Stand with Cory and McKenzie in Crisis

Hi, my name is Kyrie Meldrum, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my beloved uncle, Cory Pond, who is currently facing an unexpected medical emergency.

Just over a week ago, Cory began experiencing chest tightness and difficulty breathing. What started as discomfort quickly turned into a critical situation. After going to the emergency room in Kermit, Texas, doctors discovered clots in his lungs—something far more serious than they could handle. He was immediately life-flighted to a larger hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU.

His wife, McKenzie, was able to fly out to be by his side during this terrifying ordeal.

Once in the ICU, doctors found his heart was beating dangerously fast. Medication wasn’t working, and the four ventricles around his heart had dropped to only 15%, far below the normal 50-60%. Despite extensive testing, the cause remains unknown. They started him on a 24-hour IV drip in hopes of stabilizing his heart rhythm.

The following days were filled with setbacks. He was in heart failure, tested positive for the flu, and struggled with severe anxiety.

On Friday, Feb. 7th, Cory’s condition worsened—he had to be intubated after repeatedly stopping breathing and pulling his oxygen out. Doctors finally managed to shock his heart back into normal rhythm, but his lungs and kidneys were still in distress, keeping him in the ICU.

Over the next few days, Cory remained heavily sedated as his body fought to heal. When doctors attempted to reduce sedation and remove the breathing tube, his body struggled to exhale enough on its own. His heart rate spiked again, and he had to be placed back under sedation to prevent further strain.

Where We Are Now:

Cory has made some progress—on Tuesday, Feb. 13th, he was able to breathe on his own for a short time, recognizing loved ones in brief moments of consciousness. However, his respiratory rate remains unstable, and he continues to require heavy sedation. He still has a long road ahead before he can leave the ICU.

The physical and emotional toll has been immense, not only for Cory and McKenzine but for our entire family. We are still left with a lot of uncertainty, fear and the overwhelming weight of the mounting medical bills that are to come from the ICU stay, life flight, ongoing treatments, and time off work—all while Cory continues his fight to recover.

It's heartbreaking to see someone so strong now struggling and as a family we are doing everything we can.

We are asking for your prayers, positive thoughts, and any financial support you can provide. Every donation will go directly toward Cory’s medical expenses and helping McKenzie stay by his side during this difficult time.

If you would like to donate, you can contribute through GoFundMe or send support directly via Venmo to McKenzie at @McKenzie-Pond.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support. Cory is a fighter, and with your help, we are holding onto hope for his full recovery.

#CoryStrong ❤️