HEALING&HOPE
Kevin Kennedy, 8, has been living with posterior fossa syndrome since 2010. The condition occurred after a brain tumor was removed, causing the boy who once played soccer to barely be able to move or talk. In the three years since, Kevin has slowly been working to regain his mobility.
Dr. Gregory Friedman, who treated Kevin's brain tumor, said that posterior fossa syndrome caused by the removal of a tumor usually leaves within days or weeks. Severe cases can sometimes last months. “Most children will not have it and those that get it typically will just last a short period of time,” Friedman said. “So his case was unusual and was the most severe case we’ve seen here at UAB.” After three years of work, Kevin is still only able to take a few steps on his own. Friedman said he couldn't eat, move or talk on his own for two months after his surgery.
His parents, Dan and Jennifer, and his brother, Quinn, and older sister, Kylie, spend time every day with him in therapy seasons. Dan said they have spent about $25,000 dollars on physical therapy for their son each year. Dan said it's all worth it, as he has gone from not being able to eat to taking a few steps on his own. “I’ve just been working so hard…and I’m getting better,” Kevin said.