On March 23rd, McKenzie was beginning her first day in Virginia to spend spring break with her person, Teige. It was supposed to be a simple, wholesome day—coffee in the morning and a hike with their fur baby, Klay, to enjoy the day together. But in an instant, everything changed for both of them.
At just 22 years old, McKenzie experienced her first seizure. Teige was there when it happened—finding her just moments after she began brushing her teeth and bravely administering CPR & practicing proper seizure first aid while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. What began as an ordinary morning quickly became a life-altering moment.
After being told she could no longer drive, our family worked quickly to get McKenzie safely back to Milwaukee, along with her vehicle. She spent the following week surrounded by support, beginning the process of testing, appointments, and trying to understand what was happening. We began navigating safety precautions, including monitoring & alert apps, medical ID tags/alerts if her code is scanned by first responders, etc.
Exactly two weeks later, just as she started to feel like she was getting back into her routine, McKenzie had another seizure—this time alone in her apartment. It lasted upwards of 20 minutes.
Since then, everything has changed. McKenzie is no longer able to be alone and requires around-the-clock monitoring until additional, more reliable safeguards can be put in place. She has undergone multiple tests already, with many more still ahead as doctors work to determine the cause and best path forward.
In the middle of all of this, McKenzie is just five weeks away from graduating with her B.S. in Conservation & Environmental Science. She needs to remain in Milwaukee to finish school, while her family is based in Minnesota. This has created ongoing travel needs, time away from work, and added emotional and financial strain. At this time, McKenzie is unable to drive or work.
Donations will go toward the significant and ongoing costs of her care, including specialist medical bills, travel expenses for family support, and the resources needed to help her safely regain independence. This includes uninsured, more reliable medical monitoring devices, a service animal (though we love Klay, he’s not fit for the job), and technology that will allow her family to check on her and ensure her safety if she becomes unresponsive.
Our goal is to help McKenzie not only get through this moment, but to build a future where she can live safely and independently.
If you are unable to donate, your thoughts and prayers mean more than you know as our family navigates this new and uncertain chapter.
Thank you for your support.
