The Owens Family

Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you know our oldest brother Keith was hospitalized at Silver Cross on Monday, September 25th for 3 days. Physicians thought he was having a MS flare up. He was discharged from Silver Cross on Wednesday. By Thursday, September 28th he was rushed to University of Chicago, due to having a high fever. He was put under general anesthesia twice for a Ct scan, MRI, and a spinal tap. In the days that followed he became unresponsive. He ended up testing positive for West Niles Virus which caused Meningo-encephalitis. During his course of treatment at the hospital, multiple issues arose due to the virus.

They say that “about 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammations of the brain) and/or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).”

He is currently still hospitalized but is slowing getting his speech and mobility back. He is going to have a long road ahead of him. We are hoping to get him moved to Shirley Ryan Rehab Center in Downtown Chicago. Once he arrives there, he will spend three weeks in intense therapy. Then will continue outpatient rehab when he comes home three times a week.

Needless to say Keith’s wife Shannon and his family has been by his side day in and day out. They have 4 boys- Dominic (19) Dimitri (17) Jaxon (13) and Jace (10) to care for and no income coming in. Shannon is doing the best she can with being by Keith’s side yet trying to balance running home to see the boys.

We were hoping to start this GoFundMe to ease the financial burden at the crucial time. If anyone can help by donating this would take such a weight off Keith and Shannon’s shoulders. Knowing her kids at home are being taken care of while she is at the hospital daily, knowing she doesn’t have to stress about where money is coming from.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please say a prayer that my brother continues to respond to the meds he is on and continues to heal so life can go back to what it was for him.

Please feel free to share this link with friends and family of Keith and Shannon’s via text or email if they are not on social media.

Thank you for your kindness, love, and support!

Love Keith’s Siblings,

Kristy and Dave Milazzo

Kyle and Suzie Owens

Kevin and Alicia Owens