UPDATE: The mother of Ezekiel Byrd's fiancé says in a GoFundMe post that he died from his injuries at 10:43 p.m. Thursday.
"He fought as long as he could," said Joanne Pasternak. "Unfortunately, his injuries were too extensive."
Byrd leaves behind his fiancé, Kylie, and four girls, ages five and younger.
Read the full post below:
"This update is so hard to write. It is with a heavy heart to share that at 10:43 last night Ezekiel lost his battle trying to survive. He fought as long as he could, unfortunately, his injuries were too extensive.
Words alone can't express our gratitude for everyone that shared kind words of encouragement, prayers, and help support through donations.
My Daughter has the burden of telling their 4 little girls today that Daddy isn't coming home, she also just found out a few days ago that she is expecting again too (they wanted to try one last time for a boy).
With that being said, she isn't prepared to deal with the burden of the expenses that it will take to make arrangements and pay off some of the debt that arose with his stay in the ICU for 12 days. Ezekiel, unfortunately, did not have life insurance, we are asking Friends, Family, and those that we may not know, however, are reading this and can find it in their hearts to help assist with this.
Sometimes things happen in life that are painful and we don't understand. With continued prayers, kind words, and support from others can assist with the needs that can't be avoided."
ORIGINAL STORY:
We offered Kylie Byrd a chance to step outside to get some fresh air while we talked, but she wouldn’t do it. Ezekiel Byrd’s fiance isn’t leaving his bedside.
“I’ve been here since last Sunday,” she said from his room in the ICU at UK Chandler Hospital.
On Sunday, April 30, Zeke Byrd was ejected from the pick-up truck in which he was a passenger when the driver lost control and smashed into a utility pole in Madison County. He suffered numerous injuries, including brain trauma. He’s essentially on life support.
“His oxygen levels have been decreasing since yesterday,” Byrd said. “If they keep decreasing at the level they’ve been going, they said he’ll be in organ failure, including his heart,” she continued to explain.
Kylie said Zeke holds down several jobs, always doing his best to provide for her and the four daughters they have together.
“He does anything he can for the kids and me. He’s always been like that,” she boasted about her fiance.
Kylie has established a GoFundMe page to help not only with the medical bills, which figure to be exorbitant but just in case of a worst-case scenario.
“He doesn’t have life insurance. What 25-year-old does?” she wondered.
The girls are being cared for by a family friend, while mom rides this out with Zeke in the hospital. Doctors can’t give her a long-term prognosis because they just don’t know at this time.
“I don’t leave unless they make me leave the room,” she said.
She then talked about the kind of person she’s planning to marry.
“He would give somebody the shirt off his back, or his last dollar. We’ve stopped so many times for people on the side of the road on the interstate just to see if they needed help,” she said.
Kylie said Zeke has made the most of his life despite a difficult upbringing. She’s hoping he’s got one more big win in him.
If you’d like to help Zeke, Kylie and their daughters, follow this link to their GoFundMe page: Fundraiser by Joanne Pasternak : Help support the Ezekiel Byrd Family (gofundme.com)
