Kevin McCullough defies the odds thanks to the love of his family and the extraordinary efforts of Memorial’s trauma center.

“If this happened again it is highly unlikely I would survive. “I have been told that the chances of recovering from this type of ruptured aneurysm is one-half of 1%.”

On a seemingly ordinary day golfing with two of his sons, Kevin McCullough’s life took a dramatic turn when he suddenly collapsed on the Sea Ranch golf course. What followed was a harrowing journey of survival, resilience and the unwavering support of an entire community.  

Kevin vividly recalls the moment he dropped on the course, his life hanging in the balance. “I suddenly started feeling very faint,” Kevin says. “And I remember feeling like I needed to get out of the cart, then I collapsed.”   

Through a stroke of luck and the quick thinking of the responding EMT, Kevin was airlifted to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, a move that ultimately saved his life. It was discovered that Kevin had suffered a ruptured aneurysm in his iliac artery, the second largest vessel in the body, a condition that often proves fatal. “If this happened again it is highly unlikely I would survive,” Kevin says. “I have been told that the chances of recovering from this type of ruptured aneurysm is one-half of 1%.”  

The EMT’s astute recognition of Kevin’s symptoms proved pivotal. With the odds stacked against him, Kevin spent four weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU), sedated and battling cardiac arrest, renal failure, and the terrifying prospect of his body shutting down due to severe blood loss.  

The extraordinary efforts of the medical team, including the administration of a staggering 117 units of blood, ultimately stabilized Kevin. His journey to recovery was not without its challenges, with multiple surgeries and setbacks along the way. Yet, through it all, Kevin remained resilient, buoyed by the unwavering support of his family and the medical professionals who fought tirelessly to save his life. 

Reflecting on his ordeal, Kevin acknowledges the multitude of miracles that surrounded him throughout his journey. From the timely intervention of the EMT to the availability of lifesaving blood products, Kevin is acutely aware of the countless factors that aligned to ensure his survival.  

His wife, Cathy, a former Providence Santa Rosa Memorial nurse herself, and four sons never left his side. “We were with him every day, touching him, playing music, massaging his feet,” Cathy says. “It was amazing — we would talk to him and watch his blood pressure go down.” 

Cathy recalls one of the many miracles they witnessed. “The surgical team was discussing their few remaining treatment options to prevent Kevin from bleeding out, when suddenly Kevin opened his eyes. They knew then they had to take Kevin back to surgery for another try.”  

Kevin and Cathy’s son, Keenan, who will take over the role of Foundation board chair in 2025, is working to create the Emergency and Trauma Leadership Council with board member Gary Tennyson. “We are incredibly proud of Keenan and his ability to take on tough challenges and find solutions,” Kevin says. “Our whole family understands how important it is to help improve the lives of the people in our community, and we just couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”  

As for his own lessons learned through adversity, Kevin remains clear-eyed. “I have a much deeper appreciation of life, of everything — grandkids’ birthdays, seeing the little daily miracles, all the things,” Kevin says. “I’m much more emotional now and just so grateful. We don’t wait around for tomorrow. We live life.”