The Kissell Gamily: Challenges that Led to the Discovery of the Divine Mercy

The Kissell family, from the USA (Ohio), has been profoundly shaped by the experience of raising their son Carson and Kolbe with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). It is a rare health condition in which even a slight friction on the skin can cause peeling and blistering anywhere on the body. The challenges of living with this rare and painful illness have deeply affected the family’s daily life, but also have led them into a deeper experience of faith. Over the years, prayer, the sacraments, and especially devotion to the Divine Mercy have become their central sources of strength. Today, they continue to live with the realities of their two boys’ condition, trusting in God and guided, by the conviction that suffering is never meaningless. What inspires them now is the grace of God, who even in their weakness gives them the hope that their testimony may encourage others.

In today’s world we talk a lot about well-being. It sometimes even becomes a key factor in making our decisions, planning, and envisioning our future. Therefore, I’m very interested how the hardships, challenges, and pain you went through have helped you to grow in your faith personally and as a family? 

David: Carson is going to turn nineteen in a month, so it’s been a long journey in caring for them. And I think for Kristy and I – early on when Carson was little – we needed just to recognize that we’re not going to get through this on our own and that there is nothing humanly we could do. At that time, it was the advice of a priest, who we know as a great friend, that really helped us. His name is Father Don. He was the pastor of our parish and, talking to Kristy, he just said that you have to give EB to the Lord, you have to trust Him in this, and the other way you’re going to get through this is through prayer and the sacraments. Kristy and I took that to heart. And really in those early years with Carson, we just began to make prayer a priority for us – knowing that it was a daily trust and daily surrender because the challenges are never ending with these conditions. Kristy’s the one who cares for them primarily and does all their dressing changes, and every day it takes up to several hours. Thus, it is a constant surrender to the Lord to just trust that Ke’s carrying us through this. But we lean back on Father Don’s advice that you have to center things in prayer, and you have to make the sacraments a priority. So it is definitely Sunday Mass, but as much as we can, daily Mass, family rosaries and a Mercy chaplet. All of those opportunities are very important for us to strengthen us in this journey.