A Canby High School graduate, multi-sport athlete and key member of the 2022 state championship runner-up Cougar baseball team is in recovery this week after being hospitalized and, ultimately, placed on life support due to a severe case of pneumonia.
Casey Langdale, 19, was admitted to Willamette Falls hospital in Oregon City Sunday morning before being rushed by Life Flight air ambulance to Providence Portland Medical Center, where he was placed on a ventilator while doctors intervened to drain fluid from his lungs.
“Things were looking very dire initially, with the need for 100% oxygen and multiple organs starting to shut down,” longtime neigbor and family friend Carmen Robinson reported gravely on a GoFundMe page set up in support of Casey and the Langdale family.
The family’s initial prayer requests were simply for Casey’s survival. It was not guaranteed, with his doctors giving him a 60% to 70% chance of pulling through, based on his age and excellent physical health.
“Thankfully, Casey is a fighter and is continuing to make strides in his improvement, hour by hour,” Robinson wrote. “But he is not out of the woods yet and still faces the real possibility of things taking a turn for the worse.”
As of Tuesday evening, Casey remained in the intensive care unit at Providence Portland. His kidneys had resumed function, Robinson told the Current, and the condition of his lungs was steadily improving. The breathing tube was removed around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
“Even with all of the tubes that he has going down his throat and in his body, he is still asking family members for hugs,” Robinson said. “Tears steamed down his cheeks when he learned of all of the support from the community. He is very appreciative and would like to thank everyone.”
The ferocity of the infection — and its resistance to treatment — have shocked Casey’s loved ones and bewildered many on his care team, Robinson said. The particulars of Casey’s infection are extremely rare and hardly ever seen, according to the family.
“The doctors are still baffled by why someone at his age, with his immune system is not able to fight this off,” Robinson said. “But he is continually getting better and stronger with all the prayers from our community.
“All the glory goes to God for his rapid recovery — there’s no other explanation for it. The staff is amazed at how well he’s doing. Casey and his family are humbled by the outpouring of support and prayers from our little community.”
Casey Langdale, along with his twin brother, Clayton, were among the senior anchors of the remarkable 2022 baseball team, which made the state baseball finals for only the second time in Canby’s history — and the first time in 62 years.
They were also star linemen on the Canby Cougar football team and members of a Canby junior baseball team that also made a national championship game in their youth.
“Our family would like to thank everyone for their support, prayers, and donations,” their mom, Kim Langdale, said in a message to the Current. “We feel truly blessed to have all of you in our lives. The love from our community is felt throughout the family.
“We are seeing miracles of healing in our son daily and know that God is not done working to heal him. Casey is alert and aware of the prayers and support coming in for him. He is beyond grateful, and the support from our amazing community is helping aid in his recovery.”
In their own prayers for their son and brother, the family shared that they have been encouraged by Casey’s favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discourged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
For the latest updates, or to support the Langdale family during Casey’s road to recovery, visit gofundme.com/f/caseys-recovery-costs.
