Kevin

Kevin is 12 years old and lives in Grayslake, IL. He has Mitochondrial Disease and Epilepsy. Kevin was the 2014 Holiday Kids Campaign beneficiary for the Illinois region. The ATI Foundation provided a grant of $2,400 to pay for an entire year’s worth of therapeutic horseback riding for Kevin.

In the 12 years since his birth, Kevin has had seven surgeries. At the age of three months, he had a craniosynostosis procedure to separate the bones of his skull that were fused at birth, which didn’t allow his brain to grow. A similar surgery was done three years later. Before the age of six, Kevin had an eye surgery to correct muscles that were not allowing his eyes to focus in one direction, had a throat surgery for breathing issues, along with a muscle biopsy and oral surgery.

During this time, Kevin was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease, which explained some, but not all of the conditions from which he suffered. Along his difficult journey, Kevin began to have seizures, and was diagnosed with Epilepsy, a common condition for those with Mitochondrial Disease. The seizures became more frequent, and soon he was having several a day, which caused him to suddenly fall forward. Kevin suffered from repeated broken noses in addition to other bodily harm. He underwent brain surgery this past March, which was successful in decreasing the seizures. 

Kevin remains dependent on a wheelchair and walker, and is non-verbal. He goes to school and enjoys therapeutic horseback riding.