Help Kai, an 9-Year-Old Boy Fighting Sepsis

***** At the request of Taylor and Paul I am adding this edit as an important message for parents. Please pass this on!*****

Invasive Strep A, although rare, is deadly. Kai is one of the lucky ones who survived, but many children have died and the number of cases is on the rise. News outlets have covered the increase of cases and the resulting deaths and amputations in the UK, Isreal, and the US (with a cluster in the Dever area, specifically) but more needs to be done to get the message out.

Make this the year that you request a strep test for your child at even the slightest sign of illness or a tickle in the throat. Hopefully, the worst result is the out-of-pocket cost of the test and you go home with a healthy child (or a child with a cold.) But if you can catch this almost symptomless strep A you can avoid the potentially devastating effects of what Kai and other children have experienced.

Thank you-

Dear friends and family,

I am reaching out to you during a difficult time for our family. My cousin Taylor and her husband Paul are devoted parents to their son Kai, an energetic 9-year-old boy. Last week, Kai went from being a normal healthy and active 9-year-old third grader to being airlifted to Denver children's Hospital for sudden onset of septic shock related to invasive strep A and an infected blood clot in his neck. He has gone into multi-organ failure including his kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. He is currently on a ventilator and getting ECMO which is artificial circulation and he is fighting for his life.

Kai is showing small signs of improvement and he is responding to antibiotics, but he and his family have a long road ahead of them. The emotional toll of this experience is immense, and the financial burden is also significant. Taylor and Paul have taken time away from their jobs to be with Kai in the hospital, which has resulted in a temporary loss of income. The cost of his treatment is also mounting.

This GoFundMe page is created to help support Kai's recovery and alleviate the financial pressure on his family as they focus on his recovery. It is to facilitate an easy way for the many people in Taylor, Paul, and Kai's life who wish to help. Any amount you can contribute, no matter how small, will make a big difference. We understand that many of you may not be in a position to donate or have already donated directly, but we appreciate any help in sharing this page with your networks.

We are deeply grateful for any support you can give. The family has expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love and prayers they have received. They know that they have a community behind them during this difficult time.

Thank you for reading this and for any support you can provide. We will give updates on Kai's recovery. He is a fighter. It will not be an easy journey but he will get back to mountain biking, water sports, hiking with his dogs, and all of the other adventures he loves sharing with his family in Colorado.

Sincerely,

Shannon