attends Pistons games, and finds ways to continue doing the things they have always loved, even if doing them looks different now.

Dylan Findling was produced in partnership with the documentary team of Take Care Productions and director Kevin Shaw, and underwritten by CG Life, a specialized pharma agency built to address the unique challenges of bringing therapies for rare and hard-to-treat diseases to market. The film underscores a critical reality: while rare diseases individually affect small populations, collectively they impact hundreds of millions of people worldwide, many of whom face delays in diagnosis, fragmented care, and limited therapeutic options.

“The Findling family’s story captures exactly why we created In the Light,” said David Ormesher, CEO, CG Life. “Rare disease can fundamentally change the course of a family’s life, but a diagnosis doesn’t have to solely define their life. Dylan is a student, an artist, a basketball fan, a son and a friend. By allowing audiences into the Findling family’s everyday world, we hope to create greater understanding of what living with rare disease really means, and why these stories deserve to be seen and heard throughout the year.”

“What struck us about Dylan’s story is how much communication, personality, and connection exist in moments that can easily be overlooked,” said John Condne, Producer/Owner, Take Care Productions. “Whether Dylan is choosing what he wants to create in art therapy, talking about the Pistons through his communication device, or simply letting someone know how he feels, he is constantly showing us who he is. Our goal was to let the audience experience that rather than explain it for him.”

Dylan Findling is the second installment in In the Light, a series of intimate documentary profiles from 24/364 that explores the lived experiences of individuals and families affected by rare diseases. The first film, Dee & Dan, was released in May 2026 and follows Dee Reynolds and her husband and caregiver, Dan, through a day living with Niemann-Pick disease.

Dylan Findling is now available at 24/364 with additional screenings planned at the 24/364 Rare Disease Film Festival in March 2027 in San Diego, as well as other film festivals and special events.

About 24/364

24/364 is a cultural brand platform created by CG Life to bring more visibility to the lived experience of rare diseases. Through storytelling, education, and experiences, the 24/364 brand will drive awareness, connection, and action to keep rare disease at the forefront of health and social conversation, every day of the year. Learn more at 24364.life.

About CG Life

Founded in 2003, CG Life is a specialized pharma agency built for the unique challenges of bringing therapies for rare and hard-to-treat diseases to market, where traditional commercialization models often fall short. CG Life partners with biopharma companies to navigate the complexities of rare-disease commercial launches by combining deep scientific expertise, strategy-led activation of physician and patient communities, and results-driven engagement to support what’s best for patients. The result is faster, more effective launches in markets where insight, creativity, and credibility determine success. Begin your journey at CGLife.com.