Kevin Ryan Cullen Tribute

Before taking Kevin off of life support, our family made the choice to donate his organs and save other lives. Kevin never talked about this choice as an option but we believe he would have wanted to if given the choice since he donated blood a good bit and was such a giving and loving person. He would give the shirt off of his back to a stranger. I am home visiting this weekend and my mom just shared with me a letter we received from one the men that received on of Kevin's kidneys. My mom has been writing those who received his organs in hopes that one day, we can meet someone who is still alive because of Kevin's tragedy and loss. I will soon upload the letter we received from him and a few photos. I got goose bumps and tear filled eyes reading it.

  I am soo very proud of the amazing person my brother Kevin was, and am so grateful for the 29 years we shared together. I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world. And I am glad we chose to donate his organs to those who may not have survived without them. I love you Kev and you will live on in all of our hearts and in the lives of those who received your organs.

Kevin Ryan was taken off of life support on Thursday, January 17th, 2008 after approximately 56 hours of fighting for his life. He was admitted to Pottstown Memorial Hospital on Monday January 14th, 2008 after being found unconcious and non responsive in his basement room at his family home by his younger sister. After a scan at the hospital that found blood on his brain, he was helicopter lifted within a few hours to Thomas Jeffereson Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. During his time in a drug induced coma to relieve the pressure in his brain, he went through a shunt placement and craniotomy of his skull, both of which didn't improve his high intercrainial pressure. He was given a 2-3% chance of ever being his old self again, if he pulled through this. After some time and visualizing his decline in recovery, his family chose to take him off life support and donate his organs to those who had been waiting years for donor organs to stay alive.

  He was an amazing young man, so full of life, eager to help not only those near and dear to him, but even strangers at times. He lived every day to it's fullest, never failing to appreciate the small things in life. He had the most amazing friends one could ever ask for. Though he is absent from our daily lives, he will live on in our hearts FOREVER and will be watching over all of us daily. Until it is our turn to join him in Heaven one day, where he will be waiting to great us with a smile and a warm hug.

Kevin Ryan Cullen was born on on a full moon the night of May 2nd, 1977 in Anaheim, CA. The first born for Patrick and Winella Cullen. He is a big brother to Amy, Shawna & Kyle.

He lived in Mira Loma,CA the first ten years of his life before moving to Moreno Valley for two years. Then his family relocated to the Sierra Nevada Moutains in Arnold and Murphy's, CA until he was 14 yrs old. His family moved across country when he was 14 yrs old.  He spent his middle school and high school years in Phoenixville, PA before moving finally to Pottstown, PA where he has resided since 2001 with his family.  In high school is where he met his best friends that became his lifelong friends.