Faithful friends support Valley wife, mother in crisis – Youngstown Vindicator
Faithful friends support Valley wife, mother in crisis Youngstown Vindicator
Kristin Fox and her husband, Mike, with their children Landon, 9 and Laiken, 7. Submitted photo
POLAND — Jessica Cene could barely contain her laughter when recalling the day in fourth grade at Struthers Elementary she met Kristin Fox, who wore a ponytail holder adorned with colorful balloons glued to it.
From that point, their friendship soared.
“She was the queen bee, a social butterfly. I went up to her and said, ‘I really like your ponytail, and I want to be your friend,’” remembered Jessica, the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s community-outreach director.
The straightforward approach worked, because today, the Poland woman has a deep bond with Kristin, 39. Jessica also has become one of her most ardent supporters since Kristin was hospitalized about two months ago for influenza A — which led to her becoming a quadruple amputee.
Kristin, a Campbell Memorial High School assistant principal and the special-programs coordinator for the Campbell City School District, was admitted March 9 to St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and was soon on a ventilator, and it was discovered she had double pneumonia. The next day, she went into septic shock, a severe, life-threatening condition that often leads to dangerously low blood pressure. The infection entered her bloodstream and caused her organs to begin shutting down.
As a result, Kristin was given four types of blood pressure medications that saved her life but compromised her circulation, which was a possible side effect. Consequently, on March 27, her legs were amputated below the knees; on April 6, her arms were amputated below the elbows.
Kristin also was tested twice for COVID-19, though the results were negative both times.
Despite her sudden and dramatic new reality, Kristin is buoyed by a large network of faithful friends, family members and loved ones who are rallying for her. She also is a fighter and has every intention of getting back on her feet — literally and symbolically — as quickly as possible and returning to her husband Mike; daughter, Laiken, 7; and son, Landon, 9, friends say.
Jessica fondly remembered that their friendship grew stronger as they grew older, and that Kristin and her family often hosted numerous get-togethers at their Struthers home. Their level of closeness has been passed down, because both women’s children are friends with one another, she continued.
Kristin, a 1999 Springfield Local High School graduate, followed her goal to become an educator, which first led to teaching positions at a Youngstown charter school, then as an English and language arts teacher at Struthers Middle School. Her fiery passion and love for children permeated every aspect of her work, Jessica explained.
“This girl changed so many students’ lives,” she said. “Those students are coming out of the woodwork (to express their gratitude), and that’s the kind of thing I know she’ll continue to do.”
Another of Kristin’s longtime closest friends is Lisa Saxon, 40, of Girard, who lived two houses from Kristin in Struthers when they were children.
“We have been best friends literally since the day we could walk and talk,” recalled Lisa, a fifth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Girard Intermediate School. “To meet her is to love her.”
As much as Kristin draws strength from the love and support of those in her orbit, the dynamic is a two-way street, Lisa said.
“We couldn’t believe her mental strength,” Lisa continued. “She spoke about getting therapy and being home with her two kids, knowing about her support system outside of the hospital walls. That keeps her going, despite the up and down moments.”
Bolstering such connections is the fact that Kristin has in her hospital room an iPad with voice-recognition capabilities. She also uses FaceTime to see and communicate with loved ones, Lisa explained.
HUSBAND EXPLAINS
Kristin’s husband, Mike, didn’t connect initially with his future wife via technology, but by a more traditional means: through one of her high school friends. It wasn’t long before he was drawn to her inner strength and personality, he recalled.
“She’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever been around,” said Mike, a 1993 Poland Seminary High School grad who works for the Ohio Turnpike Commission.
Their mother’s medical situation — as well as not being able to see her for two months because of the coronavirus — was hard on Laiken and Landon, so Mike explained on their level what the amputations entailed, which helped them feel more comfortable, he said.
“(Landon) cried, but he asked questions, like, ‘Will I be taller?’” added Mike, whose brother is a child psychologist and is also helping the children cope. “The kids need their mom more than anything else in the world.”
Family members and friends also are grateful for how far Kristin has come in a few short months — especially because some of her doctors expressed concern she might not make it. Nevertheless, Kristin credited Dr. Jason Delatore, her vascular surgeon, for saving her life.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Another recent positive development for Kristin is that she was recently taken off the ventilator, and plans are to soon remove her tracheotomy. Her next major step forward likely will be this week, when she is scheduled to be transferred to UPMC Medical Center in Pittsburgh, where she is to receive more intensive rehabilitation therapy and be fitted for prosthetic devices, Lisa noted.
While recuperating and regaining her physical strength are Kristin’s main priorities, that doesn’t mean she and her friends aren’t thinking ahead. Plans are in the works for Kristin and her core group of closest friends to celebrate her 40th birthday next April via a weekend all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, Tenn.
“Kristin loves her country music, and Kristin always wanted to go to Nashville,” Lisa said, adding, “These amputations aren’t going to define her.”
Those wanting to further support Kristin can purchase T-shirts for $15 or $20, depending on size. To place an order, go to keepfightingkristin@gmail.com and include name, size and quantity.
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