crushing headaches, relentless vomiting, then sudden neurological decline.

Doctors finally identified Powassan virus, a rare but vicious tick-borne infection that attacks the brain.

Kevin never recovered; the swelling and damage were too severe. He died just weeks later, leaving his family stunned by how fast an ordinary day outdoors turned fatal.

His loved ones now speak publicly, not because it’s easy, but because they can’t bear the thought of another family learning this lesson at a bedside.

They urge people to treat every tick as a threat: use repellent, wear long sleeves, perform full-body checks, and seek medical care when symptoms don’t feel right.

Kevin’s story can’t be rewritten—but it might rewrite someone else’s fate.