Help support Kai through mystery illness

Hi there, Jess here. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a close friend of Kai’s; and for the past year or so, his caregiver. Due to the severity of symptoms and illness that Kai is currently managing, I’ll be sharing his story. The intention behind the GoFundMe is to pay for treatment in the hopes of getting him back up to his health baseline, as well as to stabilize his living conditions. We want to see Kai happy, healthy, and alive.

Back in 2020, in the early days of COVID, Kai was one among many who got COVID. He had long-term COVID and his body never fully recovered. Over time, although COVID passed through his system, his symptoms have gotten worse. Extreme fatigue is a main symptom of his long-term illness; however, it has gradually intensified over time. Currently, he struggles with moving around even for daily activities, such as cooking and using the bathroom. Certain sensory things that triggered his system in the beginning similarily intensified over time. Kai experiences sensitivities to things such as smells, foods, materials, products, chemicals, etc. When exposed to things that trigger his system, his body has what he calls a “relapse”. When he experiences a “relapse” he is pushed into a state where his system shuts down. Caring for him during a relapse is a sensitive and scary thing. On an average day, he has limited mobility; during a relapse, he is almost catatonic. He doesn't speak, and has minimal communication through eyes and body language. Over the past couple of months, Kai’s inability to communicate verbally has expanded to not only during relapses, but all times. The degree of fatigue that he has been experiencing, combined with his sensitivities, has made it difficult for him to engage with friends, family, interests, and overall just life. He spends most days in a one-room cabin lying in bed resting. The small space makes it a little bit easier for Kai to be able to move around, as he becomes exhausted quickly. Kai struggles to even prepare and eat his foods as the simplest movements exhaust his body. I go out to his place a couple of times a week to help him, as his limited mobility has prevented him from doing everyday things like washing, shopping, etc. He utilizes his phone to entertain himself, and to stay connected to the best of his ability, but even being on his phone has become difficult as it is hard for him to move his fingers. Throughout this illness, he has been bouncing around to different living situations in an attempt to find an environment that his body can heal in. Finding a place where his system won’t be constantly reacting, a place where he can feel safe in, is currently still a work in progress.

Those of you who know Kai know what an amazing human being he is. A lover of life. Kai has a special gift that allows him to connect with people on a deep and meaningful level; to share some of the best parts of being human with. Laughing, crying, living, loving. Although not in a place health-wise where he is able to share his gift, Kai wants to, and continues to fight this illness to be able to.

The primary portion of funds raised will be directed toward treatment expenses. This would include working with a functional medicine doctor, therapies, and doing a two-month intensive protocol with a medical/energy healer that he feels can really help him get back on his feet. Funds will also be of aid in housing and food expenses. Over the course of the past couple of years, Kai has prioritized his health and seeking treatment. Kai has seen numerous MDs, Naturopath, Functional Medicine, Herbalists, Brain Rewiring, and other alternative healing modalities. Multiple different tests have been run, and no one has been able to find anything that sticks out. The best way we know to explain it is residual long-term COVID and mystery illness/severe dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a condition that affects non-voluntary body functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Kai has had to adapt his diet through trial and error to foods that will not trigger his system. Organic foods in their simplest forms is what he is able to tolerate. Other necessities that come up also go through a trial and error-process. Things such as appliances, clothing, medications, etc. Kai has to see if his system will tolerate it or not. Lack of regular movement has created side effects that are also of concern to Kai’s physical health. The effects of the long-term illness are at an all-time low. Kai has no income, depleted savings, and is unable to work. Kai maintains hope and excitement about getting better. He focuses on his goal of healing and stays inspired.

For all family and friends who have already helped support Kai throughout this illness, so much love and appreciation. Not only is the tangible support appreciated, but the recognition that he is seen in his pain, missed, and loved is felt. All support is welcome. If you have any further questions about how Kai is doing or how funds will be utilized, please feel free to reach out. Thank-you.

Attached is a picture of Kai healthy, a baseline we are trying to get back to.