Support Keaton: Urgent Care Needed for Debilitating Illness

As a mother, my heart aches for our dear friends, the McCormick family. I come to you today asking for your urgent prayers and support for Keaton McCormick, a young man who has been fighting a relentless, life-altering battle for the last two years. Kevin and Kari, his devoted parents, have selflessly given up everything — emotionally and financially — to help him find hope and healing. But now they need us more than ever.

Over two years ago, everything changed when Keaton experienced a meniscus tear. What started as a simple injury spiraled into a living nightmare. Keaton’s condition worsened dramatically, leading to an initial diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)—a rare, debilitating disorder highlighted in the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya. The disease brought with it intense swelling, deep purple/red discoloration, extreme headaches, blood clots in both legs and pulmonary embolisms in his lungs.

For a year, Kevin and Kari have exhausted conventional medicine and insurance, hoping that doctors (including orthopedic specialists, hematologists, infectious disease doctors, rheumatologists, vascular specialists, neurologists, pain specialists, and physical therapists) could provide answers and some relief. But time and time again, they were told that there was nothing more to be done other than pain remediation. Their journey then took them across the country to CRPS clinics in Arkansas & Louisiana and with further testing he was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease & 6 Co-infections. From there they headed to specialty clinics for Lyme disease in Tennessee and then to Florida. Their latest stay at the clinic in Florida lasted 14 months living out of their suitcases in a hotel room. Every new diagnosis felt like another blow, and with each failed treatment, the struggle has only grown more difficult and exhausting.

Every day for Keaton is a battle. He has been bound to crutches or a wheelchair, experiencing daily chronic pain, swelling, and stiffness in his legs, as well as debilitating fatigue, frequent headaches, and neurological issues such as OCD and anxiety. His condition has become so severe that he has been hospitalized multiple times for blood clots and breathing complications. The toll on his body and spirit has been immeasurable. Despite his unrelenting will to fight, Keaton feels a deep sense of daily despair.

When Dave and I visited Kevin and Kari in Florida earlier this year, we saw first-hand the exhaustion in their eyes. They were emotionally and physically drained. Their hope for a cure was fading, and the weight of the journey was almost too much to bear. Though they are tired, they continue to press on trusting God to work all things out for His good, which is truly inspiring and absolutely heart-wrenching. Keaton even expressed feeling guilty as he sees his parents—who have sacrificed their livelihoods and savings—continue to pour everything they have into his treatments without any lasting results yet.

After consultations with over 30 doctors and treatments at the top Lyme disease clinics in the US, Keaton’s doctors recommended treatment at the Klinik St.Georg in Bad Aibling, Germany. Keaton started treatment there on May 6th. This clinic is internationally recognized for its success in treating Chronic Lyme disease and Long Covid with advanced therapies not available in the US, including hypothermia and H.E.L.P. Apheresis. With further testing here, Covid spike proteins were found to be the cause of platelet clustering & coagulation issues plus dysautonomia impacting 9 out of 11 systems of his body. The cost for 9 weeks of treatment, travel, and housing is in excess of $125,000—an amount that is far beyond what they can afford, after already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket. The treatment is intense and very difficult, but many with Chronic Lyme & Long Covid have found breakthroughs here.

Please pray that these treatments will conquer the many infections wreaking havoc on Keaton’s body and that they bring the healing and hope his family has been longing for. They are trusting God’s plan for Keaton’s life and hope, in turn, his story will help bring awareness and support for others with these debilitating infectious diseases.

If you feel led to help financially, any donation, no matter the size, would be an incredible blessing. We’ve set an initial goal of $40,000 to build momentum and cover early costs, but their ultimate need remains $125,000. We’ll raise the goal as support comes in.

If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to Cash or Lynne Skiffington with “Keaton” in the subject line and send it to the address below.

We are so grateful for your prayer, support, and your love. Keaton has always had the heart of a fighter, but he can’t win this battle alone. Together, we can make a real difference in his recovery.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Lynne Skiffington

250 North Trail

Hawthorn Woods IL 60047

If you wish to learn more about the treatments at Klinik St. Georg, review here.

https://www.klinik-st-georg.de/en/klinik-st-georg/lyme-specialized-center/