Kevin Young is a landscape, architecture and portrait photographer based in the city of San Diego California. In 2011, it was the fourth of July and a beautiful day to be out in the city and the beach. What was supposed to be a relaxing day boating with friends and hanging out on the beach ended up being a life changing event.
In July of 2011, my parents received an alarming phone call from 3,000 miles away. The message was brief and to the point, “I am with your son. He broke his neck, drowned and is paralyzed from the neck down. I need to perform surgery in order to save his life.” On the day that celebrates our country’s fight for freedom, I found myself fighting for my life.
Paralysis and Photography | Kevin Young’s Road to Recovery Video
Instant Paralysis
While on the beach, Kevin decided to dive headfirst into the water. When he did, he immediately sensed something was wrong because he wasn’t swimming, but he felt something brushing against his face. When Kevin opened his eyes he saw his arm brushing against his face, and found it strange that his face could register the sense of touch, but his arm could not. Kevin was still face down in the water, unable to move, he tried to roll himself over but nothing in his body would respond to his brain’s commands, and so he drowned.
Putting Yce on it
Eventually Kevin’s friends found him, pulled him out of the water, and tried to (incorrectly) administer CPR. Luckily, a nurse named Yce (pronounced “ice”) happened to be walking by, saw the commotion, pushed everyone aside and brought Kevin’s heart back around. Lifeguards took Kevin back to the mainland and the medics took him to the Scripps Memorial Hospital where Neurosurgeon Dr. Ghosh took great care of Kevin.
Rebuilding What’s Broken
Kevin had broken his C4 and C6 vertabrae and completely shattered his C5 vertabrae, which explained his instant paralysis. In order to repair all the damage, doctors had to do surgery in the front and back of Kevin’s neck, inserting titanium plates, screws, and other elements to help rebuild and support his vertebrae.
After Kevin was released from the hospital, he went to the Sharp Inpatient Rehab Services and Physiotherapy Associates Center. Here Kevin had to relearn basic actions, like swallowing food, or rolling over in bed. After a few months in Rehab, Kevin was able to meet his goal of walking, and he was finally able to go home.
Coming Home, No Rest For the Weary
Coming back home is usually a celebratory and relaxing experience, but for Kevin it proved to be exhausting. Tasks like getting ready in the morning and eating breakfast which would usually take 30 minutes would now take 3 hours. Kevin’s body was using an enormous amount of energy healing internally so he would constantly be tired, napping as much as 3 times a day, leaving him restless at night.
Photography as Therapy
When Kevin couldn’t sleep at night, he went out to shoot Landscapes on the beach. In the midst of all this chaos, photography became a therapy and escape for Kevin.
During those nights where I wasn’t able to sleep, I used photography as my release. I would grab my gear and head out to the beach and do long exposures at night. And slowing my camera down to 2, 4, and 8 minute exposures really helped me to slow down and recompose and get some balance back from all of the chaos.
Support From The Photography Community
The photography community showed their support for Kevin in some amazing ways. The local APA and ASMP chapter threw a fundraiser for Kevin, Epson donated a printer and held an exhibition of his work, Macgroup also provided some photography equipment to Kevin to help get him back into photography.
Coming Full Circle
Kevin is eternally grateful to the nurse who administered CPR after he drowned at the beach. If it wasn’t for her, it’s hard to say where Kevin would be now. A few weeks ago, Kevin was able to give back a small gift with his talents and experience. Yce got married, and Kevin photographed that very special day for her.
A Happy Ending to a Tragic Event
This is truly an amazing story, and after hearing Kevin’s story, it makes me truly grateful for all the things I have in my life (even the small things, like being able to roll over in bed). Be sure to check out Kevin’s Website, and if you would like to support Kevin on his continuing journey of recovery please consider purchasing one of his incredible landscape images.
Aerial Footage Provided by Travis Geske
Behind the Scenes Wedding footage provided by Dan Hughes
Featured Image (Black and white headshot of Kevin Young) provided Damian Battinelli
Get Connected!