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The first sign seemed harmless. A slight fever, a little fatigue, nothing that raised alarms. It was the kind of minor discomfort most people would brush off. But behind it was a moment no one had seen—a tiny tick on a spring afternoon, so small it slipped by unnoticed. What followed was a chain of events that changed one family forever.
A healthy man began feeling unwell, then suddenly everything shifted. Fevers that wouldn’t break, growing confusion, and a rush of medical tests that brought more questions than answers. What looked like an ordinary spring day outdoors quietly turned into a health crisis, one his family could only watch unfold with disbelief. They now share his story not to frighten anyone, but to help others stay aware before a single unnoticed bite becomes something more serious.
Doctors ran a wide range of tests, looking for any clue that could explain the sudden escalation of symptoms. When the diagnosis finally came, it revealed a rare but aggressive tick-related illness known as Powassan virus.
This infection affects the brain and can progress quickly, placing enormous strain on the body. In Kevin’s case, the swelling and neurological impact were overwhelming. Despite dedicated medical support, his condition continued to worsen, and he passed away only a few weeks later. For his family, the rapid progression was almost impossible to comprehend.
In the months afterward, those who loved him found themselves returning again and again to the same thought: if more people knew what a small tick could carry, perhaps another family might be spared the same pain.
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