Contribute to Kaylan’s Comeback!

Hello, my name is Tim. My daughter Kaylan survived a giant basilar artery aneurysm ballooned around her brain stem followed by 2 strokes just before her 11th birthday. The clamping of the aneurysm caused one stroke then soon following the initial surgery she suffered a second stroke leaving her in a locked in state only able to move her left eye.

Prior to Kaylan’s injury, she was a typical, outgoing child, involved in sports such as softball, soccer, and gymnastics. Kaylan also was a dancer. She took classes in Jazz dance and clogging. Kaylan enjoyed activities at school and taking beach trips with friends. In May of 2014 just a few weeks before summer break at school, Kaylan woke up extremely disoriented unable to control her actions including sporadic vision loss and numbness. We immediately rushed Kaylan to the doctor where they moved her by ambulance from her pediatricians office to the hospital. Kaylan underwent an emergency open craniotomy where the paper thin aneurysm was discovered which was on the verge of rupturing. Thankfully, the aneurysm was caught just in time. Since the strokes that took all motor skills from Kaylan, she now at almost 20 years of age is relearning to walk with minimal assistance although her left side remains weaker. Kaylan still suffers from a weak voice though has begun vocalizing more. Our family has been traveling periodically to NextStep Orlando Paralysis Recovery Center in Florida since 2019. NextStep is an intense activity-based therapy facility that works with clients to regain lost functions. Kaylan has made tremendous gains while attending NextStep and needs to continue however this is not covered by insurance and staying near by is also a large out of pocket expense.

NextStep has made a tremendous difference in Kaylan's life. Not only making huge gains toward walking and independence but making lifelong friends with staff and clients.

The atmosphere at NextStep is wonderful and in every session Kaylan gives 100% to the trainers and with their help she is getting stronger and slowly relearning what was lost.We live several states away from NextStep and unfortunately there is nothing like this place nearby. Kaylan needs your help to continue to attend NextStep so that one day she will regain her independence. Kaylan has come a long way after several years of therapy but NextStep is so much more and Kaylan has made gains that we did not think were possible. We want her to continue to attend NextStep so we ask you to please donate and help our daughter on her road to recovery. Thank you so much for your kindness