- K
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Hello everyone, my name is Jennifer. I am the mother of Kaidyn, a bright 4 year old of Evansville, IN. Who has very recently been going through very serious and life threatening medical interventions.
For everyone following Kaidyns sudden, overwhelming, delicate, frustrating, rapidly onset of symptoms I’d like to first say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For everyone just joining us, welcome!
We’ve come here to plead for your help.
As of July 2,2023 Kaidyn had always just been our happy, healthy, energetic, wild spirited, dino enthusiasts, God praising, best little brother to his favorite big brother Elijah(8). Although he is still all of those things and more, he has since developed a super hero power that has increase in personal strength not only physically but mentally. He has been able to show immaculate resilience while offering those around him comfort and peace while our family enters a world we had no preparation to ever experience.
Below I’d like to give you all a glimpse into our sudden fragile journey.
**Onset of Symptoms**
July 3, 2023: Kaidyn started to complain of severe head, neck, crippling stomach pain, along with low grade fever.
July 4, 2023: We (his parents) could not wake him that morning. When he at that time rushed to the closest hospital & treated for Severe Dehydration & Hypoglycemia. We were discharged shortly following but Kaidyn collapsed before even making it off the hospitals campus. Kaidyn was then transported to PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) partnered with Riley Children’s Hospital Indy. Kaidyn culture rapidly grew negative rod bacteria (anthrax), spiked a high fever, several other symptoms including extreme lethargy where he’d in the middle of something would just pass out. We stayed in the hospital for a week on antibiotics speaking with several infectious diseases doctors around the country. Kaidyns CBC’s and other labs (ProCalc, metabolic panel, etc) were all over the place. Kaidyn had been septic with bacterial meningitis.
**Kaidyns Diagnosis**
We were required to follow up with outpatient labs and frequent follow ups immediately after discharge. At the 1st follow up it was noticed that although his over all appearance was improving his labs were actually getting worse in certain areas. So we were informed that we’d need to continue these labs over the next 4 weeks. Over that time Kaidyn’s labs continued to rise in areas that are terrifying and he was referred to Riley-IU North to see Oncology & Hematology with a general diagnosis of Thrombocytosis. There are two main types of thrombocytosis: essential thrombocythemia and reactive thrombocytosis. Usually, thrombocytosis isn't serious. But too many platelets can cause complications like a stroke, heart attack or a clot in your blood vessels. Kaidyn has TOO MANY platelets.
9/1 Kaidyn started having extreme chest pain to where he was pounding on his chest with his fists because it was hard to breath. We have sense been seen by Ped Urgent care, followed ped cardiologist, and an emergency room visit. Kaidyns recent EKG (9/9) showed sinus tachycardia with T wave abnormality. That is where they then advised the possibility of anterior ischemia. (Clogged artery in heart) Which was a known possibility of developing DVTs and Pulmonary Embolisms with the diagnosis but we weren’t expecting such a rapid onset of symptoms. With Kaidyns blood work showing his platelets keep elevating the risk of a DVT, Pulmonary Embolism increased due to this current diagnosis and we we’re needing to leave urgently 4.5 hrs away to meet with his Oncology/Hematology specialist.
Kaidyn is expected to have a type of Essential Thrombocytopenia, the type is what we’re awaiting confirmed by his genetic testing. This is a rare and life threatening blood disorder that causes a high number of blood cells called platelets to form in the bone marrow that’s released into the blood stream. The World Health Organization classifies this illness as a Cancer. The median survival is approximately 20 years but for patients like Kaidyn that are younger than age 60 years, median survival is 33 years. We’re in the process of determining the likelihood of this becoming one of several forms of leukemia by having him mapped by his JAK 2, MPL, and CAL R makeup.
We’re needing to continue to take several days off from work, with the ability to cover hotels, travel, medical expenses, along with our regular required bills for our time spent in the comfort of our home. Kaidyn is needing to return to Riley again in a couple weeks and a couple weeks after that for testing, biopsy’s, interventions, and follow ups.
Kameron & I both work full time jobs, I (Jennifer) also work a second job where I’m working anywhere between 50-60 hours a week total with some 15-20 hour days. Since this sudden life change we both have missed several days of work and no matter how many 15-20 hour days I work it still isn’t enough to make up for all of this & Kamerons income is consistently needed with no room for him to be missing all of these days also. I’m positive every parent reading this would feel the same as we do, That there is no limit to what we would do for our kids. Our Kaidyn deserves for us to provide the absolute best care and assist with his needs to beat the odds so he can live a very long healthy life. But unfortunately, money does not grow on tree’s. Life, medical, and travel is absolutely not free.
**Supporting Elijah:**
In the midst of this crisis, let's not forget Elijah, Kaidyns only brother, who deserves a bright and vibrant life despite the challenges our family is facing. Kameron and I want to also make sure we have the means to support both our children emotionally and financially during this time.
**Our Mission:**
I hope our words resonate deeply: "We've been and will continue to fight like hell, and Kaidyn IS going to be just fine." Please join us in this fight, help us show Kaidyn what a strong, supportive village looks like. As we’re all aware medical support is not cheap and specialized medical care is often not covered by insurance formularies. We will be traveling too and from hospitals, state to state as needed, with a long road ahead of us. I’m asking for help preventing the tragedy this financial burden will bestow on our family and essentially affect our children’s lives. Please help our family come out of this ordeal as strong as possible.
**How You Can Help:**
**Donate:** Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in covering Kaidyns medical expenses, travel costs, and other unforeseen expenses.
**Share:** Please share this GoFundMe campaign with your network to help us reach a wider audience and increase our impact.
**Pray and Send Positive Vibes:** Your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes mean the world to Jennifer, Kameron, Elijah, and Kaidyn.
For everyone following Kaidyns sudden, overwhelming, delicate, frustrating, rapidly onset of symptoms I’d like to first say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For everyone just joining us, welcome!
We’ve come here to plead for your help.
As of July 2,2023 Kaidyn had always just been our happy, healthy, energetic, wild spirited, dino enthusiasts, God praising, best little brother to his favorite big brother Elijah(8). Although he is still all of those things and more, he has since developed a super hero power that has increase in personal strength not only physically but mentally. He has been able to show immaculate resilience while offering those around him comfort and peace while our family enters a world we had no preparation to ever experience.
Below I’d like to give you all a glimpse into our sudden fragile journey.
**Onset of Symptoms**
July 3, 2023: Kaidyn started to complain of severe head, neck, crippling stomach pain, along with low grade fever.
July 4, 2023: We (his parents) could not wake him that morning. When he at that time rushed to the closest hospital & treated for Severe Dehydration & Hypoglycemia. We were discharged shortly following but Kaidyn collapsed before even making it off the hospitals campus. Kaidyn was then transported to PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) partnered with Riley Children’s Hospital Indy. Kaidyn culture rapidly grew negative rod bacteria (anthrax), spiked a high fever, several other symptoms including extreme lethargy where he’d in the middle of something would just pass out. We stayed in the hospital for a week on antibiotics speaking with several infectious diseases doctors around the country. Kaidyns CBC’s and other labs (ProCalc, metabolic panel, etc) were all over the place. Kaidyn had been septic with bacterial meningitis.
**Kaidyns Diagnosis**
We were required to follow up with outpatient labs and frequent follow ups immediately after discharge. At the 1st follow up it was noticed that although his over all appearance was improving his labs were actually getting worse in certain areas. So we were informed that we’d need to continue these labs over the next 4 weeks. Over that time Kaidyn’s labs continued to rise in areas that are terrifying and he was referred to Riley-IU North to see Oncology & Hematology with a general diagnosis of Thrombocytosis. There are two main types of thrombocytosis: essential thrombocythemia and reactive thrombocytosis. Usually, thrombocytosis isn't serious. But too many platelets can cause complications like a stroke, heart attack or a clot in your blood vessels. Kaidyn has TOO MANY platelets.
9/1 Kaidyn started having extreme chest pain to where he was pounding on his chest with his fists because it was hard to breath. We have sense been seen by Ped Urgent care, followed ped cardiologist, and an emergency room visit. Kaidyns recent EKG (9/9) showed sinus tachycardia with T wave abnormality. That is where they then advised the possibility of anterior ischemia. (Clogged artery in heart) Which was a known possibility of developing DVTs and Pulmonary Embolisms with the diagnosis but we weren’t expecting such a rapid onset of symptoms. With Kaidyns blood work showing his platelets keep elevating the risk of a DVT, Pulmonary Embolism increased due to this current diagnosis and we we’re needing to leave urgently 4.5 hrs away to meet with his Oncology/Hematology specialist.
Kaidyn is expected to have a type of Essential Thrombocytopenia, the type is what we’re awaiting confirmed by his genetic testing. This is a rare and life threatening blood disorder that causes a high number of blood cells called platelets to form in the bone marrow that’s released into the blood stream. The World Health Organization classifies this illness as a Cancer. The median survival is approximately 20 years but for patients like Kaidyn that are younger than age 60 years, median survival is 33 years. We’re in the process of determining the likelihood of this becoming one of several forms of leukemia by having him mapped by his JAK 2, MPL, and CAL R makeup.
We’re needing to continue to take several days off from work, with the ability to cover hotels, travel, medical expenses, along with our regular required bills for our time spent in the comfort of our home. Kaidyn is needing to return to Riley again in a couple weeks and a couple weeks after that for testing, biopsy’s, interventions, and follow ups.
Kameron & I both work full time jobs, I (Jennifer) also work a second job where I’m working anywhere between 50-60 hours a week total with some 15-20 hour days. Since this sudden life change we both have missed several days of work and no matter how many 15-20 hour days I work it still isn’t enough to make up for all of this & Kamerons income is consistently needed with no room for him to be missing all of these days also. I’m positive every parent reading this would feel the same as we do, That there is no limit to what we would do for our kids. Our Kaidyn deserves for us to provide the absolute best care and assist with his needs to beat the odds so he can live a very long healthy life. But unfortunately, money does not grow on tree’s. Life, medical, and travel is absolutely not free.
**Supporting Elijah:**
In the midst of this crisis, let's not forget Elijah, Kaidyns only brother, who deserves a bright and vibrant life despite the challenges our family is facing. Kameron and I want to also make sure we have the means to support both our children emotionally and financially during this time.
**Our Mission:**
I hope our words resonate deeply: "We've been and will continue to fight like hell, and Kaidyn IS going to be just fine." Please join us in this fight, help us show Kaidyn what a strong, supportive village looks like. As we’re all aware medical support is not cheap and specialized medical care is often not covered by insurance formularies. We will be traveling too and from hospitals, state to state as needed, with a long road ahead of us. I’m asking for help preventing the tragedy this financial burden will bestow on our family and essentially affect our children’s lives. Please help our family come out of this ordeal as strong as possible.
**How You Can Help:**
**Donate:** Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in covering Kaidyns medical expenses, travel costs, and other unforeseen expenses.
**Share:** Please share this GoFundMe campaign with your network to help us reach a wider audience and increase our impact.
**Pray and Send Positive Vibes:** Your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes mean the world to Jennifer, Kameron, Elijah, and Kaidyn.