HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii family is warning others about Valley Fever as their son recovers from a severe case that caused serious complications.
Ten months ago, Kahaone Kelau first showed signs of Valley Fever.
He was studying in Arizona where he likely got infected, and was prone to seizures, meningitis, and debilitating strokes.
He’s continuing his fight against the fungal infection at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona where he spent his 21st birthday.
Read a previous report: Hawaii mom seeks help getting son critical care in costly health battle
At one point, he was in a coma as the infection spread throughout his body. Since then, he’s shown significant strides in recovery.
“We are working on his nutrition right now. It’s one of our biggest hurdles that we’ve been dealing with, and just trying to get him strong so we can get him back to rehab to focus on his stroke recovery,” his mom Laura Kelau said.
While he’s getting stronger every day, his future still remains uncertain.
“I don’t think he’ll ever be back to wrenching cars and being a diesel mechanic again, but the goal is to get him at least walking and talking again,” Laura added.
His family is sharing his story to warn other Hawaii residents who may be unfamiliar with Valley Fever. It’s a fungus that can be found in the soil of southwestern states like Arizona and California, where many young Hawaii graduates often head to for college, like Kahaone did.
A respiratory infection and a persistent dry cough are among the most common symptoms, but some cases can be severe.
“The good news is that the overwhelming majority of people will not have the kinds of complications that unfortunately, Kaha has had to deal with, which occurs when the infection goes from outside of the lung to somewhere else like the brain,” Dr. Marie Grill, a neurologist at Arizona’s Mayo Clinic, said.
Dr. Grill says Pacific Islanders are among the ethnic groups at higher risk of having complications from Valley Fever. One of the best ways to protect yourself while in regions where the fungus is known to exist is to stay indoors when dust storms roll through, or to cover your nose and mouth when there are high winds.
For Kahaone, his family is focused on the next steps, including rehab and long-term care.
“I think Kaha has become such an inspiration to so many people back home. They’re watching his fight and we just thank you guys all for standing behind him,” Laura added.
To stay in touch with his medical journey, Kaha’s Instagram can be found here. A GoFundMe to offset bills can be found here.
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