Remembering Kevin Bryant

It was a very emotional day in Batavia Friday as Kevin Bryant was laid to rest. We’ve all been to funerals that were really more a celebration of a long, complete life. Unfortunately this was not one of those…it was a sad day and I think it’s safe to say the healing process will be a long one for those close to KB. It’s still hard to believe that a 21-year-old who just walked across the stage to get his IWU diploma a month ago is gone.

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Kevin's legacy at Illinois Wesleyan will be as a great friend to many and as a tireless worker on the basketball team. I spoke to Ron Rose the day after Kevin passed away, and he told me how he had just gone back through his notes from his 2007-08 pre-season one-on-one meeting with KB. Written down was a comment KB made to his coach as he explained his approach on the basketball court: "Never get out-hustled." Anyone who ever stopped by IWU's practice knows Kevin made good on that pledge.

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The best way for Kevin's teammates to honor his memory is by emulating his work ethic in the off-season, at every practice, and during games. I'm sure everyone works hard...but find a way to work harder. This intensity and competitive drive will, in turn, be passed on to the next wave of Titans, and down the line for years to come. Twenty five years from now the young men on the IWU basketball team might not know who Kevin Bryant was, but that "Never get out-hustled" mentality will be very much part of each of them. That is what Kevin's legacy as a Titan will be.

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As KB's family and friends start the healing process, let's all do our part to our honor his memory by just simply working a little harder at whatever we do day in and day out.

Media coverage of Kevin Bryant tragedy

Beacon News obituary/guest book

Pantagraph obituary

Sun-Times obituary

CBS-2 Chicago feature (video)

Daily Herald

Illinois Wesleyan website

Pantagraph

Kevin Bryant passes away

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I pass along word that Kevin passed away last night at approximately 7:20pm CST. (Kevin is pictured here with fellow IWU Class of 2008 members Jason Bloom, Darius Gant, and Brian Nussbaum.)

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In order to let the family grieve, please refain from making contact at this time. Details regarding the funeral arrangements are below.

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I had the pleasure of getting to know Kevin over the course of his four years at IWU, via his involvement in the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Titan basketball team. Kevin embodied everything Illinois Wesleyan, CCIW, and Division III athletics stands for. As a senior who played limited minutes on the varsity this past season, he did not develop a negative attitude. Instead, he becames IWU's hardest worker at practice every day, doing his part to make his teamates better...a contribution that had a lot to do with how well IWU's young players performed in game action in '07-08. His work ethic and attitude is something all of us should learn from.

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Kevin fought the good fight. He touched the lives of many of will be dearly missed.

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Godspeed, KB.

Pantagraph article

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Arrangements:

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Wake: Healy Chapel in Sugar Grove on Thursday from 2-8 PM

Address and Phone:

Healy Chapel Sugar Grove

370 Division Drive

Sugar Grove, IL 60554630-466-1330

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Funeral: Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia on Friday @ 11

Holy Cross Catholic Church

2300 Main Street

Batavia, IL 60510

630-879-4750

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Burial: to follow funeral

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Luncheon: to be held after the burial @ 1:00 at the Aurora Country Club

Aurora Country Club

1548 W. Prairie

Aurora, IL 60507

630-892-4281

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Donations:In leiu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to a scholarship fund in honor of Kevin. Please include a note that the donation is for the Kevin Bryant memorial fund.

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IWU Kevin Bryant Memorial Fund

P.O. Box 2900

Bloomington, IL 61702

A note from Theresa and John Bryant

There is a comment posted below (on one of the previous entries) from Kevin's parents...just wanted to make sure everyone sees it.

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At 1:55 PM, June 07, 2008, Theresa and John Bryant said...

Thank You all so much for your prayers, concern and support. Please keep praying for Kevin. He is still very critical. Please pray for our family and the young men and woman who were with Kevin. (Ryan B, Alex, Bill, Ryan P., Casey, and Kory). They saved his life. We have seen so many positives come out of this experience, especially the unbelievable character, love and strength of the young men and women who are his friends and family. We feel your strengh. Kevin is having an MRI of the brain today. Please join us as we pray that God's healing hand will bring him to wholeness.

THANK YOU!

Theresa and John Bryant

KB update - Friday, 5:00pm CST

The latest note from Jason Bloom, received this afternoon, is below. Please feel free to post your messages to Kevin and his family under "comments" here as people have done on the posts below.

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Kevin suffered a mild set back late yesterday. His lungs were not fully accepting the oxygen necessary so the doctors had to apply increased sedatives and muscle relaxers in an effort to help him breathe. He remains on the sedatives and muscles relaxers today and he is thankfully breathing much better.

The Bryant family greatly appreciates all of the love and prayers. Keep them coming.

Kevin Bryant update

Below is the latest from Jason Bloom. This continues to be a very serious situation - again, please keep Kevin and his family in your prayers.

I will provide updates here as frequently as I get them (please send to bobquill@aol.com).
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"They got the results from the EEG and they showed some hopeful signs. While the EEG results were not a clear indicator of any type of outcome, Kevin did exhibit some normal background brain activity which is a good thing. The doctor recommended that they not change the course of treatment at this time and take another EEG in 48-72 hours. "

Kevin Bryant involved in rafting accident

Recent IWU graduate Kevin Bryant (pictured left) was involved in a serious accident while white water rafting yesterday. Below is an e-mail sent by Jason Bloom to several people.

Please keep Kevin in your prayers.
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For anyone who hasn't heard, KB was in an accident rafting in Colorado yesterday and is currently in a medically induced comma. After a recent communication with KB's mom Teresa, here is what she had to say.

She said she had been trying to get KB to respond and thought he just squeezed her hand. She said the doctor's are most worried about the damage to his lungs - he took in a lot of fluid and gunk. She also said they were trying to reduce the sedation so they could try to determine what the status of his brain activity is - I can't even hardly type that because it seems so unreal.

She said that from what they are hearing so far, he will likely have an extended hospital stay as it will take some time for him to recover but she is optimistic that he will. She said his face was pretty banged up as was his right hand but other than that, he seemed pretty good physically.

She also mentioned that the doctors are thinking he was under more like 3 minutes which is better than they had heard originally. The boys who were with him had done a great job getting him out (he was trapped under the raft) and had successfully done CPR quickly.

Keep thinking about him and praying for him. As long as we all pull together hard enough, I think we can pull him through. We all know he'd do the same for us.

Some people have requested a location and address to send things to be there when he wakes up:

Medical Center of the Rockies Room 2108
2500 Rocky Mountain Ave.
Loveland, CO 80538
Hospital ICU Phone: 970-624-2100

I'll keep everyone posted as best I can. Again, if anyone is tough enough to get through this it's KB. Feel free to email or call me.