Dan did not have a good night they had to put the oxygen up to 100%. We have been told that at this point there’s nothing more that they can do for him and they no longer believe his hospital stay is survivable. The ability to keep a patient on a ventilator for a long stretch of time is dependent on them seeing incremental improvements in the patient’s health and lung functioning. That has not been the case with Dan. As the days have gone by his lungs have become more and more inflamed and the increased dependence on the ventilator is causing further damage and injury to Dan’s lungs and heart. They believe it is time to discuss taking his ventilator out and making him comfortable. The family had a conference call with the doctors and palliative care to discuss next steps. At this point it seems we will look to schedule a time tomorrow to remove the ventilator. We have been given special permission to be able to have his 5 kids and wife see him in shifts so that we all have a chance to say goodbye. His wife and one of his children will remain with him after the ventilator is removed until he passes away.
This is not the sort of news we ever expected to be sharing with you all. The overwhelming support and love that we have seen this past week has shown us how significant Dan has been to so many people. Your love and prayers for him have been a blessing to us in our dark days and we know that we have many shoulders to lean on in the days and weeks and months ahead.
Daniel Hopkins 
My heart is breaking.
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Continued prayers for the entire family. We are so sorry to hear this. Dan was a special friend & dear neighbor to us.
The Browns
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Caitlin & family I’m so very sorry for your pain. I’m utterly heartbroken by this news. Dan became a very good friend to me in the brief 3 years I’ve known him. Dan, you and your family are continually in my thoughts.
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We are so sorry to hear this. Keeping Dan and family in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.
BW ED social work team
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So heartbroken. Dan is a great guy and I am still praying for a miracle.
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I am so sorry. Friends of mine at work and Family are praying for all of you. Father God you are in control please comfort Daniel hold him in your arms let him feel you there. In Jesus name am
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i am heartbroken. i’m so sorry. 💔
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I am so, so sorry to hear this news. My heart is breaking for your family. He is such a special man. Sending love and prayers to you all.
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I am so sorry to hear this news today! my heart is aching! I am sending prayers out to you, Laura, and to you, Caitlin, and to all of your brothers and sisters!! Such sadness.
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Your entire family will be in my thoughts and prayers, thanks for all the lives you have impacted Dan. May the Angels lead you into paradise and the Lord be at your side through your journey ahead.
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I am so sorry. Sending hugs, love and prayers to all of you.
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So sorry..may God give you comfort & strength through this & beyond. Love & hugs to all of you!
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My heart is breaking as I read this news. Dan has touched so many people and will be missed beyond words. May you eventually find the peace and comfort that only God can give. Prayers go out to his whole family.
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I’m heartbroken to hear this. Dan has been such a joy to many. Prayers for peace and comfort for Dan and all of you.
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It’s been a while since I’ve seen good ole Dan, but he was one of my favorite regulars when I worked late nights at Coney. BlessingS to him and all his family during this time.
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All my love to everyone. My heart is absolutely broken for all of you.
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I love you all so much, sending every bit of love your way ♥️♥️♥️
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My heart is breaking for all of you. I’m so sorry.
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I am so sorry to hear this news. We are praying for peace and comfort for Dan. Sending prayers and love for family and friends.
(Nick’s 5A/GA neighbors)
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Hopkins family- I am so sorry 😢
I cant imagine the pain you’re going through
Know that Dan was a very special man, and loved by many 💕
Many prayers and hugs to you during this difficult time 😢
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Such sad sad news. My thoughts are with all of you.
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We love you all so much! Please know that our hearts are with you during such an unimaginably difficult time. ❤️
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Praying for Dan and for all the Hopkins family, I remembered you all in Mass tonight. My heart goes out to you, I can’t imagine how hard this is. You’re in my prayers 😢🙏🙏
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We are so very saddened and sorry to hear this! May God bring some level of peace during this very heartbreaking time.
Many prayers for you all!
Fred and Shelly Wohlfert
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Such sad news, Dan has always been a pleasure to work with. Prayers to Dan and the entire family.
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Thinking and praying for you all, I am so sorry to hear this. May god wrap his arms around you all
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Praying and thinking of you and your family Dan. You have always been a bright spot in our day when you have stopped in to see us, always a big smile and pens for everyone.
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I’m saddened to hear this. Praying for your family to have strength and comfort from your faith in God.
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My heart breaks for all of you at the loss of such a wonderful man. Lifting you all up in prayer. Sending thoughts of love and peace. 🙏❤
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You can tell a lot about someone from these comments, also from knowing their children. Dan’s compassion, thoughtfulness and faithfulness shines through his children, one of whom I know fairly well.
I am my family are grieving with you guys.
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We are so saddened to hear how this has developed. Dan has been a friend for years. Our hearts are broken and are wishing the family our sympathy.
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Dan, I sincerely hope that somehow, from somewhere you’re able to read these comments and hear all the prayers. I hope you know what you meant to so many people. I hope you know that the way you raised your kids and made such a special family is truly remarkable. I hope you know how much it meant to us coming home from out of town to find you had mowed our lawn, before we really even knew you. It not only showed us what kind of a person you were but most importantly it showed us what kind of a community you believed in. You gave us the same belief which is one of the greatest gifts we have ever received. I’ve told that story many times around the Greenbrier neighborhood, and more often than not I heard a similar story right back. “Oh yeah, Dan shoveled for me when…and Dan was there for me when…and Dan helped me with…” In this day and age when everyone is so busy with their own stuff and caught up with their own problems, who goes that far out of their way for other people? Dan Hopkins, that’s who.
Hopkins family – you have taught us what it means to be welcoming. To be no-nonsense this is who we are and we’re damn proud of it. To be there for friends and neighbors. To treat others like family. I think about all the stories you’ve told us about your house growing up. It may have been your home but everyone was welcome there, and at any given time any one may have been there 🙂 And all these years later, you gather together like family should but most don’t. I hope you know what a gift your family togetherness is. I hope you know how much it has inspired us.
We love you guys, and I mean that sincerely. We feel so heartbroken right now for you all, and there are just no right words. We are so grateful for the way Dan touched and changed our lives. The lessons he taught us about service, kindness, community, and family will live on through our lifetimes, and if we all can be as inspiring as him, beyond our lifetimes as well. Dan’s legacy is the kind we should all strive for. It would make the world a better place.
We are honored to have been touched by Dan’s life and been honorary members of the extended Hopkins family, like so many others have. Now, as members of that big ole family Dan created with his huge heart, you better believe we will all be here to take care of our own. Just like he taught us. We will do our best to carry on his work.
Thank you for everything Dan
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