Coming Together For Kevin Chastain
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Coming Together for Kevin Chastain
As days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, we wait for news on Kevin’s condition. We wait wondering what we can do for Kevin and Paula Chastain. Although they would never ask for assistance, they’d be the first one to give assistance, and now, they could use your help. So while many have asked what they can do for Kevin and his family, it wasn’t until now, with permission from the family that we share this link. For those who know Kevin’s story, he is still in ICU. He is off the ventilator, feeding tubs and they have crimped the drain tub from his brain. If MRI’s go well he may be in a room soon.
For those who are just hearing about Kevin’s condition, it all started with ocular issue on May 17. Kevin went to two different optometrists both with the same prognoses, eye floater. Things still did not feel right so he went to a third Doctor who then referred him to a neurologist. On June 14th the neurologist said that Kevin had had a stroke according to a MRI. A second MRI was not done. Kevin was prescribed medication. This medicine along with the constant headache made Kevin very, very tried. He was so medicated that he was not able to make it to the Regional Convention they had planned. On July 10th he went to Columbus for the Regional Convention and when he got up one side of his body was not working. An Ambulance was called; Kevin was taken to the hospital. If he had not gotten up that day, it would have been his last, he would have died. Once Kevin got to the hospital doctors were being very hush, hush. Eddie, Kevin’s son in-law pushed the issue and found out that Kevin has a brain tumor. If operated on in Columbus, Kevin would lose 100% of his vision. It is a grade 4 Glioblastomas (GBM) tumor the size of a tennis ball and had reached that size in just one month. Like many tumors types, the exact cause of Glioblastomas is unknown. It took a week to get Kevin airlifted to Atlanta. On June 25th Kevin had surgery to remove the tumor. There were complications because of the medications he had been put on and he was hemorrhaging. His blood count went from 9.5 to 5, then 4.7 before they were able to stop the bleeding and take care of the blood clot.
In the Atlanta Hospital, Kevin has a long road to recovery. His tumor has been removed and the blood clot has been taken care of also. He had to be put in a medically induced coma so that his blood pressure would not escalate causing internal bleeding. His blood count was at 4.7 and holding. That was two weeks ago. Now, he has been taken out of the coma. Ventilator has been removed and Kevin is breathing on his own. Feeding tubes have been removed. Kevin doesn’t like the mush food he has been given to eat but is happy to be off the feeding tube. The surgeon has removed part of Kevin’s skull during the surgery and it will remain off until all the swelling goes down and his brain has healed, that way the chance of infection is reduced. This however caused another issue, the start of treatment for the cancer. Some Glioblastomas treatments are considered clinical trials and are not covered by health insurance.
Kevin Chastain is 54 years young, has been married to Paula for 34 years this September 11. Kevin serves as an elder in the East Cairo Congregation and has served as a regular pioneer with Paula for years. They have two wonderful children. Their son, Colby and his wife Mindy, were in Bethel when they received the news of his illness. They left Bethel three weeks early to be with the family. On July 11th, Colby and Mindy were invited to SKE, which starts September 1st. Their daughter Melina and her husband Eddie Delarosa have been at Kevin's and Paula’s side, being instrumental in helping Kevin get the quality of care he needs and looking for the care that he is going to require in the future. There are many things the insurance will not cover and to be able to open the avenues that may help Kevin’s prognosis, live longer than the 3 to 6 months with no treatment, or 14.6 months to two-years with treatment. Possibly 5 years.
So anyone wanting to donate to help with medicine, medical treatments, hotels, travel expenses and food, please do so They won’t ask but could use the support during Kevin’s long recovery. If you’d like to mail a get well card to Kevin and His family, please send it in c/o The Wilkins/Chastain Family P.O. Box 1032 Perry, Georgia 31069
May Jehovah bless your willing spirit and THANK YOU so much for your support!.


As days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, we wait for news on Kevin’s condition. We wait wondering what we can do for Kevin and Paula Chastain. Although they would never ask for assistance, they’d be the first one to give assistance, and now, they could use your help. So while many have asked what they can do for Kevin and his family, it wasn’t until now, with permission from the family that we share this link. For those who know Kevin’s story, he is still in ICU. He is off the ventilator, feeding tubs and they have crimped the drain tub from his brain. If MRI’s go well he may be in a room soon.
For those who are just hearing about Kevin’s condition, it all started with ocular issue on May 17. Kevin went to two different optometrists both with the same prognoses, eye floater. Things still did not feel right so he went to a third Doctor who then referred him to a neurologist. On June 14th the neurologist said that Kevin had had a stroke according to a MRI. A second MRI was not done. Kevin was prescribed medication. This medicine along with the constant headache made Kevin very, very tried. He was so medicated that he was not able to make it to the Regional Convention they had planned. On July 10th he went to Columbus for the Regional Convention and when he got up one side of his body was not working. An Ambulance was called; Kevin was taken to the hospital. If he had not gotten up that day, it would have been his last, he would have died. Once Kevin got to the hospital doctors were being very hush, hush. Eddie, Kevin’s son in-law pushed the issue and found out that Kevin has a brain tumor. If operated on in Columbus, Kevin would lose 100% of his vision. It is a grade 4 Glioblastomas (GBM) tumor the size of a tennis ball and had reached that size in just one month. Like many tumors types, the exact cause of Glioblastomas is unknown. It took a week to get Kevin airlifted to Atlanta. On June 25th Kevin had surgery to remove the tumor. There were complications because of the medications he had been put on and he was hemorrhaging. His blood count went from 9.5 to 5, then 4.7 before they were able to stop the bleeding and take care of the blood clot.
In the Atlanta Hospital, Kevin has a long road to recovery. His tumor has been removed and the blood clot has been taken care of also. He had to be put in a medically induced coma so that his blood pressure would not escalate causing internal bleeding. His blood count was at 4.7 and holding. That was two weeks ago. Now, he has been taken out of the coma. Ventilator has been removed and Kevin is breathing on his own. Feeding tubes have been removed. Kevin doesn’t like the mush food he has been given to eat but is happy to be off the feeding tube. The surgeon has removed part of Kevin’s skull during the surgery and it will remain off until all the swelling goes down and his brain has healed, that way the chance of infection is reduced. This however caused another issue, the start of treatment for the cancer. Some Glioblastomas treatments are considered clinical trials and are not covered by health insurance.
Kevin Chastain is 54 years young, has been married to Paula for 34 years this September 11. Kevin serves as an elder in the East Cairo Congregation and has served as a regular pioneer with Paula for years. They have two wonderful children. Their son, Colby and his wife Mindy, were in Bethel when they received the news of his illness. They left Bethel three weeks early to be with the family. On July 11th, Colby and Mindy were invited to SKE, which starts September 1st. Their daughter Melina and her husband Eddie Delarosa have been at Kevin's and Paula’s side, being instrumental in helping Kevin get the quality of care he needs and looking for the care that he is going to require in the future. There are many things the insurance will not cover and to be able to open the avenues that may help Kevin’s prognosis, live longer than the 3 to 6 months with no treatment, or 14.6 months to two-years with treatment. Possibly 5 years.
So anyone wanting to donate to help with medicine, medical treatments, hotels, travel expenses and food, please do so They won’t ask but could use the support during Kevin’s long recovery. If you’d like to mail a get well card to Kevin and His family, please send it in c/o The Wilkins/Chastain Family P.O. Box 1032 Perry, Georgia 31069
May Jehovah bless your willing spirit and THANK YOU so much for your support!.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michalle Wilkins
Organizer
Perry, GA
Paula Chastain
Beneficiary