According to his doctors, Kimo Jardin should have been dead long ago. The Kaua‘i man who contracted leptospirosis remains in critical condition at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, has survived 18 surgeries, with most of them coming with the caveat
According to his doctors, Kimo Jardin should have been dead long ago.
The Kaua‘i man who contracted leptospirosis remains in critical condition at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, has survived 18 surgeries, with most of them coming with the caveat from doctors to his mother, Heidi Caldeira, that her son was unlikely to emerge from the surgeries alive, she said Wednesday.
After having to have both legs amputated, Jardin, 26, is suffering from kidney failure, and requires dialysis three times a week. He needs even more surgeries, but doctors are waiting until he heals some, and gets stronger, his mother said.
It is that strength that the O‘ahu doctors say has kept him alive so far, said Caldeira, of Anahola, who is staying with family members in Wai‘anae.
After every surgery, doctors came to Caldeira and told her they didn’t think her son would survive. “After every surgery, he’s still with us. It’s just amazing,” to her and the doctors, Caldeira said.
Doctors said it is Jardin’s physical strength that is keeping him alive, that a lesser young man probably wouldn’t have survived.
Doctors said he is progressing slowly. “We can take ‘slowly,’” she said. That’s better than moving backwards, she added. Some days are better than others, but Jardin, who has been in the intensive-care unit since January and has been in and out of comas for much of that time, is getting stronger, his mother said.
He’s making steady progress, doctors are bringing him out of sedation, he nods his head to answer questions, and has been moving his arms sometimes, Caldeira said.
He is also off of antibiotics, so is fighting infections, successfully so far, totally on his own, she continued. “So he’s holding his own. He’s a strong boy.”
A viral infection led to the leptospirosis, and even after facing what looks to be several more surgeries and more hospital time that has already seen the family amass over $2 million in medical expenses (some will be covered by medical insurance), there will still be extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation once he is strong enough to start that, she said.
Doctors also don’t know how much Jardin will be able to use his arms, Caldeira said. “Only time will tell. We just keep praying in faith,” said Caldeira, buoyed by prayers and special masses being held for her son at her place of worship on Kaua‘i, Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo.
“That’s all we can ask for, is people to keep praying for him,” she said.
Caldeira, who had to quit her new job on Kaua‘i in order to spend all of her time with her son on O‘ahu, shipped her car there, and is living off savings, and faith, staying with family members in Wai‘anae (she has sisters and a brother on O‘ahu). “Kimo comes first, before everything.”
Gary Jardin, Kimo’s father, is disabled, and no longer able to work, Caldeira said. Gary Jardin is also on O‘ahu now.
It is not known how, where or when Kimo Jardin contracted leptospirosis, only that he came home from work one day with flu-like symptoms, and rapidly deteriorated from there.
Caldeira has not yet met in person Sean “Seanieboy” Tayco, the disc jockey and concert promoter who has organized a fund-raising concert for Jardin this Sunday, May 29, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Whalers Brewpub on the grounds of Kauai Lagoons in Lihu‘e.
She has spoken with Tayco extensively on the phone, and is amazed by all of the people who have come forward to offer their time, money and talents for her son.
“We’re overwhelmed by hearing these things,” of members of local bands seeking out Tayco to offer their services free of charge for Jardin’s benefit.
Jardin is an employee of the state Department of Transportation Highways Division on Kaua‘i, not with the County of Kaua‘i as was reported earlier. Also, his DOT-Highways Kaua‘i co-workers organized a kalua-pig fund-raiser to help their friend and co-worker, not a hulihuli chicken sale as was also reported earlier.
- Anyone wishing to make monetary contributions to Caldeira may send them to her at 89-517 Puakolu St., Wai‘anae, HI 96792.
- Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
