Kebin is survived by his mother, Deborah Rattle, an aunt, Cheryl Campbell, his grandmother, Georgia Powers, a special and devoted friend, Lincoln Jones, and a host of friends and staff at the Cerebral Palsy School of Louisville, Mattingly Continuing Education Center.

In memory of my son, Kebin Aaron Rattle

           On October 17, 1999, I had Kebin transported via EMS to Norton Suburban Hospital subsequent to two days of coughing and chest congestion.  It had always been difficult trying to determine the extent of any illness Kebin experienced because he was non- verbal and his cognitive capacity, limited.  The EMS technician intubated him in the ambulance and after being examined by the ER physician, they determined that he was suffering from bi-lateral pneumonia.  He was admitted to ICU.  At this point, the pulmonary specialist attending him described his condition as "serious ".

           He was sedated, but not comatose.  On October 18, 1999, his condition remained "serious." Due to increased agitation, however, his sedation was increased.  He appeared comatose from that time until his death two days later.  The physician did express concern that his white blood count was extremely low and to survive the pneumonia, his count would have to increase.  The cultures taken were not able to determine what was causing the pneumonia.

           On October 19, 1999, the pulmonary specialist downgraded his condition to "critical;" however, expressed that he was "hopeful " for a recovery as Kebin’s white blood cell count had increased.  This was the day that I first heard the words Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).  Later during the day, Kebin had an episode were he vomited resulting in aspiration.  The course was downhill from there on.  His body became incredibly swollen, so much so that the lean, sinewy, always smiling young man I birthed and had cared for the past 24 years began not to look like himself.  Due to a curve in his trachea, there was some difficulty in maintaining the position of the tube.  More antibiotics were added, as well as a central line.  On the morning of October 20, 1999, the pulmonary specialist advised me that Kebin's condition was "grave."  Maintaining adequate oxygen levels was difficult, his heart rate became erratic for several hours, and at 7:30pm, October 20, 1999, my Kebin took his last breath.  I buried my only child on October 25, 1999.

           Born June 5, 1975, to the union of the late Dan Rattle and Deborah Powers Rattle, Kebin had with multiple disabilities – cerebral palsy/spastic type, atrophy of the optic nerves, epilepsy and mental retardation.  He attended Jefferson County Public Schools and graduated from Male Traditional High School in 1996.  He attended Mattingly Center for Continuing Education, Cerebral Palsy School of Louisville until his death.  He attended school twenty-two of his twenty-four years of life.  School was the highlight of his days, and generally, any absences were related to the numerous orthopedic surgeries he underwent.  Everyone was always astounded at how quickly he recovered from the surgeries.  He enjoyed swimming, listening to weather reports and the music of Toni Braxton and Michael Jackson.  Kebin wore a sunny smile every day and loved to be around people.  He was the heart and inspiration of his mother, Deborah's life.

Remembering Kebin
by Aunt Cheryl
(a poem written to commemorate his 21st birthday)

I first saw you when you were two months old
So I have known you most of your days
You are a spark of light in this troubled world
With the most engaging ways.

You have been through much, but you've held up
With the valor of a knight
When most of us would have given up
You never ceased to fight.

Into many lives you've brought joy
Great wonderment and awe
That such a tiny little boy
Would persevere for so long.

So now today you are twenty-one
The birthdays of all birthdays
And I just wanted to let you know
I will love you love forever and always.

           These words I wrote three years ago still holds true today.  Anyone who ever met Kebin knows that because of his mother's love and devotion, he turned out to be a remarkable young man who brought joy to all that knew him.  We will all certainly love him forever and always.
 Aunt Cheryl