The Heartbreaking Loss of Our Hero, Kyle McKittrick
The city of Los Angeles and the global spinal cord injury community are draped in a heavy, suffocating silence today as we mourn the loss of a true giant. Kyle McKittrick, a lead Ambassador for the Triumph Foundation and a beacon of resilience for thousands, was taken from us on December 14, 2025. Kyle wasn’t just an advocate; he was the personification of hope for anyone who felt broken by a new diagnosis of paralysis. To lose a man of such strength and wisdom to a catastrophic brain hemorrhage is a tragedy that feels “unfathomably cruel.” Today, we don’t just mourn a mentor; we mourn the loss of a man who showed the world that a wheelchair was never a boundary, but a platform for greatness.
The Silent Danger: A Life Stolen by Autonomic Dysreflexia
The circumstances of Kyle’s passing are as shocking as they are devastating. Kyle died from complications of Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD), a “silent killer” that haunts the SCI community. For an episode of AD to trigger a fatal hemorrhage in a man so knowledgeable and careful is a “shattering reality” that highlights the constant, invisible battles fought by those living with paralysis. Kyle spent his life teaching others how to stay safe, how to advocate for their health, and how to spot the warning signs of this very condition. There is a “piercing irony” in the fact that AD claimed the life of the very man who worked so hard to protect others from it. This tragedy serves as a harrowing reminder of the fragility of life and the immense courage required to navigate a world that isn’t always built for your survival.
A Legacy of Triumph and the Mentor Who Never Said No
Kyle McKittrick’s impact cannot be measured in words, only in the lives he saved from the brink of despair. As an Ambassador for the Triumph Foundation, Kyle was the “first light” for hundreds of newly injured individuals. He walked—and rolled—into hospital rooms when people were at their lowest, showing them that life after a spinal cord injury could still be full of adventure, laughter, and purpose. He was a “vibrant spirit” who mentored with a tough-love grace that pushed people to reclaim their independence. The unimaginable heartbreak currently felt by the Triumph family is a testament to his role as our “North Star.” Kyle lived every day with a “radical joy” that defied his circumstances, and the void he leaves behind in Los Angeles is a space that no one else can truly fill.
Resting in Peace: A Final Salute to a Trailblazer and Friend
We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies to the McKittrick family and the entire SCI community during this time of shattering grief. Kyle, you fought the good fight, you finished the race, and you kept the faith. We promise to continue the work you started, educating the world on AD and ensuring that the “Triumph” you lived for is never forgotten. May you find eternal rest, free from the physical bounds of this world, and may your spirit soar as high as the hopes you gave to all of us. Rest in power, Kyle.