In Memory Of Kaylin Mae (kaykay) Johnson

On February 13, 2007, our precious Kaylin was taken from us so unexpectedly.  All her life she was a very healthy child and illnesses were something we hardly dealt with when it came to Kaylin.  On a Friday afternoon Kaylin became ill.  She still felt horrible the following day and was taken to a local minor emergency center.  She was diagnosed with influenza A and given a prescription for Tamiflu and told to get plenty of rest plus fluids.  By Sunday she felt a bit better, but kept complaining of a sore throat.  On Monday she went to a pediatrician in town and was told she still had the effects of the flu .  She was told to continue her Tamiflu and was prescribed Lortab for pain.  X-rays and blood tests were never ordered by either physician.  On Tuesday Kaylin was feeling much worse and was lathargic.  She was taken back to the pediatrician's office where she deteriorated.  Paramedics were called and she went into respiratory arrest followed by cardiac arrest while in the ambulance.  She was routed to the nearest emergency room and eventually placed on life support.  She was then flown to a San Antonio hospital.  While the paramedics and medical staff switched over from  the halo flight equipment to the hospitals' she arrested again.  They tried unsuccessfully to revive her as the damage to her lungs had taken its toll.  Her beautiful heart could not keep her alive.  Initially we thought that she died as a result of the flu.  Thirteen weeks later when the medical examiner received the toxicology screens, it was determined that Kaylin had died from necrotizing pneumonia caused by a staph infection in her lungs.  The staff had taken every bit of lung tissue our sweet Kaylin had.  We were devastated once again because we didn't know where she had contracted the staph and there were still so many unanswered questions.   To this day, we continue to have so many questions.  The main one is "WHY?" 

Kaylin Mae was loved by so many people.  She was  a ray of sunshine in our lives and we miss her deeply.  She planned to go to the Air Force after graduation this year.  That will never be.  She will not walk across the stage with her many friends. 

I want everyone to know that our glorious Angel loved life and lived it to its fullest.  She dreamt of traveling the world one day.  Now she travels at will and has seen more than we can ever imagine.  She was unique; A wonderful daughter and friend who made us proud every day of her young life.  Everyone who met Kaylin tells us about her smile and her beautiful soul.  My hope is that everyone who reads this knows who Kaylin was and that she continues to be an inspiration to us all.  She was a young women with so much promise, taken too soon, and missed so much more with every breath we take. 

Below is what Kaylin wrote in her My Space website shortly before her death.  She truly was an old soul and now flies with the Angels.  I Love You my precious girl. 

Elvira

THIS IS WHO I AM 

Hi. I am Kaylin
or sometimes I go by;
kay, kay kay, kk, kay mae, etc.

I have an Italian Greyhound: I love him. I'm a Junior at GHS;
It's a small town with big drama, but you learn to deal with it.  I moved here from Corpus Christi Freshman Year; I've been taking belly dancing classes for awhile & I absolutely love it. I'm outgoing most of the time at least when you get to know me; I honestly don't care what people think of me. If you don't like me, I'm not going to cry over it.  

Love me or hate me, personally I couldn't care less

I don't like labels.  I can be the loudest or quietest of the crowd; I love people; I like meeting new people; I like to live life to its possible fullest; I like to live on the edge; it makes life exciting; tomorrow is not promising so take advantage!  I love, love: I love romance: falling in love, although it scares me. hugs&kisses; boys are my weakness; I just want one boy to prove to me that they aren't all the same; I've been hurt too much. Some say they are waiting on their prince or whatever but, I'm not. No waiting. Just whenever that day comes; I like the summer the most; I love traveling & seeing new places; I love animals; my favorite are horses; I don't know for sure what I'm going to do when I'm older, but I know whatever I do, I will like it and be successful; Someday I want to travel the world; I love music. it is my anti-drug; I love techno; it keeps me going; I love quotes, lyrics, text messages, smiling&laughter, sunrises&sunsets, I tend to be headstrong most times, I enjoy art & photography; I have a passion for photography&dance; I've danced for many years off and on; I believe that people change and I am one that did so, for the best

I AM NOT AFRAID OF DYING BECAUSE EVERYONE DIES AT ONE POINT AND IT MIGHT JUST BE YOUR TURN

I'm addicted to monsters & rockstars; I like saying random things to catch people by surprise; I like giving and receiving compliments; I live with my mom and brother; My dad is not here often. But, I love him still; My mom is my hero and means everything to me! She is my best friend; I have wonderful friends that I could not possibly live without. They are everything and more to me; Karina and Sarah are my best friends, they make the little things in life seem huge. I really like my boyfriend, Jared. He is amazing and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I love my family; I love my brothers, they help me with everything. I think you find happiness in yourself not material things; Love me or hate me, I am who I am. You have just started to scratch the surface of me.

"I am good, But not an Angel. I do sin, But I am not the Devil. I have friends, but I am not the Peacemaker. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love." -Marilyn