COLLINS, Ohio — Kevin Rogers’ Huron County home is always a family gathering place.
Collins is where the 51-year-old father of two grew up, and while his life has taken unexpected turns, he has always returned to his roots.
“I always wanted to live in the garage, so I simply built a house above it. Kevin smiled as he explained, “My dad and I built it.”
However, Kevin’s journey has not always been easy. At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the first of many significant medical challenges that would test his resilience for decades.
The early years of diabetes were filled with frightening moments. Kevin’s memories include “going to sleep and blood sugar going six, 700 and waking up at the hospital.” During these trying times, neighbors stepped in to ensure he received proper care.
“I’ve got friends across the road,” Rogers recalls. “Their mom would get me up at 7 o’clock in the morning, make me breakfast so I’d get my shot.”
Despite his health issues, Kevin married and raised two sons. However, divorce resulted in a period of heavy drinking, which, when combined with his diabetes, caused another serious health crisis.
“I had lost my kidneys in 2016, and then I was on dialysis,” he told us.
A few years later, one afternoon transformed everything. Kevin’s father went to check on him and discovered a horrific scene.
“I guess I was all hunched over in the chair, not breathing,” Rogers told me.
Emergency responders were summoned immediately.
“They called 911 and everyone else, and they put the pads on me, which shocked me. Couldn’t get a pulse or a heartbeat. I tried it again, but nothing happened.”
When paramedics were about to declare Kevin dead, his father refused to give up.
“They said, ‘Mr. Rogers, well, we’re going to just say he died. “We could not save him.” Kevin spoke of what the EMTs told his father. “And my father asked, ‘Can you shock him one more time?’… You are not going to hurt him if he has already died. Can you do it once more? They did, and they detected a pulse.
Kevin survived, but complications ensued. Doctors at Cleveland Clinic determined that he required both kidney and pancreas transplants. The transplant procedure was quick: Kevin went from morning dialysis to transplant surgery that afternoon.
While the transplants initially provided relief, more challenges awaited. Diabetes complications prompted a life-altering decision in 2021.
“They had amputated my leg,” Kevin stated simply.
Another devastating blow came the following year: “2022, I had my right leg amputated.”
Kevin’s loss of both legs could have stopped him, but it actually motivated him. He now actively participates in wheelchair football.
“If there’s anyone out there that’s going through what I’m going through, young or old, I would love to be in contact with him and pray for him, because I know when my church prayed for me, it got me through so much,” Kevin told me.
His pastor, Joe Woodyard, has seen Kevin’s transformation firsthand.
“Anybody that’s hurting, he’s ready to drive to their house, visit them … take them food,” he said. “He’s a remarkable person, but I really believe he’s been an inspiration for our church.”
Kevin’s family has been by his side through every challenge. Kevin’s difficult journey taught him that losing everything can sometimes lead to finding exactly what you are looking for.
When asked if he believes this struggle has become his purpose, Kevin responds confidently: “I think so. That’s something I often think about. The devil took my legs, but God gave me these legs to inspire others and show them that they don’t have to give up.”
Despite being on disability after decades of maintenance, Kevin refuses to be inactive. He exercises regularly by running, biking, and swimming. He visits other amputees and helps fellow church members during their illnesses.
He discovered his calling after losing his legs, demonstrating that sometimes what we lose leads us to exactly what we need to find.
