Parks and Rec director recovers from life-threatening illness

Published 12:05 am Saturday, October 12, 2019

RESERVE — When St. John the Baptist Parish Parks and Recreation director Kerry Watkins fell gravely ill earlier this year, his friends’ first reaction was, “No, that couldn’t happen to Superman.”

Watkins is known for being active, healthy and always on the go. From directing youth activities to coaching football, playing golf and chasing after his young children, Watkins seemed to have endless amounts of strength and energy.

That changed in January when an untreated case of the flu developed into walking pneumonia and then severe sepsis, causing his lungs to collapse and his kidneys to shut down.

Watkins was able to return to work in early May, to the astonishment of doctors who anticipated he would remain in long-term acute care. Now he is back to full strength, equipped with a new outlook on life.

“I feel healthy. I have no restrictions,” Watkins said. “I’m back to my everyday routine activities. Playing golf, going outdoors, and spending time with my kids. My energy level is still high. There are no setbacks at all.”

St. John Parish Parks and Recreation director Kerry Watkins stands with the Ochsner medical team that saved his life early this year.

Watkins noticed something was off when he started coughing up mucus and having hot flashes at night during football season last year. However, the symptoms were mild, and he didn’t feel a need to seek medical attention.

“I was running and running and not really taking time off to rest,” Watkins said. “As a typical man would do, I self-diagnosed. I felt like I had the common cold, and I took over the counter medicine.”

One Wednesday in January, he felt particularly drained. During a trip to Urgent Care, he tested positive for the flu and was given prescription medication. Three days later, he ended up in the emergency room.

“I was with my kids in the backyard then sitting on the couch,” Watkins said. “Next thing you know, I didn’t remember anything from that weekend. My fiancée said I was sweating profusely and just blacked out.”

It wasn’t just the weekend that was erased from Watkins’ memory. For two weeks following his check-in to the Ochsner-Kenner ER, Watkins was in a medically induced coma.

Medical personnel reported his body had gone septic and organs were shutting down. His heart rate was extremely high, and he was additionally diagnosed with pneumonia.

After coming out of the coma, Watkins still had a high heart rate, collapsed lungs and a chest tube in his side. He was hooked up to a ventilator, still weak and clutching on for dear life, but the scene he saw when he opened his eyes inspired hope.

“The first thing I remember is seeing my loved ones, close ones and pastors over me, praying and telling me how I’m going to make it through,” Watkins said. “The support from my family and the community was key. My whole mindset was that I’m going to be strong for my family.”

Watkins remained in the hospital from Jan. 21 to March 8. During that time, he dropped from 182 to 139 pounds. He was then taken to an in-patient rehab setting, and doctors estimated the recovery process could take at least six to eight months.

That didn’t fit with Watkins’ goal to be home for his daughter’s birthday on March 18. During the first assessment, he got out of his wheelchair and walked, defying all expectations with sheer mental strength. In seven days, he was done with physical therapy.

The car ride home was “extremely joyous,” Watkins said, recounting how he looked out the window at life all around him and counted his blessings that he could still be a part of it.

“Life is so short,” Watkins said. “It happened so fast, especially for someone like me who has never had any health issues, who plays sports and is active, strong, energetic, always out in the community, always on the go. It shows you how to appreciate and value life. I started to realize what matters and what doesn’t, how important family is and how important little things are. I have a purpose on this Earth.”

Part of that purpose is providing recreation for children and encouraging parent involvement. Lately, he’s gone into the school system to speak to speak to students who are part of in-school suspension and give them some perspective. According to Watkins, carrying animosity on your back and anger in your heart just isn’t worth it.

“Money, fame, material things don’t even matter for me,” Watkins said. “I care about the wellbeing of others. I care about my community. It’s the joy of being around people and telling my story.”

Watkins gives major kudos to the medical team at Ochsner-Kenner. He described the doctors and nurses as angels and true lifesavers.