Kevin's Recovery Helping Kevin Mather on his road to recovery

Social Networking for Kevin

Hey, Everyone.

The outpouring of prayer, encouragement, and support for Kevin and Tiffany has been incredible! It’s so important for them to know that we’re in this with them for the long haul. In anticipation of our need to keep people informed, motivated, and focused on the needs and goals, we’ve instituted some social networking tools. Here are two quick and easy things you can do to spread the word and keep the ball rolling…

1. Subscribe to receive email alerts from Kevin’s Recovery Team. To do this, simply click here or click on the “Register” link in the User Menu in the right panel of this page. Once registered, you’ll get instant email notification whenever a new blog post is added to the site. In addition, you’ll receive subscriber-only emails we may send from time to time. (Note: If you’ve already registered, then you don’t need to do anything.)
2. Use the “Share This” social bookmarking links at the bottom of any blog article (including this one) to easily spread the word among all your online friends. This includes support for popular sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Yahoo!, and LinkedIn. There are also options to email or print any article.

We’ll soon be posting information about practical ways you can get involved in Kevin’s recovery. Having a strong network in place will be critical, so this is just the start.

Lastly, it has been amazing to witness the love and concern from so many, including people who just met Kevin. What a testament to what it means to “love your neighbor.” On behalf of Kevin’s Recovery Team, thank you for your support!

–Mark

Message from Kevin’s Dad

1:00 am, July 5: We received the following update from Mark Mather:

Kevin’s dad here. First I would like to thank all the Highway Patrol, Fire Fighters, Paramedics, and Helicopter transport that worked so fast to save our sons life. His mother and I are very grateful. We left Kevin at 10pm [last night] at the hospital, and he was resting. Much needed I am sure. He is in stable but critical condition. His surgery yesterday [Friday] was from 2:00 pm to 2:30 am. 12 hours. He has 2 metal bars and 12 screws in his back supporting his spine. His spine injury is a level 4 to the best of my knowledge. They took out his respirator tube today, and he is talking with a normal and clear voice. The swelling has gone down on his head. He is cracking jokes in the ICU and enjoying his ice chips. To see him yesterday going into the OR and then to see him today was amazing. The power of prayer really works! He has sensation feelings in his legs but can not move his legs or feet at this time. We are hopeful for a speed recovery understanding that it will take some time.

Our many thanks to the family, friends and others that have been praying for Kevin and Tiffany. They are great kids and have a strong hand with God. I think we had 30 people in the waiting room and we had to upgrade it to a suite. Tiffany has been an incredible woman during this ordeal. Very strong but Kevin and I think that she could use some sleep. Greg and Janice have been incredible staying there for so many hours with us praying and just being there. Many thanks to all the family and friends that brought food and drinks to the waiting room. It was great!

Also a hugh thank you to [the great medical team at USC] that put Kevin back together. I will never forget you. You did an incredible job!

Please keep your prayers coming for they are surely working and lets pray for Kevin to have speedy recovery and pray for Tiff to be strong during this difficult time. We will update you with information as we receive it.

My love to all. Mark

Surgery Update

1:31 pm, July 4th: From Leanne Souisa’s phone conversation with Janice Gentry: Kevin is talking now after having the tube removed from his throat.  The spinal injury was a Stage 3.  He is still unable to feel his toes or move his legs.  Keep praying.

11:05 am, July 4th: From Rhonda Stout’s phone conversation with Janice Gentry: I just got off of the phone with Janice and she gave me the following update on Kevin’s progress to pass on to everyone.  I tried to write as much of the details down as I could, I will do my best to convey the information as accurately as I can remember.  Kevin was in surgery until 12:30 last night and was moved into the ICU around 2 am.  The neurosurgeon had just spoke with Tiff and the family right before Janice called me and said she was amazed with Kevin’s progress and how aware he is this morning for being in a 12 hour surgery and having the type of injuries he has.  He is completely coherent, he can’t talk so he was trying to communicate by using his finger and spelling out words.  The neurosurgeon said that at about 6 hours into the surgery they stopped to discuss whether or not to go on and continue to try and work on his spinal chord, they decided that because of his age and how athletic he is to continue on. The neurosurgeon said that they had got his spine almost straight, but not perfect, but they decided that they couldn’t continue on after the 12 hours because with him being face down the risk of him going blind from the pressure on his eyes was too great.  As of now his vision is a bit blurry but they feel that since his pupils are dilating that when the swelling goes down his vision should be okay.  His spinal chord was severely stretched and pushed out of position so there could be possible tears, but they won’t know that until the swelling goes down. Tiffany says that Kevin remembers everything that happened, he and Tiff had a saying that was a joke between them “safety first” and that was the first thing that Kevin finger spelled to her!  Janice said that Kevin cried when the neurosurgeon explained everything but that the neurosurgeon told him that his progress so far is miraculous, so for him to give it time for his body to heal more and then they will see how his spine is doing.  They have given Kevin a spell board now to help him communicate better.  Janice also said that because he was to be face-down for the surgery they had to quickly stitch up his head wound for the surgery, but that a plastic surgeon will come back at a later time to repair his head wounds better.

Janice said they are all so thankful for everyone’s prayers and that they are amazed already at all of the little miracles God has given to them.  She said that at about 2 am Tiff was feeling a bit anxious waiting for Kevin to come out so she went to walk in the hall, when she went out there doors opened and they wheeled Kevin by her on the way to ICU, so she was able to at least get to see him for a minute before he went to recovery.  God is great, even in what might seem to be a small thing to someone else, it’s a great thing to those who are in need of it.  Please pray that the swelling will go down quickly, for his vision to clear up, for complete healing in his whole body, for complete use of his legs, for peace & comfort for Kevin, Tiff, and the families to know that they are enveloped in God’s arms and that he is in complete control of the situation.

10:05 am, July 4th:  From the Stouts: Just received the following text from the hospital  “It will take time for the swelling to go down. Kev is amazing, trying so hard to communicate, finger spelling! Later a plastic surgeon will fix the head wound, it had to be stitched quickly for the 12 hour surgery. He remembers all the details about the accident.”

From Andrew Daymude, via email…

Starting to close him up 12:15AM 7/4/2009, should be out of the OR by 1AM, recovery to follow, back to ICU by 4AM.

Account from Steve Souisa

From Steve Souisa, via email:

I had put together a 55 mile ride scheduled for today, beginning at Peets coffee at 6:30am. The route was to go up Sierra Hwy and cut over to Soledad Canyon, once we got into acton. The guys who went on the ride were Vince Sabotin, Paul Hauck, Nigel Stout, Ryan House, Eric Swihart, Gabe Astorga, Pete Giamonco, Andy Barzack, Migel Soler, me and Kevin. At the last minute I recieved a text from Miguel that he was not going to join us. As we usually do, we warmed up on the bike path towards Sierra Hwy. Five miles into it, Andy decided to back out of the ride because he was going through some pain with his back and turned around and went home.

We all met at Sierra Hwy and started to go up the road. Vince and Kevin decided to put the legs in gear and get the workout started. Ryan, Nigel and Pete decided to get in tow with the ride as well. Paul and Nick were riding together further back, and I decided to hang in the rear with Gabe and Eric.

Paul and Nick decided to turn around to see why we were so far back and rejoined us at the rear. I was telling Paul, ” you know Kevin is throwing the bait out and we need to catch him.” Paul said okay, but I said I was going to hang with Eric and Gabe and help them get through this ride.

Normally, Paul and I would be pace lining with the front runners and challenging ourselves to be out in front with Kevin and Vince. This day was not like the others as we decided it was best to hang in the rear. I was telling Paul, “you know this road is pretty narrow and it doesn’t leave us to much room to ride together.” He decided to fall back in behind me, and we just started to ride with Nick. As we started to crest this hill, it started to level out, and we noticed a group of cars parked to the left side of the road.

I immediately started to panic as I saw one of our riders down. When I arrived, it was Kevin that was lying on the ground. Nigel was holding Kevin’s hand, and told me he just prayed for him. Kevin had a serious gash across his forehead, and his helmet was pretty much holding his scalp in place. I told Kevin that he was safe and we are all here. I said to Kevin, “Don’t leave us”…he said, “I’m right here.” Nigel asked me to pray with him and that’s what I did.

I kept thinking, had we chased Kevin down, there could have been more riders injured. The medics showed up around 7 minutes after I got there. In seconds, CHP, Sheriffs, and fire trucks were on the scene, as well as a helicopter.

The medics asked Kevin to move his toes, and he said he couldn’t. They asked him to move his feet, and he said he couldn’t. They then pressed on his thighs and asked him, “Do you feel this?” He didn’t feel anything….I lost it and tears were bursting out of my eyeballs.

His bike was severely damaged from the impact as well as his helmet. Water bottles, bike tools were scattered, and his watch was thrown across the dirt. The truck’s right side mirror was sitting right next to him. I told him the SOS is out and we contacted your family. He said “call Tiff and my Mom.” His injuries were pretty bad and he was airliftd out of the canyon and taken to USC Med Center.

I was pulled to the side by a man named John, who called 911, as he was the first one on the scene. He asked me, “I heard this is a church group you’re riding with. Does Kevin have salvation?” I said, “Yes he does,” and he broke down crying. I hugged him and asked him “why are you crying?” He said, I saw Kevin laying there, I’m a Christian and I didn’t ask him to receive salvation. I said he has salvation, and he said I know…but I didn’t do what I was supposed to do.

I hugged him and said Kevin is going to be all right, hang in there. The helicopter took off, and we all were standing there watching it go away. I felt at that point, that it was time for me to pray with everyone that was there.

Some didn’t feel like riding home and had someone pick them up, and others decided to ride back. I chose to ride back with Vince, Paul, Pete and another Ryan who showed up later at the time of the accident. It was a somber ride home, and I dont think anyone spoke to each other for 15 miles.

Account from Gabe Astorga

As we were riding up Sierra Highway, approximately 5 miles past Le Chene’s, Eric Swihart and I were casually riding in the back of the pack. There were 10 of us altogether: Kevin Mather, Nigel Stout, Steve Souisa, Nick Boone, Eric Swihart and other friends that Steve Souisa had invited. As I was riding, I saw emergency vehicles on a straight way of the road. I began to wonder if it was for one of our guys; however, it seemed that it couldn’t be possible because the group was not that far ahead of Eric and me.

As I got closer, I could see our guy’s bike lined up against the side of a hill that ran next to the road. I thought to myself, “This can’t be good”. As I quickly looked around, I noticed that it was Kevin Mather who was hit on his bike. He was on his back, and the paramedics were attending to him as the C.H.P. had closed the road in both directions. It was obvious that this was serious! It was surreal to see all of this unfolding. I called my wife, Teri, and asked her to call Tiffany right away. Within seconds of that conversation, The Los Angeles County Air Rescue arrived, circling for the best place to land.

Nigel Stout was the first to find Kevin, and held his hand to comfort him as help was being summoned; it was approximately 7:45 a.m. As Kevin was being loaded into the ambulance for the short trip to the helicopter, Steve Souisa said to Kevin, “We will be here for you.” Kevin replied, “Okay”. This was an awesome thing to hear Kevin respond, considering the severity of his injuries.

As I left emotionally in shock, I was amazed at the response of the emergency personal and how fast they had taken Kevin out.

Kevin was surrounded by his brothers in Christ and was prayed over while he was there. He truly is a warrior and now will be fighting a long hard road to recovery.

I am thankful to our Lord and Savior for Kevin’s life, that it was not his time at that moment.