Chris Kastner’s Journey Back

On December 2nd, Chris was out kiting in Los Barilles (Baja, Mexico). He was having an excellent session when he started to feel a little off. Not totally knowing what was happening, he kited back towards the beach and was able to make it mostly to shore. With the help of his daughter, Ashley, and a couple of good people on the beach, Ashley and Debbie were able to get him quickly to the local hospital. There it was determined that Chris had suffered a major stroke.

He was then transferred to a state-of-the-art hospital in Los Cabos (Hospital H+) where he underwent 2 surgeries to help lessen the effects of the stroke. He was put into an induced coma to allow his brain to start healing.

As of yesterday, Chris is starting to be alert and trying to talk. His baby blues are being stubborn; no eyes open yet. He is squeezing our hands upon command and able to communicate some things through gestures and some “yups.” He’s come a long way from just a few days ago.

However, he has a long journey ahead. We don’t know the full extent of the aftermath of the stroke just yet, but we know that his left side is highly compromised, and he’ll need some significant rehabilitation.

Due to all the unknowns for his recovery, we have no idea what might be in store for him and Debbie. Insurance has helped with a lot of things, but we don’t know what future things they need to be prepared for.

Funds for Chris’s journey back will help cover things such as:

- Unknown costs for getting an ambulance flight back to the states

- Lodging costs for Debbie and Ashley for the extended stay in Cabo

- Rehabilitation costs that insurance won’t cover

- Modifications to their home to make it work for Chris’s needs

- Future medical costs (supplies, equipment for physical therapy, etc.)

- Things we don’t even know yet

- Oh, and a haircut. You should see what they did to his amazing head of hair…

Chris knows that he is lucky to have such an amazing community of friends and family. Water friends, snow friends, work friends, and all of the friends he has collected throughout the years. Being still a young pup (just turned 60 four days before the stroke), he has so many good years ahead of him.

If anyone also wants to donate time, we’d be appreciative. Please send us your email address so we can be in touch about needs like shopping, transportation, errands, help around the house, coming and visiting with Chris, etc. It takes a village, right?