Support for the Murray’s after Keenan’s Stroke and Cancer

Hi everyone. I wanted to open up this official fundraiser for Keenan and Devin Murray, and their 2-year-old daughter, Louie Jean.

If you know Keenan and Devin, you know that they are the last to ever ask for help– far too humble, and truly the kindest you can come by. But I know so many of us love them so deeply, and are looking for a place to REALLY provide support that makes a difference.

These past 10 months of their life have been devastating, especially within the events of the last 10 days, so I want to share a little bit about what's been going on to ease your hearts and share what the future looks like for them so we can all rally around them and be their village.

As many of you know, last fall Keenan was diagnosed with cancer. For the last part of 2024, he underwent testing, chemotherapy, and had surgery to remove all of the cancer. Those months were spent with heaps of heartache and worry– navigation of the unknown, showing up as parents… as people. Devin poured herself into her husband through emotional and physical caregiving, all while upholding the demands of nursing school as Keenan took time off of his dedicated position at the fire station to undergo treatment. At the beginning of this year, Keenan completed his chemo treatment and has had clear scans so far—an enormous relief and a sign of hope for complete remission in the years ahead.

The afternoon of June 5th, the two were at home when Keenan was suddenly hit with a crippling headache. He could no longer move his neck, his blood pressure spiked, he had severe muscle pain all down his spine and into his hamstrings. All of the symptoms occurred within minutes and shortly after he began to vomit. By the next morning, Keenan went to the hospital and after spending the entire day waiting, they found a bleed in his brain.

He was immediately transferred to the Neuro ICU, where he spent 10 days undergoing constant monitoring, hourly neuro testing, daily ultrasounds of his brain, CT’s, MRI’s, scans, and angiograms.

It was determined that Keenan had a subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke which is the most serious and dangerous kind of brain bleed.

The doctors and nurses said that they had never seen someone with this kind of bleed result in a prognosis as hopeful as his. The bleed localized to the pons area of his brain stem, which controls vital life functions like breathing, heart rate, sleep/wake cycles, and motor control.

After 10 days in the Neuro ICU, Keenan was discharged on June 15 and sent home to manage the pain and continue the slow, careful process of healing while his brain works to recover. The doctors said that it can take up to two months for his brain to absorb the blood, if all goes well. We are praying for a linear healing process, but so far, the days at home have presented real challenges. Devin and Keenan are currently managing his extreme pain and discomfort, cognitively and physically. His mobility and movement is very limited. His legs, back, and neck are stiff. The neurological toll is heavy, with waves of anxiety, panic, and restlessness—making sleep nearly impossible.

Throughout all of this, Devin has been his constant—helplessly trying everything she can to ease discomfort, staying awake through the night to monitor his health and be support, sleeping on the hospital couch for days, learning every detail of his diagnosis and treatment, showing up as Mom (a really, really good one), continuing to create small meaningful moments for their family to be together, and coordinating care for Louie. All of this, while also trying to complete one of the most demanding and emotionally taxing phases of her nursing program. Their life has been completely flipped upside down. The physical, emotional, and financial toll on their family is enormous.

Devin and Keenan are some of the most thoughtful, humble, and caring people I know. Keenan, in entirety, dedicates to putting others before himself. Keenan has spent the last four years serving the Avondale community as a firefighter paramedic—showing up for others on the worst days of their life, putting the safety of strangers, families, and neighbors ahead of his own, without hesitation. Devin is the most kind-hearted, thoughtful, warm human being. One day, after all of this, she will become the nurse that we all need in our lowest moments. The one that remembers every detail, shows boundless empathy, and holds enough love for everyone suffering in the room.

They’re not the type to ask for help—which is exactly why I felt called to start this.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward medical expenses, the funds needed to continue Devin’s nursing program (funds that may have already gone toward the overwhelming medical costs of the past 10 months), support for their family as Keenan is home recovering, and the basic necessities that will help them stay afloat during one of the hardest seasons of their lives.

This is truly one of the most meaningful ways we can show up for them right now. No matter how small, every contribution helps lift this weight. I know Devin and Keenan are incredibly, overwhelmingly grateful for all the ways you have all shown up for them over the past 10 days, and since November. The text messages, visits, prayers, meals. Everything. There's probably not a word that fully describes how thankful they feel, and the impact it makes in times like these. They are taking time getting back to all of the messages as they navigate this all, but I really know, deeply, that they want everyone to feel how grateful they are.

So to all of you, all of us in this village, thank you for reading. Thank you for taking the time to pour your love and care into them, and know that this means so much.

Devin and Keenan, we love you so much. We all get to lean on each other. Lean on us, just a bit this time. We’re rooting for you, we're praying for you, and we’re here on the ride to recovery.