UPDATE:

On June 3rd, at the Matteson Community Center (MCC), Kayden’s Friend initially became enraged because he lost a basketball game. The argument escalated and became physical, all of which was captured on MCC surveillance cameras. Witnesses stated his friend told him he was going to shoot him and then consciously pulled a gun from his backpack and pulled the trigger.

The events of that day replay like slow motion, remembering fine details before it all came to a halt. None of us ever could have imagined receiving such a horrifying phone call!! That Tuesday afternoon Kayden’s father picked him up from basketball camp at 12:30 from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, where Kayden was a student and aspiring athlete with dreams of becoming a NBA player. On the way home from camp, Kayden asked if he could stop at the MCC to play basketball with his friends. His father agreed, having purchased a membership to give him a safe, productive space to grow his skills. Kayden then asked if his friend (Shooter) could join him. His father, unaware that his friend was carrying a firearm, agreed and picked him up from his home in Richton Park. Within hours of being dropped off, Kayden was shot just past the front door of the MCC by this same friend they transported to the center.

The shooter along with other kids who witnessed the entire event ran while Kayden picked himself up from the ground and made it back inside the community center to ask for help. Paramedics took over 15 minutes to arrive. By then he was bleeding out and had lost consciousness inside the MCC. Where he tumbled out of a chair he was placed in, landing on his face causing his front tooth to become chipped and dislodged. On the way to the hospital, his heart stopped twice due to massive blood loss. By the grace of God, a thoracic surgeon from California happened to be at the hospital for a different patient/procedure. This divine intervention allowed him to perform an emergency aortic clamp and transfusion in efforts to stabilize his condition for helicopter transport to Stroger.

Within the first 24 hours, Kayden underwent three major surgeries. After the third, doctors told us to call family members to say goodbye—they did not believe he would survive the day. His condition was described as second-by-second. They said it would take a miracle for him to live, as even an adult would not have survived such trauma.

After receiving over 200 units of blood, his condition remained critical. Just as fast as they were giving him units of blood he was losing it. Eventually, the blood that circulated in his body was foreign which added to further complications in the weeks and months to come. Still on the ventilator and with no brain activity, his prognosis slowly improved from second-by-second to minute-by-minute, and eventually to hour-by-hour once the ventilator was removed. A hole had to be surgically cut into his neck to insert a breathing tube (tracheotomy), further delaying his ability to speak or breathe on his own.

The gunshot severed a major artery, causing rapid and continuous blood loss. Surgeons had to reconstruct the artery using a vein from his left leg to restore blood flow to his right leg. At one point, they feared amputation. For months, our family endured unbearable fear, unsure if Kayden would live or die. When he finally regained consciousness, he was unable to speak or use his limbs. Which made doctors believe he sustained a significant loss of oxygen to his brain and it would probably never function. BUT GOD

When Kayden finally became coherent, he proved not to be brain dead, but devastated—horrified by the scars, saddened by his missing tooth, and crushed by the realization that his “friend” caused this. He still cannot walk, cannot attend school, cannot play basketball, and most devastating cannot go home. After four months, he was transferred to a children’s hospital, where he still requires ongoing care and operative procedures to regain basic function according to doctors.

Today Kayden remains on TPN because he cannot eat. He is severely malnourished due to prolonged ventilator use and repeated surgeries. Kayden has missed holidays, birthdays, and now faces spending Thanksgiving and likely Christmas in the hospital. It’s possible he will remain hospitalized for an entire year before even beginning full rehabilitation. He misses his brothers and didn’t remember his baby sister, who was only 3½ months old when he was shot.

This tragic incident has been life altering & shattering to say the least. After losing her entire income as a popular Chicago Southland braider and almost losing her son my cousin is just coming out of a fog. She spent the entire summer at her son’s bedside. Just now being able to process her emotions, she is completely and rightfully outraged. Not only is the shooters defense attorney requesting he be released for the holidays. Those closest to her with information that could support the case refused to cooperate and turned their backs. She feels like it’s not many she can trust. It’s been difficult to allow her other children to start the new school year, because of the fear of the unknown. What if another kid or “supposed to be friend” gets a hold of a gun and fatally shoots them. What if her last time seeing them is her last time! Now school drop offs have a tighter hug and longer stares filled with hopes and prayers as they leave her sight.

I cannot put myself in her shoes and can barely stand to imagine this happening to one of my own children. The heartbreak endured by our close friends and family is distant to the turmoil her and her children are enduring. It has been painful watching such a strong independent single mother, become helpless and weakend by fear. Despite having faith and constant prayers from the U.S. to Africa, this has been a very trying time. Prayers for healing, strength, justice, and financial provision is much needed. If you made it this far to the end please choose a scripture and repeat it daily for our family and consider giving to the Go Fund Me or directly to her CahsApp $AllDolledUpStudioCHI - if you have the means to do so Thank you to everyone who has not forgotten about Kayden, who continue to call, visit, and pray!

#JusticeForKayden #gunviolenceneedstostop

#gunviolenceawareness #gunviolenceprevention #mattesoncommunitycenter #ABCNews

ORIGINAL POST:

On June 3rd, 15-year-old Kayden's life changed forever when he was senselessly shot while at a community center in Matteson, Illinois. This unimaginable tragedy has left his family heartbroken, as Kayden now fights for his life in the hospital. He has already undergone 11 surgeries and—against all odds—is now breathing on his own. Kayden is strong, resilient, and surrounded by love, but he has a long road to recovery ahead.

His mother, Andrea, a devoted cosmetologist and the heart of her family, is unable to work during this critical time. She is staying by Kayden’s side day and night, while also caring for her four other children. The emotional, physical, and financial toll on this family is immense.

The Jackson and Pannell family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. So many have asked how to help—and this fundraiser is one way we can all stand behind them.

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Medical and recovery expenses for Kayden

• Meals, bills, and essentials for the family

• Childcare and support for Kayden’s siblings

• Long-term rehabilitation and care

Kayden’s mother shared this heartfelt message:

“Thank you God—my baby is still fighting and improving, but he has a long recovery to go. I’m still heartbroken and in disbelief. My baby Kayden is so strong—it’s unbelievable. Eleven surgeries, and now he’s breathing on his own! The doctors kept saying he wasn’t going to make it, but my village wasn’t trying to hear that at all! God knows my baby or me didn’t deserve this type of pain.”

Please consider donating—any amount helps. If you’re unable to give, sharing this page or offering a kind word means the world to the family.

To read more about Kayden’s story, visit:

Boy shot at Matteson community center – CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/boy-shot-wounded-community-center-matteson-illinois/)

Thank you for keeping Kayden and his family in your hearts and prayers. Let’s rally around them with love, strength, and support.

13-year-old charged after 15-year-old is shot near community center in Matteson, Illinois

The 13-year-old suspected shooter was taken into custody about two hours later in Richton