Kaleb Eye, California Game Warden, husband, father, son, and friend to everyone who meets him, has been facing a serious medical challenge for the last several months, and he needs our help to recover and get back to doing the things he loves the most – protecting California’s natural resources, spending time with family and friends, and hunting and fishing every chance he gets! With the permission of Kaleb and his family, we are starting this fundraising campaign to try to alleviate some of the financial burden this unexpected illness has had on him and his family and allow them to focus on his recovery.
In early December 2024, Kaleb came down with an illness, not unexpected during the winter months. After a couple of weeks, the sickness did not improve, and he began to experience neurological issues such as loss of balance, slurred speech, and loss of motor control. On December 27th, 2024, after symptoms continued to worsen, Kaleb was flown by a family friend from his home in Mono County, to a hospital in Fresno County to receive treatment.
After a stint in the ER and countless tests, they still did not have a diagnosis for him. Slowly they began to rule out diseases such as Lyme disease, and the doctors were even looking into the possibility of chronic wasting disease. Fortunately, Kaleb was not patient zero for the spread of CWD to humans, but his journey to recovery and answers continued.
Kaleb was moved around to different levels of care, discharged briefly, and then readmitted to the hospital over the course of the first several weeks of 2025. His wife, Katie, was commuting close to an hour each way to be with him every day. To make matters even more stressful for them, Katie gave birth to their first child, George, in September, 2024. For the duration of Kaleb’s hospital stay, George, being only a few months old and at risk of getting sick himself, was not allowed in the hospital. Kaleb, despite being unable to walk, told us the hardest part was being separated from his son so early in his life. While Katie commuted to be with Kaleb, their families helped take care of George.
Fortunately, as Kaleb improved, he was able to go outside for visits with family and friends, including George, and eventually was transferred to a rehabilitation facility for continued physical therapy and care to essentially re-learn how to walk and perform other functions, as well as rebuild his strength. While at this facility, George was finally able to come inside, allowing Kaleb and his family more time together.
In late February 2025, Kaleb finally received a diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome. A disorder so rare it only affects about 1 in 1,000,000 people. This is a variation of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which was suspected early on in Kaleb’s treatment. Miller Fisher is an autoimmune disorder, often stemming from a viral infection, which causes your immune system to attack your nerves. Despite having a diagnosis, Kaleb’s recovery is still going to take some time, and a lot of hard work on the part of both him and his family.
On April 4th, Kaleb will be discharged to continue his care at home. The timeline of his recovery is still uncertain, and he has already been off work for close to four months. As Kaleb continues to recover, his family is dealing with medical bills, lost wages, the cost of fuel for Katie to commute to be with him, the cost of food, and the travel expenses involved with their long term stay in the Central Valley as Kaleb heals, far from their home in the Eastern Sierras.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time with Kaleb knows what a genuinely kind and giving person he is. The outpouring of support from all over has not been surprising, as I am certain Kaleb has made a personal impact on all of our lives in one way or another. It’s time for us to do our part and make sure he knows he is not alone in his recovery, and to support him and his family to allow them to focus on the things which matter most – family and Kaleb’s recovery.
The California Wildlife Officers Foundation is dedicated to supporting California’s Wildlife Officers and their families during times of need—whether through scholarship assistance, medical emergencies, or unexpected hardships like the one Kaleb is facing. As a Game Warden, Kaleb has committed his life to protecting the wildlife and natural resources of this state, often putting himself in harm’s way to do so. Now, it’s our turn to protect one of our own. Through this fundraising effort, CALWOF is proud to stand by Kaleb and his family and provide a way for others to do the same.
We hope you will consider donating to help the Eye family through this difficult time. Any amount can help alleviate the burden this ordeal has placed on them. This situation is a reminder that life can change at any moment, but Kaleb, you are not alone. We will support you and your family every step of the way on your journey back to full health.
