We are receiving a crash course in the reality of clichés that go along the lines of, “day by day” and “hour by hour” here in the ICU.

The main objective right now is to get Kevin to a place of stability. His fever is resting at around 102 and his heart rate has dropped dangerously low several times in the last 24 hours. Around one PM today he lost vision in one eye and was taken by a team of doctors for a CT scan to see if he was having another stroke. The doctors couldn’t determine why this happened and didn’t see any indicators on the CT scan. They returned him to his room and his vision came back.

None of the doctors seem to understand why they can’t get his vitals to a safe place. Tomorrow he will get an MRI of his brain again to check if there have been any changes.

The neurologist did confirm a spinal stroke today. We will know what his mobility range could be in around two weeks. Shortly after we spoke to him, the cardiologist suggested a pacemaker for Kevin’s heart rate issues.

In positive news, Dad is flying out to be with us again tonight. Kevin also was able to get his first ice chips which you would’ve thought were a three-layer cake based on the bliss on his face. Tomorrow, his swallowing capabilities will be checked and if all goes well (which we are thinking it will) he will begin to be able to drinks small amounts of water and gradually work his way to food.

As always, thank you for the love and support. We feel it every day.

Love,

Katie and the Cavanaughs

Thanks to the determination of a family desperate to give Kevin any comfort we can and an amazing RA that wasn’t afraid to be (as self-described) “annoying” to the surgical team: Kevin got his tracheostomy today!

It is so nice to see his smile again and to know he is far more comfortable. Our hope is that in a few days he will be able to drink and eat again and then soon after start speaking either on his own or with a speech valve.

Kevin’s blood clot and COVID tests both came back negative. We are still unsure why he has a fever that is sticking around but the surgeons determined it wasn’t high enough that it would be a problem for the surgery.

We are still waiting for the neurologist to rule out the last few results from Kevin’s spinal tap but so far with each result that comes in they are more certain he experienced a spinal stroke. Strokes in people as young as Kevin are incredibly rare and spinal strokes in general only make up about 1% of strokes in total.

We are working with our case manager to try to get Kevin to Craig Hospital in Englewood (nearby Kevin’s apartment where Mom is staying). Craig Hospital is one of the top hospitals in the country for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation and research. It is difficult to get in there but the case manager tells us they are interested in taking Kevin as he is so young and willing to work hard.

Every hour brings new challenges and little victories. We are taking it all as it comes and trying our best to focus only on the current moment of recovery. All of us are forever grateful for the support of our family, friends and community.

Much love,

Katie and the Cavanaughs

Kevin has been beyond patient with the revolving door of people coming in to test, adjust, poke and prod. However, the one thing he is really frustrated with is the ventilator. The ventilator denys him the ability to speak, drink or eat on his own. It’s incredibly uncomfortable as well, keeping his jaw constantly open and his mouth and throat dry and irritated.

We are waiting for him to get a tracheostomy, which is used for patients who will need assisted breathing either permanently or long term (anytime longer than 7-10 days). He was supposed to have that procedure today however, he has a fever of unknown causes that is making the doctors nervous. They have yet to find any type of infection so they are going to perform tests to check for COVID or blood clots before they go forward with surgery. He also experienced a blood pressure and heart rate drop today and they are working on stabilizing him.

Kevin was really hoping to have the ventalior out today so it has been a challenging day for him. We are trying to get him some more sleep while we wait on the next round of tests.

In the meantime, I have been working on a letter chart with him to spell out his needs and thoughts. He is still spelling out things to make me laugh, even if it takes energy and time. It is a comfort and joy to see his sense of humor and personality clearly despite all he is facing.

Thank you all for your love and support,

Katie and the Cavanaughs

On Monday, May 31st, Kevin was admitted to the emergency room. 

He was hypothermic and unable to use his limbs or feel below his neck. Since then, he has been in the ICU receiving around-the-clock care and more testing than any one person could keep track of. 

The only thing we know for certain in all of our current uncertainty is that Kevin is experiencing an issue with his spinal cord. Because of this, he can’t breathe on his own or move/feel anything below his chest. He is able to move his arms loosely but does not have control over them. 

Because his spine can’t send the proper signals to his diaphragm, Kevin is on a ventilator and will be soon given a tracheostomy tube to be able to get the necessary amount of oxygen. 

Amongst the other challenges he is facing, the ventilator and loss of movement mean he is unable to speak or write to us. We have been using a letter chart and eye movements to spell out sentences for him. 

He has been receiving plasma treatments and physical therapy to help him while we figure out the exact cause of his spinal issues. 

Kevin has shown incredible courage and determination in the face of so many challenges and unknowns. We are daunted by the future but are so grateful to have him safe and in good care. All of us will do whatever it takes to make sure Kevin has the full life that he deserves, no matter what his diagnosis may ultimately be. 

Thank you for loving and caring for him. I will keep posting updates following his progress as I can.

Much love,
Katie and the Cavanaugh family