Kevin Hickey is a 21-year-old New Hampshire resident and student at Plymouth State University. He loves bowling, playing video games with friends, and lifting weights at the gym. He was especially excited to spend his college spring break traveling to North Carolina to visit his older brother, Thomas. He had even ordered matching t-shirts for the trip. Unfortunately, Kevin never got to go.

In early March, Kevin’s life took an unexpected and frightening turn. Previously healthy, he began experiencing severe abdominal pain and went to the ER, where he was told it was likely a GI illness that would pass. But the pain only worsened. One day, it became so severe that his mother, Steph, called 9-1-1. Kevin was transported 30 miles by ambulance to the hospital, where doctors discovered he was in severe acute kidney failure. His creatinine levels had risen to 9.8 mg/dL, far above the normal range of 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men. His condition was affecting not only his kidneys, but also his liver, spleen, and gallbladder.

Kevin’s condition quickly became critical. He was extremely jaundiced and required a port, emergency dialysis, and extensive testing to determine the cause. After being transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital and spending three weeks hospitalized, Kevin was diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare and life-threatening condition with a mortality rate of approximately 25%.

There are two forms of HUS. Typical HUS, also known as STEC-HUS, is often caused by infections such as E. coli. Atypical HUS, or aHUS, is linked to genetic mutations or autoimmune issues that trigger abnormal immune responses. At this time, doctors have not yet confirmed which type Kevin has. A kidney biopsy and genetic testing have been conducted, and his family hopes to have answers soon.

On Thursday, March 19, Kevin was finally able to return home. However, he lost 20 pounds during his hospitalization and faces a long and challenging road to recovery. In addition to the physical toll, the financial burden has been overwhelming. Life-saving treatments, ambulance transport, and extended hospital care were not fully covered by insurance, leaving Kevin and his family with significant medical expenses.

As close family friends of Kevin, Thomas, and Steph, we created this GoFundMe to support Kevin during his recovery and help ease the financial strain on his family during this incredibly difficult time. Our goal is to help Kevin focus on healing without the added stress of his medical bills. All donations are greatly appreciated and will go directly toward Kevin’s medical expenses, treatments, and helping him get back on his feet. If you’re unable to give, sharing this page would mean just as much.

Thank you for your kindness, support, and generosity during this challenging time.