We’re Brooke and Ryan, close friends of Kayla and her family. This family has shown up for us in ways we’ll never forget. Spiritually, emotionally, physically and even giving us a place to stay when we didn’t have other options. This is us trying to return that same love and support.
Kayla is going through something incredibly serious and rare involving both her heart and her brain. In early December she was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with HACEK endocarditis, a rare bacterial infection that attacked her mitral valve and caused a mass to form on her heart.
After about nine days in the hospital, doctors were able to identify the bacteria and start targeted IV antibiotics. She was sent home December 15 with a PICC line and a plan for six to eight weeks of treatment, hoping surgery wouldn’t be needed.
Not long after getting home, Kayla started having stroke like symptoms. Doctors believe a small piece of the infection broke off and traveled to her brain causing a minor stroke. She was rushed back to the hospital and admitted to the ICU where she is still currently.
Since then, things have been intense. She’s been under constant monitoring with CTs, MRIs, and angiograms. At one point, brain surgery was a possibility. Some scans showed improvement, but doctors also found a small brain aneurysm. Kayla is now waiting for a brain angiogram, and they’ll place a coil to embolize an abnormal blood vessel to prevent bleeding which is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday January 12 or 13 2026.
Right now there is a chance she may not need open heart surgery but doctors won’t know for sure until after the angiogram and after completing six weeks of antibiotics. Even if she avoids surgery for now she will still need a mitral valve repair at some point in the future.
Once Kayla is out of the hospital, she’ll need to move back home and won’t be able to return to her college apartment. Her family now has to pay off an early lease termination along with unexpected medical bills and out of pocket costs that fall at the end of 2025 and into 2026. On top of that, everyone is basically living at the hospital right now so food expenses have added up fast.
This has been a lot of waiting, a lot of unknowns, and a lot of trust. We’re incredibly grateful for the prayers, love, and support already surrounding Kayla. If you feel led to give - thank you. If not - sharing this and praying means just as much
